When you meet two-time University of Southern Queensland graduate and current PhD research student, Angela Coble, it doesn’t take long to realise she’s the epitome of a ‘go-getter’.
A mother of two and executive leader who currently holds the position of Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Director of Business Technology at Johnson & Johnson, Mrs Coble said she found herself “bored” after completing her Bachelor of Business at USQ when she started exploring Master of Business Administration (MBA) options.
“I had just taken on my CIO role in 2014 and could see the value of an MBA as a door opener to my ‘C-suite’ peers,” Mrs Coble said.
“I looked at many different MBAs but needed a mix of world-class faculty and capacity to learn in my own way. Many MBAs required block releases or actual face-to-face schooling but USQ seemed to always be ahead of other universities in knowing where they needed to adjust and pivot, and their MBA offering was no different.
“I also really liked the course content and how it was offered up at USQ so in the end it was an easy decision. As soon as I had finished my last MBA module – even before I had graduated – I jumped into my GAICD (Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors) whilst preparing to pitch to a particularly amazing USQ Professor to be my sponsor for my Doctorate. I really like to learn!”
Angela Coble’s thirst for knowledge and lifelong learning is at the heart of her success.
She has featured in the CIO50 two years running – an annual Australian list highlighting the achievements of the top 50 senior technology and digital executives who are showcasing innovation and change in the workplace.
In 2019 she came in at number 18 and last year jumped into the number 2 place.
“It is very humbling when you look at the field of recipients. Just to make the list is an accomplishment,” Mrs Coble said.
“Breaking into the top 20 in 2019 was a milestone in my technology career, then achieving a rank of 2 in 2020 is still sinking in.
“What I do know is that these awards provide a platform from which I can amplify my team, share my experience so as to encourage more to take on a technology career and highlight the need for diversity of leaders in technology roles.”
Now one of the most influential and respected women in the information tech sector, Angela Coble is proud to share the story of her winding journey in to a new career.
“When I finished high school, I wanted to be an archaeologist or a lawyer but ended up deferring university studies in favour of working, travelling, buying a house and starting a family,” Mrs Coble said.
“I was 28 years old, working fulltime and raising two children under the age of three when I decided the time was right to head to uni. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Business and chose USQ for their world-leading remote offering way back in 2003, back in the days when lecturers would send us a floppy disc with the learning content on it,” she said.
From learning off floppy disc content as a student in her late 20s with two young children, to being recognised on a national and global scale, Angela Coble is rightly proud of her achievements – but is still hungry to learn more to help others.
Currently a Doctoral Candidate with the University of Southern Queensland, she is exploring leadership and the gender gap in the technology profession.
“My Doctoral research is a bit of trifecta for me, as it is part solving an anomaly with data; part pushing me to achieve and grow; part giving back, to my country, my peers and lifting others,” Mrs Coble said.
“My continuous pursuit of learning is driven from my natural curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Everything changes so fast – in business and in life – that the only constant is your ability to adjust, absorb and adapt.
“In my opinion, our agility cannot be achieved without the growth mindset behind the pursuit of learning. My family need that of me, my organisations need that of me, and I need that of me.”
Mrs Coble said she was motivated to explore the research gap based on being intrigued by her own observations.
“As a CIO, I found myself in a minority, yet we had for years thrown quotas, policy, programs at the issue of closing the gender gap in leadership, let alone in STEM.
“Despite this I could not validate or dispute my observations because there was no Australian research available and no one could give me any data driven commentary on why this was still the case – after all this government and business effort – so I decided I would just do it myself.”
Feel inspired?
In 2021, USQ has launched a new MBA suite of postgraduate degrees including Master of Business Administration (MBA), Graduate Diploma of Business Administration, and the Graduate Certificate of Business Administration.
Delivered online, in consecutive 8-week accelerated teaching periods, you can study at your own pace and convenience, or fast-track your studies to get your qualification in 12 months.
Find out more here: https://unisq.edu.au/study/degrees/business-and-management/business-administration