Could you please describe yourself in a few sentences?
I am Donna Mai, Course Leader of Marketing Management MA/MSc. I first came to the UK as a student to study my master’s in 1992. I then studied a PhD at Newcastle University.
Before coming to the UK, I worked for Avon, Taiwan for two years as a Sales Estimator, Product Line Controller and Brand Planner. The planning process and the activities that I undertook at Avon only became apparent and meaningful to me when I studied my master’s in International Marketing. That was the moment I truly understood theories vs practices and how the application of theories can improve the effectiveness and efficiency in business and management.
My PhD and post-doctoral position as a Research Officer at Newcastle were the building stones for my career at Westminster. I have been involved in MA/MSc Marketing Management (it was called MA Marketing before 2007) since I joined Westminster in 1998. This is the course that I care the most about and I was really happy when I became the Course Leader.
Which area of academia are you most passionate about and why?
In terms of teaching, marketing research is the area I feel most passionate about. I believe logical thinking and careful consideration help solve a lot of problems in our daily life as well as in business. Many decisions in our daily life can be helped by marketing research, for example, looking for a place to rent – sound research design usually produces good and reliable information; good information helps with making the right decisions. Marketing research is one of the most useful and practical subjects in marketing.
In terms of research, I am interested in the factors influencing consumers’ decision-making, behaviours and consumption and the impact of marketing communication on consumers and society as a whole. My most recent published paper is on “Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Ethical Attributes”
Could you please tell us a bit about your course (MA/MSc Marketing Management) – what will students learn and experience and what will they take away with them?
The Marketing Management MA is a well-established course that was one of the earliest postgraduate marketing courses offered in the UK. The MSc route was added during the 2007 Course Review, to reflect demand from the marketplace and student body.
What will students learn and take away with them? Students will gain a sound education in the theory and application in all areas of marketing management, incorporating current marketing thinking and equipping them with the key concepts and tools necessary for strategic marketing planning in an international context.
Many people asked me about the differences between our MA and MSc :
MA Marketing Management
Special emphasis in the MA is laid on enhancing participants’ analytical and creative skills that are crucial for sound decision-making, imaginative problem solving, and developing and implementing marketing strategies in a fast changing, global business environment.
MSc Marketing Management
Special emphasis in the MSc is laid on enhancing participants’ analytical and data-handling skills that are crucial for sound decision making and evidence-based problem solving for developing and implementing marketing strategies in a fast changing, resource-constrained global business environment.
What is the most rewarding part of working at Westminster Business School?
I think the most rewarding part is when I receive emails from past students to say hi, or to give me a short update on how they are getting on in their career. I have invitations to many different countries around the world and I have attended weddings and theatre plays that our students were involved in. I have also received many emails of thanks when past students got a promotion and I have received photos of their first child and so on. It’s not the activities or invitations that are rewarding, it’s the thought that someone remembers you, thinks of you and would like to share the big moments of their lives with you. I think that’s very rewarding.
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Nice to know a bit more about the course and the course leader’s experience. Sounds like a great course.