Meet Deputy MBA Director, Dr Mirela Malin

Pictured: Mirela with MBA Director, Professor Stephanie Schleimer.

Mirela is the Deputy Director of the MBA Suite and a Course Convenor, specialised in teaching corporate finance. Since immigrating to Australia, Mirela has called Griffith University home, either as a student or staff member. In this interview, Mirela shares her experience in the MBA classroom and what surprises her students most about corporate finance.

You are the Course Convenor for Finance for Responsible Value Creation. Is there anything about this course that may surprise students?

Finance is often confused with accounting as both courses deal with numbers, however this is where the similarity ends. Finance brings to life the concept of risk, the uncertainty of markets, and the fact that ‘cash is king’ when it comes to the valuation of anything in business.

Students are surprised and appreciative of the decision-making process that a finance manager encounters and are amazed to find out of what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to various day-to-day business-related tasks. Although sometimes the world of finance is associated with negative connotations of greed and profits at all costs, in this course we show that it is possible to have profits with purpose and to create value for an organisation in a responsible and sustainable way.

Can you tell us about how you have shaped the course, Finance for Responsible Value Creation, and what impact has it made on students?

One of the biggest challenges I face as a teacher of finance is that many students have little pre-existing knowledge in this field, while the discipline has significant value for business managers and executive leaders. Many students have no expectation of completing another finance course in their degree, which places greater importance on the course I teach to provide opportunities to develop financial analysis capabilities. I recognise and meet this challenge by creating an atmosphere where finance is viewed as a fun and cool area to learn about.

When I started teaching finance, the curriculum lacked the resources and content that can make a course relatable and less intimidating. I believe the key to engaging students is to construct meaningful content that stimulates and motivates them to reflect on the material presented to them.

A decade later and after multiple course refreshes, I’m proud to say that finance has come a long way! Not only does the course teach the required curriculum relevant for a postgraduate degree, but also educates students about financial literacy and personal finance, which ultimately builds confidence and creates a changed attitude towards investments and money in general.  One of my favourite comments was from a MBA student earlier this month, she said, “Mirela, you have made me like numbers!”

What do you enjoy most about teaching MBA students? Is there a particular experience that stands out for you?

What I like about teaching MBA students is that everyone brings different knowledge to the table. Having a cohort that spans multiple sectors leads to a variety of backgrounds and skills that students share among themselves, complementing each other and enhancing the overall learning experience.

Everyone brings their ‘inside story’ or ‘how it’s done in our organisation’, which makes for interesting discussion when we try to relate those practices to the theory and models presented in the course. I thoroughly enjoy the conversations around relevant news or media and seeing how students make the connection with what is being learned in the course.

The ‘other side’ of teaching into the MBA program is the connections and relationships we develop as people. Whether we are students or teachers, we are on the same level, individuals that share not only their business knowledge, but also personal stories. We listen and share stories about our families, hobbies, pets and travels which creates a different rapport and a community of ‘MBA for Lifers’ with long lasting friendships.

A stand out experience for me, is when a student’s furry friend known as Margo, joined one of our campus sessions. It was very exciting and made it quite different from other teaching experiences!

Is there an aspect of your work or life that has a positive impact on a broader community? If so, please share.

Having migrated to Australia in the late 80’s, I have experienced what it is like to adapt to a new culture and to live in a different country. To help those with similar circumstances and to give back to the community, I joined Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast Ltd. (MCCGC) as a Board Director. MCCGC is an organisation that provides services to migrants, youths, seniors and people with disability.

I am also a member of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA)’s Funds & Assets Management Industry Council which assists in the alignment of the organisation's training programs with the educational needs of the finance industry.

When you are not teaching or researching, what do you like to do?

I enjoy reading, cooking and entertaining! Although I have a new addition to the family, Monty, a puppy who has kept me very busy (day and night). He has kept me from pursuing those hobbies, for the time being at least.

And last but certainly not least, what is one skill you couldn’t live without and why?

What can I say, I’m a numbers person who likes structure and being organised, and as a result, excel is something that I use extensively. It’s a powerful tool that can speed up productivity and keep data neat and tidy.

If you have a question for Mirela, we encourage you to connect with Mirela on LinkedIn.

Learn more about the course, Finance for Responsible Value Creation.