The Honourable Steven Marshall (pictured below) is an MBA alumnus from Durham University Business School who went on to become a prominent politician in his native Australia
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career to date
I was born in Adelaide, South Australia. My working life began in the manufacturing sector in Australia, but it was in politics that I faced the greatest challenges. Elected to the South Australian Parliament in 2010, I became leader of the Liberal Party in 2013 and premier of South Australia in 2018.
When Covid-19 swept the world in early 2020, policy missteps suddenly had fatal consequences. South Australia’s internationally low mortality rates, limited lockdowns and high levels of social cohesion are indicative of the efficacy of my government’s response. Adopting the mantra, “Never waste a crisis”, I also continued to implement fundamental economic reform during the pandemic. My government engineered the most important restructuring of the South Australia economy in the last 60 years in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime health crisis.
Can you explain your current role?
I’m currently heavily involved with the tech sector and have accepted positions on boards of companies connected with AUKUS, the trilateral security partnership between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia that will result in the manufacture of nuclear-powered submarines, SSN-AUKUS in Adelaide, South Australia.
Where and when did you achieve your MBA and why did you choose that particular school?
I took a business undergraduate degree at the South Australian Institute of Technology (now the University of South Australia) before opting to study an MBA at Durham University Business School from 1992-93. Coming from a family business background, I realised an MBA was the best option for enhancing my leadership skills. Durham University was a simple choice given its expertise in family businesses, world-class reputation and international student cohort.
What is the most interesting thing you learnt from your MBA?
The absolute importance of strategy. In both business and politics, adopting a strategic approach is critical to success. Set your goal, plan how you are going to get there and assess the implementation of the plan with unflinching honesty.
What were some of the challenges you faced when studying for an MBA?
The fact I was living away from home for the first time was initially the most challenging aspect. However, Durham’s excellent college system – I was a member of Trevelyan – eased the hardship of being 15,000 kilometres away from family and friends.
How has the MBA made a difference to your career path and leadership journey?
My performance as Premier of South Australia, managing an annual budget of AUD$25 billion ($16.1 billion) and overseeing a AUD$125 billion ($80.7 billion) economy in 2020/21 was enhanced by the analytical skills I developed studying for an MBA. I successfully applied the discipline of running a business to governing a jurisdiction of 1.8 million people in a land mass five times the size of the UK. Every public policy analysis is improved by a rigorous cost-benefit analysis based on the best available evidence. That simple truth is all too often not understood by government leaders, their ministers or public sector mandarins.
In what ways have you taken what you have learnt on your MBA course into the organisation where you work?
An understanding of human resource management proved to be of great significance when overseeing the operation of a 111,000-strong public service as Premier, particularly during the pandemic. My leadership of a workforce often resistant to change through an unprecedent upheaval of work practices was critically informed by my studies.
What are the next steps for you on your career journey?
I’m excited about the future, in particular the transformative effect the AUD$368 billion ($237 billion) SSN- AUKUS nuclear submarine construction programme will have on the South Australian economy; I’m also interested to witness the development of the tech sector, especially AI.
