Angkush Poonye

Master of Business Administration MBA

Tell us about yourself.
I am a Chartered Certified Accountant (member of ACCA) who is passionate about both teaching and writing. I enjoy teaching accounting to Cambridge O level and A level students. I also mentor ACCA students. At the same time, I have a strong interest in poetry writing. In 2024, I published my second book, As One People, As One Nation, which celebrates the solidarity of Mauritius’ multiethnic society.

What is your fondest memory of Anglia Ruskin University?
I remember pursuing my Masters in business administration online during the peak of the Covid-19 phase in 2021. Despite the challenging time, I was impressed by how my supervisor and the ARU team would motivate us to tackle the course without feeling pressured by the unpredictable repercussions of Covid-19.

What has been your favourite job?
I am very fond of the ever-evolving accounting and finance world. I enjoy corporate jobs, but at the same time, I cannot overlook the fact that I am extremely passionate about teaching. Teaching was and continues to remain a noble job in every corner of the world. More than that, the satisfaction derived by educators from seeing their students sail through the odds and eventually succeed in their exams cannot be explained in just a few words.

In one word, how would you describe Anglia Ruskin University?
Progressive.

How did your time at ARU help you?
In my Bachelor of Commerce programme at Curtin University, I undertook a module called Capstone – a very interesting one. However, in ARU’s MBA programme the dissertation project seemed challenging at first because it was completely new to me. Nevertheless, thanks to the guidance of my supervisors Lara and Stefan, I was able to learn more about it. Their support meant a lot, and I feel glad and humbled to have graduated with a Distinction in the course.

What did you love about your chosen course?
I enjoyed the fact that our supervisors allowed us to work independently; students are not spoon-fed, and the lecturers really do their best to allow us to think outside the box. The MBA encompasses many concepts and theories that one should understand before applying them in the final dissertation project. Writing a 15,000-18,000 word dissertation can be draining without the right support, but I am happy that it never felt boring to me, thanks to the encouraging academic team.

What advice would you give to current students as they’re preparing to graduate?
Remain focused about what you want to achieve but always remember that life is well beyond a university course. Remember to cherish your classmates, lecturers, and others. You are just one step away from the job market; choose your first job wisely, and even if you happen to make any wrong decisions, do not fret too much about it – life goes on!

What do you know now that you wish you had known whilst studying?
That achieving the MBA (or any other course) is just the stepping stone of your career. In fact, to me, the course represents the passport that we need to secure our first job. Grades and mentions can make a difference, but they do not imply that one is going to perform less well in the job market just because their grades were not excellent. We should study to succeed in life’s next phase and not study just for the sake of competing.

Who was the biggest influence on your career?
I remain ever grateful to the panellists/interviewers who saw the potential in me when I applied to work as an educator in 2021. The interview process was tough, and I was chosen even if I did not have much experience in teaching. The panellists believed in my willingness and dedication to contribute to the education sector and their trust in me has instilled confidence in me as an educator.

What advice would you give your younger self?
That you do not need a degree in English (or languages) to be passionate about writing. You can be equally good at numbers and in writing. Trust your instinct, continue to write and publish without worrying too much about whether it is going to be a success or not. Also – it is completely possible to juggle among several careers/passions: corporate accounting, teaching, and writing. We can all have the best of as many worlds as we want if we have the zeal and drive to make a difference!

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
That I love attending my yoga class thrice per week (even if I still have a very long way to go – stiff body!). That I enjoy writing about themes that contribute to learning more about the culture of Mauritius.

What’s next?
I intend to continue juggling among the three fields: corporate accounting – as a Chartered Certified Accountant; teaching – as an educator/mentor; and writing – as a published author.

This year (2025), I intend to publish my third book, which will be a biography of a popular Mauritian athlete.

I will start working on another book with a theme closely related to the history of my island, Mauritius – and hopefully, this one will be out in 2026.