Jaqquline Lawrie, 30 August, 2024
Jason Ruler, a QUT Executive MBA alumnus, has always been driven by a passion for leading meaningful change and creating positive social impact. With over a decade of experience in logistics and freight, Jason was well-established in his career. However, just three months into his Executive MBA studies, he felt a powerful call to change direction and pursue a new career path dedicated to supporting and empowering Queenslanders living with disabilities.
In 2021, Jason became the Co-Founder and Managing Director at Le Bon Care, a trusted NDIS provider serving South East Queensland. He joined his wife, Candice Le, a fellow QUT Master of Social Work alum and the Co Founder of Le Bon Care. Together, they combined their efforts on a mission to ensure that every person with a disability feels valued, empowered, and included in their community.
For Jason, the Executive MBA was more than a program for career advancement; it was the catalyst for driving transformative change in the disability sector.
Bridging theory with practice
Reflecting on his journey, Jason recalled, “From the very first two units of my Executive MBA, I realised how the expertise I gained could significantly benefit Le Bon Care’s growth.”
Our Executive MBA encourages students to apply their learning directly to real organisational issues. Our industry experts and academics guide them through each unit, helping them connect theory to their professions and work-based challenges. For their Integrated Workplace Project, students apply all they have learned from the program to tackle a complex problem in their organisation or explore a new business opportunity of interest.
Jason found that having the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world cases, both within and outside of his business, was the most valuable aspect of his studies.
“Throughout my Executive MBA studies, I was able to apply my knowledge directly to Le Bon Care,” he said.
“In some cases, the impact was immediate; in others, it laid the groundwork for achieving milestones over time.”
One example of an immediate application that stood out to Jason was during the ‘Marketing Strategically’ unit.
“The insights from the Marketing unit were implemented right away, allowing us to focus on our specific clientele and decline opportunities outside our scope and expertise,” he said.
“Implementing our overall strategy also took time, but each milestone reached brought us closer to our long-term vision and contributed to our significant business growth.”
Long-term benefits also emerged from other units focused on innovation.
“The Managing Technological Innovation unit has shaped our long-term view of our technology capabilities, and we are actively planning for Le Bon Care’s future in this area,” he said.
Driving transformational change at Le Bon Care
Since completing his Executive MBA and stepping into the role of CEO, Jason has made a significant impact at Le Bon Care. The organisation has gone from strength to strength, expanding its reach and improving its capacity to support more Queenslanders in need.
Reflecting on Jason’s contributions, Candice said, “Jason has been able to bring all the moving parts of our business together, driving its success.”
“From the very start of his Executive MBA studies, he implemented the knowledge he gained to develop a clear strategy for Le Bon Care, enabling our business to scale to the next level,” she added.
“This has been a tremendous benefit for us, as we now understand our vision and the pathway to achieve it.”
Pictured: Jason Ruler and Candice Le
Commenting on Le Bon Care's progress, Jason shared, "The last 18 months, Le Bon Care has grown from 9 employees to 27, which has allowed us to amplify our impact and deliver more meaningful support".
However, growth isn't the sole goal for Le Bon Care. Jason emphasised a key guiding principle for the organisation, "A point of difference for our organisation is that we will never sacrifice quality of care for growth.
“While we could have grown quicker, my Executive MBA mentor highlighted a fundamental aspect of building a successful business is company values.”
By aligning his leadership principles with the organisation’s core values, Jason and his team have cultivated a culture of Compassion, Achievement, Reliability, and Empowerment.
“This drives us to go above and beyond for our clients' needs, ensures our staff enjoy their work, and allows us to provide consistent quality care to our clients,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Jason aims to continue using his Executive MBA knowledge to make a positive, lasting impact in the disability sector.
“Our goal is for Le Bon Care to be the top choice for employees and NDIS services in Queensland,” he said.
“Over the next five years, we aim to expand across the state, becoming known for quality care and being the first company Queenslanders think of when they need a provider who truly goes above and beyond for their families.”
Ready to lead meaningful change?
Our Executive MBA and MBA will empower you to drive social impact and excel in a rapidly evolving world. With a focus on long-term strategy and ethical leadership, you'll gain the expertise and confidence to make a real difference in your organisation and community. Transform your thinking, build your influence, and become a leader who creates lasting impact. For more information and to explore our MBA suite, please click below.
