Exploring opportunities through project management

Farirai Murwira, an MBA student specializing in project management, is currently in her second semester at the College of Business Administration. She came to Central Michigan University from Zimbabwe with a clear vision for her graduate studies.

“I didn’t really start by choosing Central Michigan,” Murwira said. “I was looking for a number of colleges and they were not really offering the program that I wanted, and it wasn’t aligning with my undergraduate program, which is human resource management. But I realized project management allowed me to be diverse. And also just by looking at Central Michigan University, I realized Central Michigan University is offering a welcoming and strong academic community, and also opportunities for growth.”

Adjusting to a new environment

As an international student, Murwira had to adjust to life in the United States. Support from faculty, peers, and her community helped her feel at home.

“The academic advisor is the first person that I got to meet when I got to Central Michigan University, which is Pam, and she was very welcoming. She made me feel at home,” she said.

The transition also included adapting to a different climate and lifestyle. “Despite the weather when I came—it was spring, it was a bit more cold, which is something that I wasn’t used to—the environment, the people, even the community, I got to have a church. I had Zimbabweans who were already here in America, so they helped me find a church, and it also helped me to adjust to the environment,” Murwira said.

She added that faculty accessibility and academic resources played an important role. “Professors are also approachable and they engage with students, which makes you also feel comfortable. And also the resources, the tutoring, the workshops that are done here—they make life easier.”

Learning through practical experience

Hands-on learning has been central to Murwira’s MBA experience.

“What I enjoy the most about my MBA program is it gives me hands-on experience,” she said. “The courses make me relate to real-world situations. They’re directly practical and actually exciting—something that you can relate to.”

She pointed to project-based work as a highlight. “We have a SIM project, which is a website created for project management students. It helps you be in a situation where you are a project manager and how you’re going to manage projects, be it resources, the employees, the tasks, the risk. Just this practical learning, preparing me for what I’m going to see, is something that is so helpful.”

Murwira also named MBA 660, International Business, as one of her favorite courses. “I love it because it’s engaging. The professor forces you to engage, forces you to participate, which is an advantage for us because you gain more skills—presentation skills, you gain also confidence. So yeah, a lot of courses and a lot of professors are helpful.”

Involvement beyond the classroom

Beyond coursework, Murwira is active in student organizations that connect directly to her interests and professional growth.

“Yes, I am in two RSOs, which is the project management charter. I really joined this because it aligns more with my major and I’m gaining practical experience and also my peers. I’m also getting to connect,” she said.

She added that another club helps build her personal skills. “This is mainly for my confidence and my communication skills. I joined these organizations because they are shaping my future and they’re shaping also my life. So yeah, they’re so helpful to me.”

Murwira is also a student writer for the College of Business creative services team and contributes to regular news coverage of events happening in Grawn Hall.

Building meaningful and supportive connections

For Murwira, relationships across campus have been an essential part of her experience.

“The faculty, the staff and the general students, I would say they are meaningful to me and they’re important because the more you engage with the faculty, the staff, the more you’re also gaining experience,” she said.

She explained that her peers also play an important role. “The students, I would say I’m gaining connections because you can’t live in a world where you’re alone. You need people. Assignments, you need people to help you. Also, just the community—since it’s also a new environment for me, the community is actually helpful because you have people to help you navigate through the environment.”

A future in project management

Murwira’s career aspirations are clear. “My goals for the future is I want to work in the project management field,” she said. “CMU has helped me to give me strong academic knowledge, hands-on experience and also a real-life experience like through the project management charter and also the project management courses that I was talking about. So that has been so helpful.”

Her motivation stems from within. “What most fits me honestly is just the zeal to succeed. I’m not much of a reader, but I really love watching other people. I really love to grow from other people, to hear what other people have,” she said.

Attending campus events and connecting with experienced professionals gives her the inspiration to keep moving forward. “It’s what motivates me because I’m always looking for motivation.”

Finding her favorite study spaces

When it comes to studying, Murwira prefers a quiet environment.

“Especially when I want to do my personal studies, like quiet study, I usually go to the Grawn Hall quiet study. There’s a room that is quite called quiet study. People will be there reading and quiet. I love that place,” she said.

She added, “Sometimes I book a room in the library. There is an option to book a room. That’s what I do sometimes. Then I study in the library. Also, when I want maybe to do discussions, we can also do a group discussion in the library. So mainly it’s the library and the Grawn Hall. They’re so welcoming for me.”