Student Experiences: Brian Shepherd
Meet Brian Shepherd, an MA Business of Motorsport student! Brian’s passion for motorsport grew immensely after he watched his first Grand Prix on TV. Since then, he’s followed the World Endurance Championship with gusto. He’s recently completed his master’s degree in the Business of Motorsport, and wanted to catch up with us to talk about how his studies went.
Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hi, my name is Brian Shepherd. I’m 44 years old and I completed the Online MA Business of Motorsport.Â
I’ve been a huge fan of racing ever since I watched my first Grand Prix on TV in 1984, when I was living in Germany. I currently follow the World Endurance Championship, especially Toyota Gazoo Racing. I’ve worked for Toyota in car sales, and most of my employment history has been automotive-related. In my spare time, I’m usually putting in laps in sim racing, playing titles such as Gran Turismo, Forza, and Assetto Corsa.
How did you find NMA - what made you decide to enrol?
I found the NMA while looking for online courses to study in my spare time to help me get into the motorsport industry. I aspire to one day work behind the scenes in an operations role, and eventually run a team of my own. Having the ability to study online and at my own pace made my choice to study with the NMA an easy one.
How was your time with the NMA?
I’ve enjoyed every aspect of the course. The quality of the study material and the lectures helped me understand what outcome was required for each module. Having the tutors on hand via calls or emails to answer any questions I had helped immensely. Even the student support team was available if I needed any additional help or support. I felt very well looked after, which removed any anxieties I might have had while studying.
What was your favourite module that you studied?
My favourite module was Module 08: Executive Project, which was the final one to complete. It is a showcase of everything I have studied, plus my own individual research. It was great to see all the pieces of the puzzle come together.
Now that you've finished your degree, do you have any plans or goals?
One of my major goals is to start looking for entry level or graduate opportunities in motorsport to kickstart my journey.
How did the MA Business of Motorsport degree help shape your future?
The degree has given me a better understanding of what goes on behind-the-scenes of the action on track, something I have been interested in.
What does it mean to you to have completed your master's degree?
Being a first-generation university student, it means a lot to me and my family. It shows the changes I had to make to get this far.
What advice do you have for anyone wanting to work in the motorsport industry?
Getting into this industry requires patience, understanding, hard work and little bit of luck. Keeping pushing through, as the rewards will come.
A big thank you to Brian for speaking to us! You can keep up to date with his career over on LinkedIn – Brian Shepherd.
