Elisa Monagle, a Sunshine Coast entrepreneur and social impact advocate, spent over five years balancing family life, a start‑up, and career goals before completing her MBA (Leadership) at CQUniversity. She said the program changed how she creates social impact through her career. Monagle began the online MBA while working as a communications executive in the not‑for‑profit sector, seeking a greater role in strategy development.
Monagle started her studies as she and her partner began their family, with their two sons born prematurely.
She balanced caring responsibilities, study, and running her start‑up, Story Consulting, while managing the pandemic and rising interest rates.
“There was a lot of time in hospitals, so study had to fit around the edges – I did my reading while patting them to sleep, listened to innovation podcasts while running, or watched video lessons while cooking dinner,” she said.
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Study fit around the edges.
Overcoming Challenges
When mortgage repayments increased by thousands of dollars a month, Monagle paused her studies to earn an income. “It was hard to have to pause my studies, but my lecturers at CQUniversity were really understanding,” she said. When things settled, she returned to complete the degree, using assignments to address issues facing Story Consulting.
“Every assignment I worked on, I focused on an aspect of the business, and I could put it straight into practice,” she noted. This approach allowed her to apply theoretical knowledge to real‑world problems, making her studies more practical and effective.
Post‑MBA Career
After completing the program, Monagle secured a social impact fellowship with Social Ventures Australia and began working as a strategy and innovation advisor for a not‑for‑profit organisation. She is also working towards a Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation Leadership at CQUniversity. The entrepreneur continues to lead the firm and serves as a director of Sustain: The Australian Food Network, while remaining active in the not‑for‑profit sector.
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She is developing Change Traders, which aims to help businesses connect environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals with community impact and support not‑for‑profit organisations to access funding and partnerships. This initiative demonstrates her commitment to creating positive social impact through her career.
Dr Anja Pabel, head of course for the MBA (Leadership) program, said Monagle developed skills beyond management. “Everything she has achieved shows how students can develop a mindset of curiosity, opportunity recognition, and social impact,” Pabel said. The story highlights the potential of a degree to shape a career in social impact, enabling individuals to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
For individuals like Monagle, who are passionate about creating social impact, an MBA can provide the necessary skills and knowledge to drive positive change. By applying theoretical concepts to real‑world problems, they can develop innovative solutions that address complex social issues. As her career progresses, it will be interesting to see how she continues to make a difference in the not‑for‑profit sector.
