Discover how Matteo Mattei, a global leader in the food industry, balanced his online MSc in Public Health while managing a team across 19 time zones.
We have over 4,500 students studying across 150 countries with King’s Digital, meaning our online programmes need to offer flexibility. With a dedicated student support team available 7 days a week, we want to make it as easy as possible for people to get the information they need, whenever they need it.
We spoke to Matteo Mattei, Vice President Institutional Affairs & Corporate Communication for confectionary company Ferrero International, about his experience of studying whilst managing a team that spans 19 time zones across the globe. Here’s what he has to say about making the most of your time when studying online and how his MSc Public Health has added a new element to his work. 
What are your tips for studying online and managing your time?
I travel a lot with my role which I could have seen as a problem for completing a master’s, but instead I decided to view it as an opportunity. I tried to maximise all the down time that comes with a long wait at an airport or while travelling. This was time I’d otherwise have spent reading a book or scrolling through Instagram, but I began using it to study.
Another thing I would say is that it has been years since I last dealt with academic study. To help cope with this, whenever I started a new module, I tried to identify if content was familiar to me or required extra effort. This helped me pinpoint what I found difficult, meaning I’d allow more study time for these topics. This approach ultimately helped me prepare for my final exams more effectively too.
What were your favourite aspects of completing a course online?
An online programme was the only possible option for me, and I really appreciated the flexibility that the online learning platform gave. It always worked well, wherever I was connecting from, and the regular live webinars offered a good opportunity to meet other students.
The other aspect I was pleasantly surprised by was the availability and speed of response from professors. It’s easy to get lost when you’re balancing academic study with your day-to-day job and other commitments, so that was extremely important to me.
What would you say were the most valuable skills you gained form your master’s degree that you have been able to bring with you to your work after King’s?
I’m a public affairs and corporate communications expert so I know how to tell a story, I know how to navigate political situations, and I know how policy works. I thought I knew everything, but I didn’t. For me the master’s was fantastic to get a better understanding of the theory behind all the practical experience I have gained through work.
I was missing the vision, language, tools and models that public health professionals use. This understanding gave me a completely different perspective. Since completing my master’s, I now do my job better, in a different and more effective way.
Thank you to Matteo for sharing your experiences with us!
The King's online MSc in Public Health is ideal for professionals in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, or agriculture, where public health plays a vital role in safety, policy and stakeholder engagement. Find out more about the course:
