What can set you apart from the rest? The willingness to learn says global executive and MBA graduate Katherine Boiciuc.

With her second Deakin postgraduate degree almost completed, Katherine Boiciuc believes that one of the keys to being an effective leader is the willingness to keep learning.

Katherine is Executive of Operations for Telstra’s Enterprise Function and, as a global leader, oversees a diverse team which delivers world leading technology deployment, operations and people capability programs.

‘We serve over 20,000 customers in Australia and 20+ countries around the world ensuring they have the technology they need to serve their customers and thrive in the connected world we now live and work in,’ she says.

Katherine enrolled in Deakin’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) after seven years’ experience with Telstra. She’d earlier dabbled in an undergraduate business/marketing degree with another university but says it wasn’t the right learning space for her needs.

‘I chose Deakin for a number of reasons, including the flexible study options of taking residential and cloud units. This really enabled me to both study and work full time. One of the aspects I enjoyed most about my MBA study was the relationships built with my peers during the residential units, especially the Audacious Leadership sailing experience.’

Balancing the responsibilities of an executive career with a young family, Katherine says being able to study via Deakin’s Cloud Campus was a huge bonus.

‘Online learning is at your own pace and it allows you to integrate your work and study life more efficiently – for example I would watch my university lectures on my train to work.’

One of many aspects she enjoys about her career with Telstra is the diversity and learning opportunities it offers that are helping create a different future for the staff and clients who are at the forefront of innovation.

Studying an MBA, she says, was like applying a new lens through which to filter her ‘at work’ experiences.

‘For example, when studying a finance unit, suddenly every meeting that discusses finances is more interesting. And this is the same for every subject you complete as it unveils a new depth and adds layers to the role you already hold. I loved it so much I’ve extended my study and now have almost finished my Masters of Leadership – learning can be contagious!’

To be a successful leader in what is currently termed the ‘fourth industrial revolution’, Katherine believes it’s essential to be an agile, curious and continuous learner.

‘The mindset of ABL (always be learning) is not new, but in a time where we will experience 300 years’ worth of technological advancement in the next three years alone, learning just may be what sets you apart from the rest.’