Chisola Chitambala

Master of Business Administration MBA

1. Tell us about yourself.
I am the co-founder of CB Virtual Assistant and a paediatric nurse by background. I live with chronic migraine but I don’t let that get in the way of me wanting to be a trailblazer in entrepreneurship. I finished fourth on this year's BBC The Apprentice; I also play netball, love a spa day and love to travel.

2. What is your fondest memory of Anglia Ruskin University?
How well supported I was whilst trying to navigate chronic migraine vs completing my Masters. My tutor was extremely supportive and without her I am not sure I would have completed my time there. This made such a big difference for my experience at ARU.

3. What has been your favourite job?
Being co-founder and director of my current business CB Virtual Assistant. I feel as though I have learnt so much from starting up my own business but have also been able to be in control of my time and my wellbeing. This has been the most fulfilling job since graduating with my MBA.

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

5. How did your time at ARU help you?
It gave me a greater understanding into the world of business, I felt as though I could really explore and understand the pillars of business. Teaching me language that is integral to running and understanding a business.

6. What did you love about your chosen course?
I loved how much I learnt and even though I was pivoting from nursing into business I felt as though with the support of the team I could really embrace this change. It allowed me to gain the fundamentals which is what I needed as someone from coming as a full time nurse from the NHS.

7. What advice would you give to current students as they’re preparing to graduate?
Your dissertation or your final exams probably feel like the end of the world right now, but this is the final push to keep going, this is what separates you as someone who decided to do further studies. The tenacity you show to keep going even when times are tough is what is going to put you in good stead ready for the world of work.

8. What do you know now that you wish you had known whilst studying?
That it will get harder before it gets better and that is normal so keep going. You are not doing anything wrong but you are experiencing what is the usual cycle of being part of further studies/education.

9. Who was the biggest influence on your career?
My mum has always been my biggest influence on my career and my inspiration. As an immigrant parent coming over here as a nurse working in a care home as a sister and now a director of care. She always wants to learn and is even talking about doing a PHD in her 60’s. She is a trailblazer and has always taught me to go after whatever I want in life.

10. What advice would you give your younger self?
It’s OK to not know fully what you want to do even after university and career journeys don’t have to be linear. I think growing up I used to think whatever I study is the area I would have to stay in for the rest of my life. However, I have had a very varied career journey and I believe that’s what has allowed me to be as versatile as I am now and have used numerous transferrable skills in different roles. Try things out, understand what you’re passionate about and don’t just stay in a job or career for the sake of it.

11. Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I started CB Virtual Assistant with my co-founder and friend after a spa day and a binge evening of watching Game of Thrones. The difference between being sat and speaking about this business idea was that we actually went ahead and started the business. Most people will sit and chat, have great ideas/conversations but never actually pursue them. So just have a go, what’s the best that could happen? It works really well and you become really successful.

12. What’s next?
I have just finished my Apprentice journey and have a lot of people requesting me to speak within their schools, colleges and universities to help inspire the next generation, but also help them with their communication skills. I am continuing to grow and build my company CB Virtual Assistant. I'm also working on some partnerships with companies to remain strategic whilst focusing on operations and growing their teams.