How a Griffith College Graduate Earned a First-Class Business Degree While Working Full-Time

Combining a demanding full-time career with third-level study requires commitment, structure, and resilience. For this Griffith College business graduate, choosing a blended learning pathway proved to be a defining decision. At a stage of life marked by corporate responsibility and major personal commitments, the programme's flexibility allowed Roman Mendez to pursue academic excellence without slowing his professional momentum.

Earning a first-class honours degree was only one outcome. The experience strengthened his strategic thinking, sharpened his communication skills, and accelerated his career, resulting in five promotions in five years. It also gave him the confidence to pursue independent projects, including writing Tackle the Hassle and launching his YouTube channel, The Achiever’s Toolkit. In this blog, he shares how Griffith College’s blended business programme influenced both his professional direction and personal development.

“Fully remote learning is convenient, but as students we should aim for more than convenience.”

Why did you choose to study business through a blended learning programme while working full-time?

I knew there were fully remote options available, but for me, the whole point of going to college is learning through real human connection. I work in an environment where I stare at screens all day, so I didn't want my college experience to be more of the same. I genuinely believe in the value of face-to-face interaction. Giving a presentation in front of 30 real people is very different from speaking to a screen full of avatars. Fully remote learning is convenient, but as students, we should aim for more than convenience. If you want to build confidence and learn organically, there has to be a social element.

How did the blended format at Griffith College support you in balancing work, study, and personal commitments?

I doubt I could have handled a full-time, fully on-site course at that stage of my life. I was working a corporate job and trying to buy a house, so time was extremely limited. The blended format gave me the flexibility I needed. Many classes were online or pre-recorded, which allowed me to study at my own pace. The on-site sessions then brought everything back down to earth. They made the course feel real and encouraged discussion and debate instead of passive learning. For me, it was the perfect, and probably the only viable, format as a busy professional in my thirties with very real-life responsibilities.

What was the biggest challenge of studying while working, and how did you overcome it?

Time management, without question. Finding actual time to absorb information, to read properly, and to genuinely learn rather than just ticking boxes was the biggest challenge. I was aiming for a first-class honours degree, which I did achieve, so I had to be very disciplined with my time. Knowing it was a three-year commitment helped. It gave me a clear timeframe and reminded me it was not forever.

Before starting the course, I spoke openly with friends and family so they understood I would need their support. I also spoke with my manager at work and was granted flexibility such as study leave and exam days. Planning ahead and removing unnecessary stress made it not only doable, but enjoyable.

Can you share a moment when something you learned directly impacted your work?

There are many examples, but what stood out was how quickly I began to see changes. About six months into the course, I noticed I was understanding reports and management communications at work on a much deeper level. I began thinking more strategically instead of staying within the limits of my role.

Studying business while working in a corporate environment created immediate alignment and a clear competitive edge. I started contributing more in management meetings because I had the vocabulary, the concepts, and the mindset. As a non-native English speaker, I had let my confidence and business vocabulary hold me back for years. College forced me to study, read, present, and defend ideas in English at an academic level. It was challenging but necessary...and it paid off enormously.

What key skills or mindset shifts did you develop from managing full-time work and study?

The biggest lesson was that time is everything, not just important, but fundamental. Our lives are made of time, and it is the one resource we cannot recover or buy back. Out of necessity, I became much better at managing my time across work, study, self-care, and relationships.

What surprised me is that once the degree ended, the habit stayed. I became very intentional about how I spend my time. It may sound like a cliché, but it is true. If something does not make me happier, better, or more financially secure, I simply do not have time for it anymore.

How has completing your blended business degree influenced your confidence, career direction, and future goals?

In simple terms, I received five promotions in five years, and I attribute at least part of that to my education. I could speak the language of business, understand complex metrics, articulate ideas clearly, and engage confidently with senior stakeholders. I did not suddenly become a senior executive, but I could clearly see a professional path and how to move along it.

Beyond my career, the degree also gave me the confidence to start my own projects. I wrote a book on productivity, minimalism, and stress management called Tackle the Hassle, and I recently launched a YouTube channel called The Achiever’s Toolkit. Both are built on a mix of personal experience and academic thinking. Those steps would have felt impossible without the theoretical foundation I gained during my studies.

Roman’s journey reflects the power of blended learning when ambition meets structure, proving that with the right format, professional growth and academic excellence can move forward together.

Want to learn more about Blended learning? Check out our in-depth guide here!