Phil Holland - Graduated 1999
I started the Loughborough Systems Engineering Degree in 1994. I believed the degree would be a natural route into an engineering career but that a good technical degree would not close many doors. I was impressed that the structure of the program did not force a premature commitment to a specific discipline, but allowed a more natural and informed specialisation later in the course.
After the first two years of the degree and by the end of the year in industry. My focus had been turned towards a career outside of technical engineering. I began to study subjects from the business school and human sciences department and coupled this with core project experience and 'systems thinking' from the heart of the Systems program.
In 1999 I joined one of the big five professional services firms as a management consultant.
I’ve since worked on a number of large technology driven change projects for blue chip organisation across Europe, Asia and the States. In project management positions or as subject matter expert the work has generally been interesting and always challenging.
Despite choosing to work outside engineering I have never looked back on the decision to study at Loughborough and believe the Systems degree gave me an excellent skill set and a strong CV. Most importantly it gave me the flexibility to drive my study around my own strengths and interests.
On the basis of this degree I’ve lived in three capital cities, flown around the world twice and had some pretty good times along the way.