Paul O'Brien

Paul O'Brien, former Chief Executive of the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE), is an example of how leadership, innovation and education come together to make a lasting impact. During his career, Paul transformed APSE into a thriving organisation with a substantial turnover and a dedicated team of 40 staff, supported by an extensive network of consultants.

He chose to study at Glasgow Caledonian University because it offered an MBA programme that aligned with his and his employer's needs.

“By this point in my career, I knew that I wanted to take a pathway towards senior management, and the programme delivered modules that were the cornerstones for that journey."

Reflecting on his time at Glasgow Caledonian, he remembers fondly the group projects he participated in during his MBA.

“You had to contribute to the team while relying on others to reach a successful conclusion. It also gave me the chance to collaborate with people from different sectors and backgrounds, which greatly expanded my understanding.

“Although it was over 25 years ago, I still remember the strategic management modules the most, alongside the research methodologies and strategic finance."

Within six months of graduating, Paul secured an opportunity to take on a senior policy adviser position at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE). Within a few more months, he was offered the chance to relocate to England to work at the Chief Officer level.

“I would not have been considered for these positions without my MBA qualification from Glasgow Caledonian, with the topics I had studied and the knowledge I had built.

“My MBA course brought me the clarity and understanding to navigate the route required to deliver very successfully eight, three-year business plans, which grew an organisation dramatically from when I took over in terms of finance, reputation, capacity and people."

Under his guidance, APSE grew into a vital hub for local government authorities across the UK, boasting membership of around 270 councils at its peak, including all 32 Scottish councils—a milestone Paul takes great pride in.

His advice for future students is that: “It’s okay not to have your entire career mapped out. I didn’t know exactly where I was headed or how I’d get there. What I did know was that I wanted to work in senior public service management and make a meaningful difference, so if you stay focused and work hard you can achieve success.”