From leaving school aged just 14 to working in senior levels of business management, USC graduate Angela Miles’ path to success has been anything but ordinary.

The Sippy Downs resident, who has three children, completed her first USC Business degree at age 40 in 2012 and is now studying an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA).

After leaving high school, Angela gained work in settings as diverse as a resort, a university, her own business, government departments, fundraising and at a politician’s office before completing a TAFE bridging course to gain entrance to USC in 2010.

Today, in addition to studying the EMBA, Angela is charity manager for STEPS Group Australia – a major not-for-profit group delivering training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Angela said she had been determined to succeed in business even if it meant taking a less traditional pathway to university.

“I always knew I wanted to go to uni, but my family circumstances meant that I didn’t even finish high school,” she said. “Going along to my first classes at USC was huge, but it never entered my mind that I couldn’t do it. I always believed that I could.

“I’m very driven and motivated by the business world, and I loved learning about how I could find weaknesses in a business or market, and create opportunities.”

After finishing her Bachelor of Business, Angela worked in several senior roles in the not-for-profit sector, leading to her being named the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network’s 2015 Professional Business Woman of the Year.

Angela said she recently decided to further advance her business credentials by enrolling in USC’s EMBA, a program designed for professionals already working in senior management.

“I knew that it was an important part of taking the next step in my career,” she said. “I’m one year in, and the program is brilliant. I’ve been applying every single subject to my workplace at STEPS.
 
“I’m very grateful that I get to go through this course with such driven, purposeful people. I very much feel like my fellow students are future business leaders.

“The program’s delivery is really flexible, which is important when I’m working in a full-time executive role and supporting three children.”

— Gen Kennedy