Glen Brennan, Senior Manager, Community Finance and Development
Glen Brennan, Senior Manager, Community Finance and Development, National Australia Bank
Undergraduate Degree and Major:
University of Canberra, Bachelor of Applied Science, Administration 1993-1996
Graduate School(s) / Degree(s) / Year(s):
Melbourne Business School, MBA, 2006
What are your responsibilities at work and how does your degree help you achieve them?
I'm part of NAB’s five-year $130M microfinance commitment to provide safe, affordable small loans to individuals and families who have the aspiration to get ahead but for one reason or another are financially marginalized—in particular, specialising in unsecured microenterprise loans (small business loans) for people on low incomes who have few or no avenues to access affordable business credit. The well-rounded analytical and finance skills my MBA provided are crucial to my ability to deliver a meaningful outcome.
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
Helping people to help themselves and seeing their lives change for the better.
What do you enjoy least about what you do?
People who say "we can't because we don't do it like that."
Why did you choose this career?
Money and fame…only joking! I hope that Australia will become a country where its first people are able to participate and prosper in its economy and enjoy the same health, education, and employment outcomes as non-Indigenous Australians. I believe that microfinance can play a key role in this.
Why did you choose to get an MBA?
I needed a change in career and I thought an MBA would give me the most options upon graduation.
What was your first job post-MBA?
Pouring beers at my local pub and then my current role at NAB.
What traits should someone have to be successful in your career?
An unwillingness to accept that things are set in stone, a thick skin, and a good sense of humour.
Traits to be successful in an MBA program:
Work ethic, the ability to get along with different types of people, and a willingness to enjoy a beer and chat.
What advice would you give someone considering an MBA?
Bring your game face and strap in.
When considering MBA programs, what do you suggest prospective students look for?
Faculty, faculty, and more faculty. Ultimately, it’s your teachers from whom you'll learn most.
