“Demanding and absolutely fulfilling” is how Amara Noel describes her experience pursuing her Master’s in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business (ALGSB).
On Friday, October 24—graduation day—she enjoyed the extra fulfilment of graduating alongside her father, Dr Michael Noel, who completed his Doctorate in Business Administration from ALJGSB.
“I’m so proud of him and happy to share it with him,” she says.
Dr Noel agrees: “I would like to repeat something often said. ‘Your children don't listen to what you say, they listen to what you do.’ This encourages us to lead by example, and in that respect, my role as a father has been successful.”
They advised and encouraged each other throughout their very challenging programmes. “I got to see his gruelling defense and he saw my final presentation for my capstone,” says Ms Noel.
And father and daughter had even more support from the rest of the family.
“My wife often stayed up with me after midnight while I worked, and tolerated the all-nighters,” Dr Noel recounts. “She took the day-to-day cares upon her shoulders to allow me time to research and write. My daughters (he has two more) understood the process and helped when needed. I can truly say that without them this doctoral journey would not have been completed.”
He is also grateful for the support of his supervisor and his classmates in the Doctor of Business Administration programme.
Amara is relieved that she has completed the programme, calling it “one of the most challenging she has ever done”, but also one of the most fun. She also scored her highest grades ever.
“So, it was really fitting,” she says, “to cross the [graduation] stage on the same day.”
