MCom enhances financial management career

Nidal Danoun

A Master of Commerce from Macquarie University has helped financial planner Nidal Danoun improve his market knowledge, as well as service his clients better.

Danoun, who also completed his undergraduate study at Macquarie, finished his Master of Commerce last year.

“In our business you have to be as up-to-date as possible,” says Danoun. “You have to maintain your knowledge standards and know what is happening in the market. I find having a strong educational background helps.”

Master of Commerce Program

According to Danoun, the Master of Commerce program at Macquarie is very hands-on and practical. “When you are at Masters level, you don’t want to go along and just learn theory,” he says. “That’s why the MCom is great. You increase your knowledge and take it a step further to look at the bigger picture.”

Apart from gleaning knowledge from his lecturers, Danoun also found he learnt from his fellow students. “The majority of people had work experience to bring and share. You learn so much from academics and books, but a lot comes with transfer of knowledge.”

The Master of Commerce Program is flexible in terms of subject choice and Danoun was able to branch out, taking subjects in business law and entrepreneurial leadership. Other areas of study on offer to MCom students include Marketing, Information Systems and Technology, and Management Organisations and Society.

Lecturing at Macquarie University

It has been a busy 18 months for Danoun, who has not only completed his postgraduate study and built up his financial services business, but has also lectured to Macquarie undergraduate students two nights a week. “I took one lecture, got good feedback and was invited back,” he says.

Danoun conducts lectures and tutorials in second year Financial Management. “I get a sense of joy from teaching and bringing information to the students,” he explains. “Students like the everyday examples that I bring to them which helps simplify the theory.”

While he has fielded offers to become a full time lecturer at Macquarie University, Danoun has resisted due to his business commitments. Danoun, who has worked in the financial service area for almost nine years, has operated his own business the past three years.

“Now that I have completed my study I am going to work on improving and growing my business so it is at a place where it can operate without my day to day involvement,” he says. Danoun also plans to continue his association with Macquarie University through his undergraduate teaching.

Advice to prospective students

While study always adds value, Danoun advises prospective students to see where their choice of study fits into their long-term plan: “Find out where you are going and what you want to gain from study. There is such a wide range of study options at Macquarie, why not think outside the square?”

For more information visit http://www.gacc.mq.edu.au/

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