​When appointed Chair of National Rugby League (NRL) club the Wests Tigers in 2014, AGSM alumna (2002) Marina Go knew she had a big job ahead of her, but challenges are what she thrives on. "I really love a crisis, a steady ship bores me", said the General Manager of Hearst-Bauer Media when she spoke as guest speaker at the recent AGSM 'Great Exchange" alumni dinner.

Listening to her inspiring presentation, it's hard not to be slightly envious of Marina's career achievements. At 23, Marina became editor of Dolly, a role she had aspired to do ever since she picked up her first copy of the iconic magazine as a teenager.

It wasn't long before Marina was approached with the opportunity to launch Australian Good Taste, a food magazine aimed at taking the stress out of cooking. As a 30 year old mother of a toddler, she jumped at the opportunity. Admitting she had no experience in the sector, Marina credits the magazines success to having a very clear consumer strategy, "we identified an emerging market opportunity - a result of generational changes in lifestyles and attitudes to cooking - and were forensic in our approach to reach them".

A few years later and seven months pregnant with her second child, Marina received the call she had been waiting for. The CEO of Hachette Filipacchi Media Asia Pacific wanted her to take on the editorship of Elle Australia, one of the most successful fashion magazines in the world. Between juggling work and a newborn baby Marina says the experience was "precarious but enjoyable as I love a challenge".

It was at this pinnacle point in her career that she decided take on a different kind of challenge by studying a part-time MBA at AGSM @ UNSW Business School. "I love to learn and wanted to have a solid grounding in the formal discipline of strategy, it taught me to think outside the square and that taking calculated risks was a positive thing".

With this newfound strategic mindset Marina turned her sights on contributing to organisational transformation at the board level. When she joined the organisation Women on Boards, she developed a passion for governance and the positive impact board diversity can have on corporate performance, "Boards need a diverse group of people who will challenge the thinking at the table, rather than a homogenous group that sits there agreeing". This attitude has subsequently seen her become an advisory board member for Women's Agenda and Board member at Odyssey House.

Fast forward to today and it's no surprise that Marina is taking her agenda for diversity on to the footy field. Among many of the challenges that come with her role at the Wests Tigers, the greatest is "ensuring (the club) remains united and committed to the long game, by keeping the board on track during the many roadblocks ahead."

No doubt Marina will be drawing on her MBA for what lies ahead and her advice for anyone considering an MBA is to "just go for it. Throw everything you have into it because the outcome will be worth it in terms of the way you will forever view problems and opportunities."