Ian Hamley
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Birmingham City University, Business School
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
I graduated in December 2025 so I am a very new alum! The main event is that I’ve changed jobs – still working in operations, strategy execution, finance, etc., but I’ve cut my commute down from 42 miles to 7 miles.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I fell into university management by accident in the 1990s when I left Warwick with a Psychology degree and didn’t really know what to do. Temporary jobs lead to full time roles and it’s gone from there. In the space of 30 years and 4 degrees later, I’ve got to the point of being a senior leader in professional services with an interest in business schools. University education opened up my world and I want to play a small part in doing the same for others.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
No. The EMBA/SL was all done online so no opportunity to join any clubs.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I loved many things about the EMBA. The academic challenge was very rewarding but the key was applying that learning to day-to-day challenges and really making a difference to the business. The SLA required regular checkpoints with my line manager and academic mentor and having regular appraisals on how my learning was impacting the business was very rewarding.
For me, the graduation day was the highlight – that formal recognition of getting the EMBA alongside a full-time role was very important to me. It was a great day out!
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
The academic staff were very engaged, very personable and always wanted the best for the students.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
It was one of the few places to offer an EMBA online via 100% online delivery. The fact that the School is tripple crowned was also a big consideration too.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Having done the EMBA via the Senior Leader Apprenticeship route, the skills, knowledge and behaviours developed and refined have been vast! For me, the financial and governance content hit home the most – these were areas that I knew less well, but the modules covering these areas really explained things very well.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
You need two things. The first is determination. Like any large employer, universities are complex organisations and will continue to be with the current financial challenges. You will get knockbacks so stay determined to overcome them and not give up. The second is resilience. The more senior you become, the more you need to look after yourself. You will face daily, sometimes hourly, challenges and people will look to you to remain calm and give assurance.
What are your plans for the future?
No major plans – I don’t think I’m quite ready to progress to a DBA and just want to settle into my new role. Who knows if I’ll get the urge for more study in 12 months time!
