Master of Leadership for Development

Setting goals

Abhinav Nath wants to change society. Based in Gurgaon, India, Abhinav first pursued professional soccer, which took him first to England and then to the United States. After winning a partial scholarship to study at the University of Charleston and play for one of the best college soccer teams in the country, he began to realise his dreams lay elsewhere.

On his return to India, he became involved in education consultancy, first for an American firm and then one based in Singapore. Then in 2020, Abhinav started his own business helping students with overseas college and university admissions. He also works as an advisor at a non-profit school.

With an interest in international development, Abhinav wants to learn more in order to effect change in his home country of India. Close to his heart is women’s empowerment and how to break down barriers. A desire to tackle these inequalities led him to choose our Master of Leadership for Development.

Making real change

Abhinav was also drawn to this master’s as a step between his existing career and his desire to make an impact in development. “It sounded exciting. I have always been passionate to do something in the developmental sector, but I never had the courage to take that first step,” he says. For Abhinav, this master’s is just that. As a burgeoning entrepreneur, the focus on leadership further attracted him to this course.

International collaboration

Since starting in September 2021, Abhinav has enjoyed working with academics and other students to enhance his understanding and gain the tools to take into the development field.

“Interacting with professors is very exciting and I enjoy learning more about how some of our experienced faculty have gone about bringing change in their own communities and or the world,” he says. These interactive and international aspects of the course are also major bonuses for Abhinav. “We’re all coming from such diverse backgrounds – there is so much to learn from each other,” he says.

In his desire to make change in society, Abhinav accepts that there may be challenges ahead – and he hopes that this master’s will help him to meet those. “I want to develop a better understanding of how to bring about change in the developmental sector. While you may be very passionate to change something, maybe your society isn’t ready,” he reflects.

Inequalities and wellbeing

Abhinav hopes the collaborative aspect of the course will aid him in developing an organisation in his future career. “I am learning how to build a team together who believe in the same mission and also how to work with stakeholders to grow a non-profit organisation,” he tells us.

We asked Abhinav how he manages his wellbeing. “Getting back to basics and simplicity really helps," he tells us. For Abhinav, staying connected is also very important. “Spending time with family and friends has allowed me to connect with people on a much deeper level,” he says.

Across the world, poverty, inequality and lack of access to healthcare have been thrown into focus particularly in recent years. Development leaders are working to alleviate these problems and Abhinav hopes to join to them.

Through studying the Master of Leadership for Development, Abhinav hopes to shine a light on the issues plaguing society and be an important part of tackling them. Building on his experience in education, he wants to create a curriculum about women’s issues to share with the network of schools built through his business. By focusing his development work on educating people about these injustices, Abhinav aims to spark societal change. For him, the Master of Leadership for Development is the way to start.

Why did you decide to study the Master of Leadership for Development? 

I have worked in the private sector for about 15 years, primarily focusing on ethics and compliance. Through this experience, I developed a strong interest in how ethical leadership, good governance, and responsible business practices can contribute to broader development goals. I wanted to pursue a qualification where I could deepen my expertise in sustainability and global development, building on my professional foundation. 

I discovered the Master of Leadership for Development and was excited to see that I could study it fully online from my home country. The program's flexibility has allowed me to continue working full-time while pursuing my studies. I believe the course will enable me to contribute even more meaningfully to my organization, particularly in driving sustainable and ethical practices. 

Another aspect that attracted me to the course was its focus on leadership in development contexts. I wanted to learn how leaders can effectively drive sustainable development within organizations and across sectors. Where I work, we are strongly aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and I believe this course will better equip me to lead positive changes and help my organization advance its sustainability commitments in line with global development objectives. 

What have you learned so far? 

It’s been really enlightening, as somebody who hasn’t formally studied development before. I’ve learned a lot about the evolution of sustainable development and how it intersects with economic growth, as well as the importance of driving real and lasting change through development efforts. We’ve also explored the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals, gaining insights into how global frameworks shape contemporary development priorities. 

I was able to use a case study from my own work and look at it from a development leadership perspective.  What I’ve really enjoyed so far as well is having access to journals and other academic resources from both the University of Melbourne and the University of Manchester. There are so many excellent resources available across both their libraries. 

How have you found studying completely online? 

The main benefit of studying fully online is undoubtedly flexibility. Because I work full-time, I mainly study in the evenings and on weekends, allowing me to balance my professional responsibilities with my academic goals. 

One of the aspects I enjoy most is interacting with classmates from all over the world. I have met people from Australia, Indonesia, Africa, UK, and etc., each bringing unique perspectives to the course. Many of them work directly in the development sector, and I’ve gained valuable insights into the real-world challenges they face in trying to drive sustainable development within their organizations. This has broadened my understanding of the development of leadership across different contexts. 

While coordinating group projects online across various time zones can be challenging, it has also strengthened our leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. We’ve had to work together closely to ensure we meet deadlines and maintain a high standard of work, which mirrors the realities of leading development initiatives across borders. 

The course structure itself is excellent, guiding you through the material step-by-step. However, good time management skills and self-discipline are essential to stay on top of the workload and get the most out of the experience. 

What are your future career goals? 

In the short term, I want to apply what I’ve learned from the Master of Leadership for Development to my current role by improving internal processes and encouraging our business partners to adopt more sustainable practices. I hope to integrate development leadership principles into our compliance and sustainability initiatives to drive greater impact. Longer term, I am interested in pursuing a leadership role specifically focused on sustainable development. There is a strong and growing focus on sustainability in Singapore, and there is certainly increasing demand for professionals with expertise in driving sustainable development within organisations and across sectors. 

Why do you think leadership in the development sector is important? 

Driving success in sustainable development fundamentally hinges on effective leadership. We see that some countries are making significant progress toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, while others are falling behind and often, this comes down to whether leaders are prioritizing sustainability and taking action. It’s fascinating to examine how different leadership styles influence progress, and why some are more effective than others in advancing sustainable outcomes. 

The world today is highly complex, and development leadership is never just about one individual, it involves navigating and coordinating multiple stakeholders. Leading across sectors, corporate, government, NGOs, and communities requires a much more sophisticated, collaborative approach. To align diverse interests and build collective action around sustainability goals demands strong, adaptive leadership, which is why leadership in the development sector is absolutely critical.