Why MBA- Alumni Stories

Inside Shanghai’s dynamic MBA experience

craig_9fabb72a_qst — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:50:16 +0000

Inside Shanghai’s dynamic MBA experience

craig_9fabb72a_qst Wed, 02/12/2025 - 14:50

Wed, 02/12/2025 - 14:50

Sponsored by CEIBS

Archie Preston is a graduate from CEIBS whose career is a fitting example of how the business school connects China and Europe, with a focus on cross-cultural communication.

We spoke with Archie to learn more about how the MBA at CEIBS has impacted his professional development.

Archie’s career so far

Archie’s interest in China originated with a book on modern Chinese history which he received as a prize while studying at high school. He subsequently chose a degree in Chinese studies at the University of Cambridge, and during this degree he spent his third year at Peking University, immersing himself in the local language and culture.

After graduating, Archie moved to Hong Kong to work in equity capital markets within investment banking, advising mainland Chinese companies on Hong Kong Stock Exchange IPOs.

This role provided Archie with invaluable experience in understanding business models and financials, honing his skills in due diligence and analysis.

Archie said: "The UK’s flexible education system allowed me to adapt quickly to the financial sector. It was a steep learning curve, but it equipped me with the ability to navigate complex projects effectively."

After four years in equity capital markets, Archie sought a more dynamic and creative role, and joined DealGlobe, an investment banking firm specialising in mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

"The founder of DealGlobe was a master networker and he taught me the importance of building relationships and understanding each party’s objectives.”

This experience came in handy when having to navigate work and managing his team during the COVID-19 pandemic: “We got some good deals done in difficult conditions, and I was proud to see our junior team stay motivated and committed.”

Archie's next role was at Yuwell Global, where he worked as the International Strategy and Investment Director, identifying potential investments and building global partnerships, communicating between teams in China and overseas.

"Yuwell Global’s ambition to expand internationally aligns well with my expertise. I have worked to enable Yuwell to establish a presence in the US and Europe, hiring teams and setting up operations from scratch.

“This role has pushed me to deepen my understanding of the medical device industry, from product specifications to supply chain logistics."

As Archie drives Yuwell Global’s international expansion, he remains passionate about the potential of Chinese companies on the global stage.

“CEIBS has a crucial role to play in this trend. The skills and knowledge acquired during my studies are perfectly aligned with the needs of Chinese companies going international. It’s an exciting time for CEIBS and its alumni.”

How a CEIBS MBA made all the difference

The content of the MBA programme at CEIBS provided Archie with all of the skills and tools he’d require for a successful career, from a comprehensive understanding of strategic analysis to awareness of effective management practices.

Group-based projects and networking opportunities were particularly beneficial, allowing Archie to develop practical skills and build a robust professional network.

"Working with different types of people on group projects taught me a lot about collaboration and leadership.

“Studying the CEIBS MBA also gave me the time and space to explore different career paths. It wasn’t just about learning; it was about engaging with a community of like-minded individuals and thinking deeply about my future.

“Thank you for everything CEIBS has provided during my MBA and beyond. In these challenging times, the importance of CEIBS' mission to bridge China and Europe is more vital than ever. Keep up the great work!”

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Archie Preston is a graduate from CEIBS whose career is a fitting example of how the business school connects China and Europe, with a focus on cross-cultural communication. We spoke with Archie to learn more.

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How my MBA experience inspired me to be an entrepreneur

craig_9fabb72a_qst — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 11:26:05 +0000

How my MBA experience inspired me to be an entrepreneur

craig_9fabb72a_qst Fri, 09/22/2023 - 12:26

Tue, 04/02/2024 - 15:50

AGSM @ UNSW alum Rakesh Routhu

Sponsored by AGSM @ UNSW Business School

Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur. That’s certainly the case for Rakesh Routhu, COO & Co-Founder at Aerologix and an MBA (2019) alumnus of the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales Business School in Australia.

Aerologix, a Sydney-based drone start-up, offering drone hire and commercial aerial photography to corporate clients – a service made possible through their vast network of trained drone pilots – isn't Rakesh’s first attempt at starting his own business, but its success can trace its roots back to the experiences Rakesh had as an MBA student at AGSM @ UNSW Business School.

“Our vision is pretty simple,” explains Rakesh. “We want to build the biggest drone ecosystem in the world. Clients can come in and do projects on our platform, and we have a marketplace where clients post projects and our drone pilots can take projects to get the photos or videos they need. We started with 200 drone pilots two years ago and now we have 27,000.”

TopMBA.com spoke with Rakesh further to learn more about how his AGSM MBA journey prepared both him and CEO and Co-founder of Aerologix, Tom Caska, AGSM MBAX (Technology) 2021 for life as entrepreneurs.

What led you to study an MBA in the first place?

I have two MBAs. I completed the first at one of the top business schools in India, the University of Delhi, where I focused more on extracurricular activities and less on my academics. Soon after that, I created my first start-up that didn’t really take off and that’s when I decided I wanted to do another MBA in another country to get a more rounded international experience and applied to AGSM.

I received a 50 percent Global Reach Scholarship because of my previous background. AGSM really liked my previous stint as an entrepreneur even though it didn’t work out how I had originally planned. But it helped me to understand failures and how as a founder of a business you need to wear a lot of hats.

What attracted you to AGSM in particular?

I chose AGSM because of its rankings and also because of its location, getting to study in Australia and in Sydney but also with the possibility of an exchange abroad.

Through AGSM’s partnership with international business schools, I was also able to complete an exchange at London Business School. I was there for six months and learned some great processes and frameworks that I’ve implemented in my work.

For example, I was recently in Brazil as we acquired a company there and I was able to use some of the knowledge I learned from my exchange to help assess whether the acquisition made sense.

Aerologix currently offers services in Australia and New Zealand via its pilot network and is now offering global access to its proprietary technology Aerologix Fly.

When did plans change and entrepreneurship became an option again?

In my LinkedIn bio it says ‘Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur’ because it’s like an addiction. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone, but that’s okay. We know it’s full of challenges and that’s why we’re entrepreneurs.

During my MBA, I met my business partner Tom. Even though I was studying my full-time MBA and he was studying a part-time MBA, we met during one of our classes on international business. We both had a previous background with start-ups based around commercial drones. So, Tom and I started thinking and came up with the idea for Aerologix.

AGSM offered our start-up a great amount of support through the curriculum and the networks provided. There are entrepreneurship modules where you get to actually work on real business ideas. You work on it, you present the idea back to the organisation, and you get immediate feedback.

Another thing I should mention is UNSW Founders. Aerologix participated in the 10X Accelerator programme about two years ago. It’s a 10-week programme where you partner with industry mentors and previous founders who have made an impact in their industry, andwe also got the opportunity to pitch to them our ideas and really refine our business concept and direction.

UNSW Founders also invest a small amount in local start-up businesses through their accelerator program. There are so very few universities, especially in Australia, that provide this level of support to their alumni start-up ventures.

Did your previous entrepreneurial experience help with this start-up?

Definitely. When I met Tom, that was a big thing: how do we make this work? I can definitely take away a lot of lessons from the previous venture.

We would ask investors in our initial stages why they had chosen to invest, and they’d say it’s more about the people than the problem you’re trying to solve. The fact we’d both had a go, it hadn’t worked out, but we’d come back and wanted to make something new work instead made them want to invest.

I think a lot of investors appreciate the fact there are two of us. Tom and I can quickly jump on a call together and figure out what to do when there’s an issue, discuss the plan and implement it straight away. That’s why a lot of investors don’t usually back solo founders.

A lot of things are the same across both my old business and Aerologix: managing relationships, team management, go-to-market strategies, product launches, and pitching to investors. The biggest difference is the timing, as when my first business launched drones were mostly only used within the military but now are much more prevalent in society.

How much support do you continue to receive from AGSM post-graduation?

I can always reach out to them and connect with MBA alumni through our networks. When I’m travelling, I’ll ask if there’s anyone in my destination I can reach out to.

On LinkedIn, if I’m trying to reach out to a company we want to partner with, I’ll look to see if there’s an AGSM or UNSW alumni within that company I can connect with, and then I’ll ask AGSM if they can help to make an introduction.

Also, in terms of our workforce, we’ve hired graduates from AGSM to work at Aerologix, while also continuing to receive mentorship ourselves.

I would say I’d probably rank AGSM right at the top with other top business schools for support for entrepreneurs, given there’s the 10X Accelerator and also things like the Peter Farrell Cup [a competition to pitch start-up ideas with a cash prize]. You get a real flavour of what it’s like to be an entrepreneur through the program too, and you can apply these concepts to your own business straightaway.

…

If you have an entrepreneurial background like Rakesh, you could also be eligible for a scholarship at AGSM. Candidates are automatically considered for the AGSM Leadership Excellence Scholarship – Entrepreneurial Leadership Award after they have received an offer of admission to the full-time MBA programme, with applicants assessed against four factors: academic merit, leadership achievements, career progression, and global citizenship. More information about scholarships can be found on AGSM’s website.

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Using executive education to make positive change to my local council

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 07:57:08 +0000

Using executive education to make positive change to my local council

[email protected]" class="username">laura.lightfin… Mon, 10/24/2022 - 08:57

Tue, 11/01/2022 - 12:56

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After serving as a paratrooper in the British Army, Lewis began working for his local council in Barking and Dagenham, one of the most poverty-stricken boroughs in the UK.

Since 2011, Lewis has moved through the ranks from CCTV monitoring officer to lead commissioner for innovation and personalisation, and has invested in his potential by taking courses in executive education at Imperial College Business School.

The programmes – ‘Innovation: A Design Thinking Approach’ and ‘Digital Transformation Strategy’ – gave Lewis a toolkit to modernise and digitally transform his local council, and to address the region’s levels of deprivation through more innovative solutions.

Creative thinking within local government frameworks

In his role as lead commissioner for innovation and personalisation, Lewis is responsible for the design and implementation of services to improve life for residents in a data-informed way.

Working within a local council means that local challenges are usually driven by the wider national and international implications, which can often be unpredictable.

Add resource and financial challenges to that and there becomes a real need for creative thinking and innovation to develop more optimised processes and service efficiencies, according to Lewis.

“That’s where digital transformation fits in really well,” Lewis said, “understanding how we optimally design services to deliver best value for public money. That’s what my business education has helped me to do.”

He said: “If you look at private sector incentives, companies are trying to attract customers and increase engagement. In local government, people don’t aspire to interact with their council day to day.

“We want our ‘customers’ to feel like they’re empowered to self-serve, self-manage and retain their independence so that our resources are freed up for the people who need them the most. It’s the complete opposite.”

An opportunity to learn from industry experts

With business education from Imperial College, Lewis has been able to learn from best practices within the private sector and consider how he can emulate some of the innovative digital transformation happening there.

In fact, he was one of a few students working in the public sector where, according to Lewis, 80-90 percent of his cohort were professionals from private sector industries.

“I want to know how we can use technology to better support people to live more healthy and independent lives. What the big tech players are doing now is getting consumers excited about taking ownership of their own health through the likes of wearable devices,” he said.

“The technology is already there. We just need to find ways to harness the ideas behind the big investments that tech companies are making. Ultimately, change is needed within the public sector if we want to prevent people from experiencing lower healthy life expectancies, and the associated loss of independence, all of which comes at a greater cost to the public purse.”

As a student, Lewis has been able to engage with other ambitious professionals across a range of sectors and industries to share experiences, insights, and best practice. “That has really emphasised the importance of the public sector to not operate in a bubble,” he said, “but to collaborate with and learn from other sectors in a meaningful way to navigate the immense challenges we’re facing.

“Understanding the equivalent challenges within the corporate world and trying to apply the solutions to a local government context has been one of the highlights of my business education and something I’ve hugely benefited from.”

The tools for immediate change

Lewis feels that the education he received at Imperial College was tailored to be organisationally relevant to all students across the programme.

As well as the industry contacts Lewis made during his studies at Imperial College, the course curriculum enabled him to make immediate changes to his work thanks to the frameworks, techniques and tools provided.

Lewis said: “The digital transformation audit toolkit was one of the first features of the course that allowed me to test my organisation for where we currently were digitally and to set a baseline. From very early on, I was able to identify actionable challenges and gain momentum in moving forward.

“There was a lot of low-hanging fruit that I hadn’t previously identified but that we could exploit. People within the organisation started to feel a tangible difference straight away. We’re delivering services now that are markedly different from how they were prior to my studies at Imperial College.”

One of Lewis’ priorities is ensuring preventative support is provided to the service user before they are contacted by a council service. “If any of our services are contingent on a person coming into direct contact with somebody from the health and social care system, we’ve missed an opportunity for years in how that person could have otherwise been helped earlier on,” he said.

"I think we need to be thinking a lot more innovatively about how to ensure that people are aware of the services that they can access and that we make use of all the various ways people can do that.

“From the programmes I’ve studied, I’ve learned some of the helpful tools available around digital marketing and how to find opportunities to make things easier for our residents. One of the big successes we’ve had since my studies is configuring a cross-functional structure that takes a person-centred approach.”

From leaving school to lead commissioner

Lewis left school when he was 16 years old. Without A-levels, he joined the military for five-and-a-half years. “I’ve never really had any academic credentials until now,” said Lewis. “So the opportunity to go back and study, especially somewhere as prestigious as Imperial College Business School, is amazing.

“The calibre of academic teaching is of such high quality and being able to learn among students from some of the biggest organisations in the world has been hugely valuable.”

After completing his business education at Imperial College, Lewis remains dedicated to ensuring that local government is helping to make people’s lives better and challenging the less favourable perceptions about local councils.

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Lewis is using executive education to improve one of the most poverty-stricken boroughs in the UK.

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From the US to the UK: Studying an MBA overseas helped me to change location, industry and role

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:38:37 +0000

From the US to the UK: Studying an MBA overseas helped me to change location, industry and role

[email protected]" class="username">laura.lightfin… Wed, 09/28/2022 - 09:38

Wed, 09/28/2022 - 11:07

A profile picture of Leah Petr

Leah Petr studied an MBA at Alliance Manchester Business School, travelling to the UK from New York City where she was working in the TV industry.

We spoke to Leah to find out how studying an MBA abroad enabled her to explore a career beyond her experience and provided better return on investment than a local programme.

Before her MBA, Leah worked at Discovery Inc. (now Warner Bros. Discovery) in roles across corporate communications, B2C marketing and creative production.

Her reason for choosing an MBA was simple: “People around me were starting to specialise, but I wanted to try something new and look beyond my niche to figure out what really interested me,” she said. “I wanted to progress my career without narrowing my focus just yet.”

What factors did you consider when choosing to study abroad?

“I chose an international MBA programme for a number of reasons. The return on investment was better in Europe as similarly ranked programmes had lower tuition costs,” Leah said. “I was a self-funded student and didn’t have a clear post-MBA path, so I had to be smart about my finances.

“I also saw much higher diversity in the student cohorts around the world. I really wanted to be part of a global network and hoped to remain in the UK after my course. The main reason I chose to study outside of the US, though, was that I wanted a different life experience. It was about more than just an academic exercise or career box to tick. I was ready for a new adventure, and this seemed like a great way to do that.”

How have you benefited from studying an MBA abroad?

Now a graduate, Leah can confidently say that her overseas experience has given her a “much broader global perspective.” Beyond the diversity of her classmates and the high-profile professors from around the world, the module content, case studies, industry insights and news that she was exposed to were all globally focused.

The biggest highlight of Leah’s programme in the UK was engaging with a network of friends and industry contacts all over the world. She said: “We had 33 countries represented across a cohort of 113 people. I was one of only two American students. I got to meet even more people at MBA events like the MBAT (European MBA “Olympics” hosted in France each year).

“If you want to work outside of your home country, this network is invaluable alongside your demonstrated experience abroad. It helped me secure a role in the UK at the height of the pandemic. I ultimately made a triple jump by changing country, industry and role. I know I couldn’t have done that without an international MBA.

“I can’t stress enough how healthy and educational it was for me to reframe my perspective outside of my home country. As part of my programme at Alliance Manchester, I travelled to China, Brazil, Germany and Japan. I even managed to stop in several other places just for fun.”

What challenges did you face as an MBA student and how did you overcome them?

The first term of any MBA programme is notoriously intense but having moved over 3,000 miles to relocate to the UK, Leah had the added challenge of arranging new bank accounts, setting up a UK phone number, finding a place to live, understanding the healthcare system and generally trying to navigate life in a new country.

“We really banded together as a cohort in that first semester and helped each other through our Class of 2020 WhatsApp group. I think those challenges created an even stronger bond between us,” she said.

Preparing for graduation with a desire to stay in the UK for work, Leah found that visa applications brought up further challenges. “When you apply for a role, you find out that you need to talk to your potential employer about sponsorship very early on in the process. Though it’s become easier for Americans in the UK with new visa rules (from 2021), it can be a disappointing non-starter for some employers or roles,” she said.

That said, many employers value the hard and soft skills that an MBA helps to build. “Through the hands-on consulting projects and internships at Alliance Manchester, I was able to gain experience in four different industries and just as many functions. This gave me the basis I needed to land roles well beyond my former niche.

“My MBA experience also taught me how to get to the real root of problems and execute as part of a diverse group. These softer skills have been crucial as I’ve moved into more strategic roles with a need to coordinate and influence a larger sphere of people.”

How has studying your MBA abroad played a role in your career since?

Leah said: “I use the global perspective I gained on my MBA every day in my career. I think it has made me not only more empathetic and conscientious but more employable.

“By broadening my experience during the MBA, I was able to identify what kind of work I really enjoyed, how I could apply my transferable skills in different roles, and what industry appealed to me most. This gave me the confidence to move my career forward in new and exciting ways.”

On completion of her MBA programme, Leah scored a role in product marketing at a fintech company and was able to continue her life on the other side of the pond. Two years post-MBA, she has built a life in London and leads product planning and operations for the lodging line of business at Expedia Group.

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From India to the UK: How my MBA prepared me for a career in consulting

craig_9fabb72a_qst — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 11:48:13 +0000

From India to the UK: How my MBA prepared me for a career in consulting

craig_9fabb72a_qst Fri, 09/09/2022 - 12:48

Fri, 09/09/2022 - 14:14

Komal Bhalla Exeter MBA alumni

Komal Bhalla studied an MBA at the University of Exeter before embarking upon a career in consulting, working for leading management consulting company Avanade.

We spoke to Komal about her MBA experience and to learn how the university and its faculty supported her career ambitions.

What factors did you consider when choosing the Exeter MBA?

After working in public sector consulting in India, I was looking for a programme that combined my passion to work improving lives with my desire to step up my career towards management.

While considering the universities, I wanted a business school which is globally recognised and has creating a better world at the heart of the programme structure. The Exeter MBA at University of Exeter, focused on creating purposeful leadership and innovation and this connected with my career development and personal goals.

What were the academic highlights of your MBA?

I pursued the Exeter MBA at the University of Exeter and the key highlights of my degree were the well-structured extensive programme comprising of both traditional (strategy, operations, economics) and unique subjects (circular economy, global challenges, responsible leadership) which were a strong foundation of my experience.

The programme also offered career development with continuous support from Dominic Prosser; active measures for personal growth; practical application of learnings through the MBA consulting project; and the professional network I built along the way.

Can you give any examples of how Exeter supported your personal development?

The university has been a pillar of support for me, from providing financial aid to career development support. The instance that is most dear to me is the support I got from our Programme Director, Jackie Bagnall, who supported me in my personal development journey with practices of mindfulness, reflection and recognising my capabilities and staying on the path of becoming a better version of myself.

As a part of the Exeter MBA, I received continuous support for my career development. I was able to connect with a career coach in the first week of the programme itself and this connection lasted even after I graduated. From creating a career plan to actually executing it with Dominic’s support was a crucial part for me in getting my dream job. He helped in prepping my application material, conducting mock interviews and kept the chain of regular feedback going.

What continued support has your university provided since you graduated?

The University of Exeter has been ensuring that I stay connected to the university as an alumni. From receiving monthly newsletters to opportunities of advancing my learning or even expanding my network. I feel equipped by the university for my journey post-graduation.

What are your future career ambitions?

Following the successful completion of the Exeter MBA, I am working with a leading management consulting company, Avanade. It is the next best step in my career where I have the opportunity to marry my deep interest of creating genuine human impact by empowering organisations in embracing continual change with a privileged access of Microsoft.

Aligning it to my long-term career ambitions, I aim to support government and public services with transformation while keeping sustainability at the heart of innovation. I wish to do this in the capacity of a consulting professional and via entrepreneurial ventures.

What advice would you offer to any future applicants to Exeter?

Time at the University of Exeter became a year of reflection and learning for me and I believe what worked the best for me was my openness to treat each day as a fresh opportunity. Therefore, from my experience, my advice to future applicants is that whether you are coming with a set plan & goals or not, stay flexible to treat each day as a new opportunity to create and learn. Via its curriculum, facilities and staff, the University of Exeter will give you a great canvas to draw a future you wish for yourself.

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What’s it like to study at elite business school, Imperial Business School?

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 09:38:17 +0000

What’s it like to study at elite business school, Imperial Business School?

[email protected]" class="username">laura.lightfin… Mon, 06/27/2022 - 10:38

Fri, 07/29/2022 - 11:47

Profile picture of Seerat Sindhu

Seerat Sindhu is an MBA student at Imperial Business School, ranked 21st in the world in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2022.

The elite business school is a leader in science and technology, driving global business and social transformation with innovative thinking and insight. It was that focus on innovation and entrepreneurship that drove Seerat to choose Imperial Business School for her MBA.

As a strategy consultant, Seerat was looking to bridge the gaps in her skillset to amplify her career in the short- and long-term. She said: “Feeling disconnected in strategic implementation due to a lack of perspective, I decided to move into corporate strategy.

“To do this, I realised I’d have to learn and understand the academic knowledge and theories relevant to real-life business scenarios, gain exposure to international and domestic markets and industries, as well as nurture a strong network of colleagues globally.

“Imperial College has fulfilled all these needs and more, giving me the crucial skills to become a successful senior leader.”

What does a typical week look like for you?

“While I strongly believe each week on the full-time MBA is unique, the basic structure remains the same. I study at the South Kensington Campus from Monday to Saturday attending classes and workshops, doing independent study and having group discussions,” Seerat said.

“I’m heavily involved in student leadership positions in the school and at the weekend, I run errands, socialise and explore London. Every day there is something new to do and I’m trying to make the most of my time in the city before I return to India to launch an enterprise in the finance and banking industry.”

In what ways do you feel like you’re studying at one of the world’s top MBA programmes?

Seerat said: “Imperial Business School has a unique advantage in Europe because it’s part of the larger community of Imperial College London. While the business school is independent, the common campus and increased interaction, both within and outside the classrooms, helps facilitate cross-field collaboration and innovation.

“The school is world-renowned, and I’ve had one too many ‘fan moments’ in the MBA classroom thanks to my professors who are true geniuses, top of their fields and making tangible global impact.”

Imperial College also invested and developed a wide range of resources/initiatives for students to develop their skills and experience, particularly in the fields of innovation, tech and entrepreneurship. These include the Enterprise Lab, Scale Space, Hackspace, Imperial Innovation Challenge and more.

Seerat said: “The school also offers a range of networking activities and skills development sessions to help enhance our employability. One of my favourite events is Breakfast with the Board, where MBA students are given access to interact with global leaders who serve as board members or advisors across different industries.”

What are your relationships like with your academics and classmates?

“The Full-Time MBA is a demanding programme which places a lot of importance on teamwork, diversity and inclusivity,” Seerat said. “The majority of modules place high importance on group work, and so the academics rely on your ability to collaborate with your classmates.

“As a brand, Imperial College commands superior academic performance, but luckily this doesn’t translate into competitiveness within the classroom. Instead, we all are able to learn from each other and gain from our varied experiences. My cohort consists of around 50 highly -diverse students and we are able to build lasting bonds.

“My faculty are world-renowned, and I’ve been taught by experts who used to work at companies like the Bank of England, who provide their insight from real-life experiences with real-time examples.”

What opportunities have you had outside of the classroom?

“Imperial College’s Full-Time MBA involves a range of activities beyond the classroom. The programme includes two international trips, each focused on a theme. I travelled to Abu Dhabi for Global Experience Week where I worked with Etihad Airways for a short project focused on diversity. The next trip is to Rotterdam in the Netherlands with a focus on sustainability in business.

“You can also get involved with other projects as a consultant, working with companies to help them tackle issues in real- time, or an entrepreneurial journey where students have the opportunity to design and develop a business plan and go-to market strategy for our ideas.”

Seerat has chosen to engage in a consulting project and is working with one of the UK’s largest telecom companies on a niche process engineering project.

Why would you recommend the MBA at Imperial College to others?

“I would recommend studying an MBA at Imperial College to those who are looking to spend a year on an intense academic program while still having fun all the way. This MBA programme is for those who are ready for the adventure of a lifetime, which will pivot their expertise and interests – all in the best way possible!”

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What’s it like to study at elite business school, ESCP?

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:58:36 +0000

What’s it like to study at elite business school, ESCP?

[email protected]" class="username">laura.lightfin… Wed, 06/01/2022 - 13:58

Wed, 06/01/2022 - 15:12

A profile picture of Francesca Conti

Francesca Conti is an MBA student at ESCP Business School, ranked in the top 20 European business schools in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2022.

As part of the MBA in International Management programme at ESCP, Francesca had the opportunity to move from New York to London and Paris. It was the opportunity to live and study abroad in multiple cities that enticed her to the programme.

“ESCP’s multicultural dynamic was pivotal for me in achieving my career goals,” Francesca said. “If I had chosen to study in my home country, or at a business school that didn’t afford me the opportunity to live across different countries, I wouldn’t have had as much of an international experience.

“I was immersed into two cultures, but I also got to experience different cohorts of students, a bigger variety of professors and industry contacts from across the UK and France.”

The diversity of the ESCP MBA allowed Francesca to explore different industries in each location. In London, she delved into the thriving finance sector and in Paris, it was the growing tech ecosystem.

“It afforded me the opportunity to network with professionals from larger scale start-ups and businesses,” she said. “It’s through these unique and organic interactions that I have sharpened my business acumen.”

What does a typical week look like for you?

“In a typical week, we’ll have academic classes for four days and then one day that is more focused on careers events or opportunities to further hone our leadership skills,” said Francesca.

“ESCP’s elite reputation means that the school has strong relationships with key business leaders across many industries and we have an abundance of weekly talks and events from speakers from the tech, finance, consulting, or marketing sectors, for example.

Although it's not all business and networking. Alongside her studies and extracurricular learning, Francesca has formed strong friendships as a student.

“I’ve met people from a huge variety of backgrounds, but who come with the same challenging thinking and curiosity. It feels quite contagious, so we work well together. I thought it might be more competitive, but everyone I’ve worked with has such an encouraging and collaborative spirit that it’s made the whole experience so enjoyable.”

In what ways do you feel like you’re studying at one of the world’s top MBA programmes?

“Beyond the international focus of ESCP’s MBA and the ability to study across Europe, I think the prestige really comes out in the alumni network,” Francesca said. “The graduates I’ve had the honour to engage with are very high profile, but the network feels very intimate and supportive too.

“The ability to speak openly with ESCP alumni has granted me wide exposure to potential careers in sectors I hadn't previously imagined. The university's global roots allowed access into some of the most coveted industries to date.”

For 2021, ESCP joined forces with Cartier to deliver the MBA in International Management. The partnership gave students the opportunity to work on a consultancy project with the company, understand its managerial, environmental and technological strategies through live case studies, and immerse themselves in site visits and career workshops with Cartier employees.

“It has been a major influence in our learning,” said Francesca. “Like ESCP, Cartier is a well-established institution on the cutting-edge of many advancements, so as technology and demographics change, we’ve been able to understand how the company is choosing to evolve and change too.”

In what ways is ESCP meeting your business needs?

“An integral part of the MBA programme is participating in two consultancy projects, working along organisations with the hope of being integrated on a granular level,” said Francesca.

“In London, I developed strategic recommendations for a travel logistics company, Splyt, by conducting in-depth market analysis.

“In Paris, I’m now working with BNP Paribas on developing their Acceleration Hub to implement sustainability initiatives based on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and how the company can best work together to move the brand forward.

Both experiences gave me an opportunity to be agile and adaptable in a live, pressured environment. I was able to have autonomy over two projects which gave me real leadership experience. Working in a team to find solutions to real business problems and take it 110 percent was highly rewarding.”

The consultancy projects allowed Francesca to experience working with both a start-up and a large company, which gave her a new perspective on how to approach different types of business to get the most out of their potential.

What are your relationships like with your academics?

“Even with the school's esteemed faculty and high-profile visiting professors from HEC, Bocconi, and Cambridge, the academics are really accessible,” she said.

“The fact that the faculty is so diverse, both culturally and professionally, means they bring a lot of real life and industry insights into the teaching. It allows us to explore ideas beyond the scope of the course material.”

The weekly guest lectures provide an opportunity to speak to current business leaders from around the world who can provide insights into the challenges and changes impacting their business in real time.

“They have been the most fulfilling classes for me, because the speakers are people engaged in real life business situations and we get to see how they adapt to things constantly evolving,” Francesca said.

The support from faculty goes beyond the classroom too. Both the full-time professors and guest academics offer encouragement and advice throughout the MBA, especially during the final months of the programme as students start to plan the next stages of their careers.

“In the last few months, we’ve been seeking additional resources and support as we come to the end of the programme and the professors are always happy and willing to do what they can to help us.”

How has the MBA allowed you to grow personally?

“The MBA has been a well-rounded experience that’s pushed me to develop myself personally as well as professionally. It’s not only the learnings from my programme, but the day-to-day occurrences of studying with a diverse group of people with their own experiences and navigating living in different countries.

“I feel like it’s boosted my confidence to know I can go on and achieve what I want to do. I feel very fortunate to go into the job market with the exposure I’ve had and the contacts I’ve made.”

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Using my entrepreneurship degree to help migrants reach their full potential

Tue, 17 May 2022 10:34:18 +0000

Using my entrepreneurship degree to help migrants reach their full potential

[email protected]" class="username">laura.lightfin… Tue, 05/17/2022 - 11:34

Tue, 05/17/2022 - 12:43

A profile picture of Fernanda

Fernanda Hermanson came from a family of entrepreneurs. Following in their footsteps, she started selling things as a small child in Brazil and has been drawn to the power of entrepreneurship ever since.

While pursuing her own business ventures, Fernanda realised that it was talking about, and studying the idea of, entrepreneurship that really ignited her passion.

Missing the discussions around finding innovative ideas and making them viable, Fernanda decided to study an MSc in Entrepreneurship at Trinity College Dublin, where she would spend a year learning more about the start-up mindset and how to scale and grow existing businesses.

Fernanda’s lightbulb moment came during her master’s, when she spent every day talking about new ideas, trying to solve problems, and collaborating with others to make things happen.

“I realised that this is what I should do,” said Fernanda. “Instead of focusing on one problem to try and build a scalable business for myself, I should contribute to the development and growth of other entrepreneurs on their start-up journeys.”

The result is Unleashe, a digital hub that connects migrants to unlock their entrepreneurial potential.

Fernanda spoke to TopMBA about empowering migrants, like her, to create their own successes.

How does Unleashe help migrants to grow their own businesses?

Unleashe provides opportunities for start-ups across three pillars: mentoring and accelerator programmes, consultancy, and a digital hub where entrepreneurs can work together online.

“We offer a range of training programmes delivered by experts and experienced entrepreneurs and we tailor solutions for our clients to help them develop business plans, market research, market opportunity assessments, and strategic and financial planning for businesses at all stages,” said Fernanda.

“The aim is to create a supportive environment for developing connections and fast-tracking business growth through our hub. The digital space allows entrepreneurs across the globe to connect, share experiences and ideas, participate in training, and much more.”

As an entrepreneur in your home country, the business knowledge required for market analysis, audience development, funding and making a product or service viable is comprehensive enough.

But having migrated from Brazil to Ireland, Fernanda understands the additional challenges that come with starting a business in a new country. “You must learn the language, understand the culture and find new networks for yourself. It’s difficult.”

Many of the entrepreneurs Unleashe has worked with are migrants who have arrived in Europe without a job, or have a job they’re not happy with.

“It’s great being able to meet these people and say, ‘you can have a job and make a living, or you can do much more than that’,” said Fernanda. “You can have a business and you can have the best job ever. It’s up to you.”

By providing the tools and advice for entrepreneurs to set up and grow their businesses, Unleashe allows the people it supports to focus on settling into their new country, without the stress of doing it all on their own.

How did a master’s in entrepreneurship provide the skills to make Unleashe successful?

Compared to an MBA programme – which provides foundational business knowledge and skills to helps students take their existing business experience to reach management or strategy-led positions – an MSc in Entrepreneurship is designed specifically for those with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Providing the practical techniques to start or support new businesses, a master’s in entrepreneurship focuses on the frameworks needed to develop, test, fund, grow and scale new ventures.

Fernanda’s MSc in Entrepreneurship at Trinity College Dublin was foundational in understanding why her previous ventures had gone wrong, and how to adapt her clients’ ideas for better success.

Gaining the skills and techniques to iron out the creases of an entrepreneurial idea allowed her to identify and assess the problems, evaluate the best solutions and use innovation and creativity to implement a viable plan.

“It also helped me to build a strong network of highly skilled and experienced business mentors and peers. I was able to integrate myself into the Irish innovation ecosystem which gave me the courage and confidence to create my venture in Ireland,” she said.

“It’s the frameworks, techniques and solution-focused thinking that has been lifechanging for me – understanding how to effectively test the market, how to find funding, and how to make the most of your networks to create the best business possible.”

What challenges have you faced and overcome as a woman in business?

Fernanda said: “It was challenging not to let my insecurities and fear of failure keep me from taking risks and dreaming big. However, I learnt to work through the moments of self-doubt by ensuring that in any initiative I was trying to progress, I had a solid business case to back it up.

“To overcome the fear of failure, I had to change my point of view, become mentally prepared for what could happen and constantly focus on learning. I stopped waiting for perfection because I had to get things done.”

Another one of Fernanda’s greatest lessons has been to ask for help. “My aim was to build a community of entrepreneurs, but I was trying to do everything by myself to make that happen. It didn’t make any sense,” she said.

“Seeking support can help you to overcome problems, understand the market better and prepare yourself for any challenges you may face. I’ve learned that people usually want to help and be involved in something. To grow, I need to keep learning new skills and gain new knowledge, and that comes from working with other people to bring something together.”

What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs?

“Start small and grow over time,” said Fernanda. “It’s easy to want to do everything at once and jump straight in, but it’s important to start small and do your MVP (minimal viable product) testing as early as you can. That will teach you a lot and from there you can grow and develop in the right direction.”

For Fernanda, being an entrepreneur is about taking action, but understanding that there is always more knowledge to be gained and techniques to learn. “Keep studying, keep finding new methods and ways to innovate and to lead. Find people who can help you on your journey and bring them along with you as you grow and adapt.”

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Women in enterprise: It’s in our hands to change

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 09:13:06 +0000

Women in enterprise: It’s in our hands to change

[email protected]" class="username">laura.lightfin… Wed, 03/30/2022 - 10:13

Thu, 03/31/2022 - 13:55

A picture of Karina Collis

Karina Collis studied an Executive MBA at ESCP Business School in London and now the CEO and founder of Dialllog.co, an innovative software platform for venture capital and private equity funds.

Karina spoke to TopMBA about what it’s like to have founded a company as a woman, the challenges she’s faced and how her business school experience has helped her to build a successful start-up.

Tell us more about Diallog.co and what you do

Diallog.co digitalises all operations and workflows in venture capital and private equity. It’s an activity-based platform for relationships and collaboration in the private investment ecosystem. 

Most venture capitalists and private equity investors are still under-digitalised today. Some use basic CRM software to manage their deal flow but most still resort to Microsoft Excel or a fragmented set of applications that perpetuate lost data, low collaboration, and momentum.

Diallog.co acts as an integrated platform that empowers investment teams with a 360-degree view on all their activities and a means to collaborate with their direct external ecosystem in real time. We deliver previously unavailable efficiency gains to a very large and growing industry.

How did the Executive MBA help you find success in your start up?

I spent 15 years working in business development for large financial corporations like Bloomberg and Moody's. I dreamt of launching my own FinTech business, but everyone told me that it was too risky, and I was doomed to fail.

I spent my days doing something that I wasn't passionate about and needed to make a change, so I decided to take on an executive MBA.

From the first day, I met inspiring leaders willing to share their stories and help each other to grow. I learned that any business, no matter the size, was challenging and that the main skill was to know how to successfully deal with situations of stress and adversity.

My first entrepreneurial idea was born during the EMBA programme. I wanted to develop a sales automation platform. I remember that at the end of the design-thinking course, I had my first prototype and dozens of customer interviews completed. At the end of the marketing course, I abandoned that idea, realising how saturated the market was already.

By doing that, I learned about the initial steps of the entrepreneurial journey, from concept to execution, which has helped me to get to where I am today.

I keep in touch with my EMBA friends daily. Some of them help me with advice, some with introductions to other business leaders, and many reach out to me to discuss their own entrepreneurial ideas. I love this dynamic community. I find it very enriching and inspiring.

What challenges have you faced being a woman in business? How did you overcome these?

I am proud to be a woman entrepreneur. People say that the female voice is less vocal. Well, it is in our hands to change. I don't find it difficult to knock on the same door again and again until it's open. This is entrepreneurship for me. 

What I find the most challenging is to stay still and calm in stressful situations. I don't know if it is gender-related or not though. I think anyone can feel anxious. To avoid emotional decisions, I've learned to distance myself from a problem and I try to look at it through other people's eyes. I ask myself “what would Anna or John think about it? What benefits and risks would they see?”

This approach helps me to analyse the problem from different angles. What I learned is that under no circumstances should you rush, even when a mostly male-dominated community puts pressure on me.

What advice do you have for other entrepreneurial women?

The main advice I can give is to talk to more people to get other perspectives and insights. Nothing can be achieved alone. By talking to people, you gain their advice, feedback, support, and new ideas. Build and expand your network every day. An MBA programme is the best place to start connecting to new people.

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My online MBA was an opportunity to futureproof my career

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 08:45:44 +0000

My online MBA was an opportunity to futureproof my career

[email protected]" class="username">laura.lightfin… Mon, 03/28/2022 - 09:45

Mon, 03/28/2022 - 10:52

A profile picture of Iain Cooper

“You can’t study your own organisation for two semesters and not come up with some really good insights to throw into conversations with your leadership team, to show you’ve got concrete knowledge about the company and where it is headed.”

Iain Cooper had worked as a tax specialist for multinational corporations for over 20 years, but he wanted to go further than the standard tax and accounting qualifications had allowed him.

The online MBA at UCL School of Management provided him with the opportunity to advance his skillset to a strategic level, giving him credibility at a senior leadership level within a leading technical and professional services company, Jacobs. Following his MBA, Iain landed the role as Senior Director of Finance and is now responsible for delivering key strategic initiatives as part of Jacobs’ ‘Focus 2023’ business transformation.

As a leading global research and consulting firm, Jacobs manages projects from intelligence to infrastructure and cybersecurity to space exploration, with the aim of creating a more connected and sustainable world. As part of a future-focused organisation, it’s Iain’s role to understand how the business is operating financially, how return on investment is contributing to the growth of the organisation and advising on reinvestment into new tools and ways of working to enhance shareholder value.

For Iain, the online MBA did exactly what he wanted it to achieve. Studying online allowed him to work from anywhere in the world – helpful when he could be given a week’s notice to travel across the globe for his job – but he also had the opportunity to take on a broader financial strategy role, running a joint venture in Saudi Arabia.

“I was part of a team that included a sales lead, an operations lead and a CEO and I wanted to be able to use the same language they used in their own disciplines, to help illustrate how the role of finance can connect with, and be helpful for, company strategy,” he said.

“The main goal for me was to develop better intelligence around strategy; setting strategy, operationalising strategy and executing strategy. It was about understanding how businesses make money, what levers to pull, how to focus on resources and capabilities in order to drive competitive advantage which goes beyond the normal accounting and finance knowledge.”

Futureproofing for a digital world

A future-focused and data-centric MBA programme with digitalisation at its heart, the UCL MBA stood out for Iain after Jacobs had announced a new business strategy in 2016 that was focused on the digitalisation and automation of its services and customer experience.

“It was hugely important that the degree would bring me up to speed in a digital space, so I could move with Jacobs in transforming the business for today’s digitally driven world,” said Iain. “It felt like an excellent opportunity to futureproof my career.

“On top of that, I was able to upskill in data and statistics and gain a clearer understanding of the way digital analytics tools work in the modern economy to drive better business decision-making. That allowed me to get to a position where I could ask valuable questions to the digital experts in my organisation, which was tremendously valuable.”

Since his MBA, Iain has worked on a project with the team responsible for digitalising Jacobs’ business model and is now equipped with the skills to speak the language of innovation and agile start-up in a way that makes him more credible across the business.

Strategy isn’t an instinct, it’s science

Before studying for his MBA, Iain had always thought that business strategy was something you either understood, or you didn’t. “I thought it was an instinct that certain people had, and I didn’t,” Iain said, “but my MBA has taught me that it’s much more scientific than that.

“It’s about learning the techniques and methods to understand how companies choose the markets in which they operate, how they focus on higher margin markets, portfolio diversification and how they are going to future-proof or even divest away from certain traditional markets.”

“All of that is very scientific and the MBA really brought it to life for me that I could gain a much deeper understanding of Jacobs’ business strategy.”

Applying theory to real world challenges

One of the highlights of the MBA for Iain was the opportunity to focus on the company he works for, in a module that allows students to apply the theory they learn in class to a genuine business challenge. Iain spent two semesters researching Jacobs, using the skills and knowledge he’d gained in his degree to find viable solutions and outputs.

“To have that opportunity was fantastic,” he said. “That’s the kind of flexibility I think people look for in the programme, the ability to take everything you have learned, to choose the modules that appeal most to you, and apply that knowledge to something real in your own way.

Iain says there’s a common challenge with being a finance expert in some more traditional professional services firms, where accountants are thought of as no more than bean counters, running the numbers each month and pulling reports. At Jacobs, finance leaders are valued as genuine business partners with impact.

“So, to have gained so much insight and knowledge from my MBA and to have had the opportunity to apply it to Jacobs as part of my course, I can now raise challenges and say, ‘you could do it that way, but you might want to try this way instead’ and I’m more likely to be listened to because I’ve got the credibility now.”

An invaluable experience

“If you’re really interested in getting a deeper knowledge of management science and how to apply theory to drive future growth in your organisation, whether it’s a company you work for or an entrepreneurial venture, studying an MBA is a tremendously valuable experience,” said Iain.

“You get out what you put in, so it’s been transformational for me in terms of the discussions I can now have with the leadership team at my company.

“It has completely transformed the way I look at our business and where we are positioned today and for the future. I’m excited about the contribution I think I can make to Jacobs moving forward.”

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