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23 Dec 2021, 23:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: Masters in Management: My first term reflections |
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By Katarina Susa, MiM2022 Has it already been one term? It feels rather like I was seated at orientation day at the Brewery, listening to Dean François Ortalo-Magné’s welcome speech just a few weeks ago. But then again, August also seems like ages ago. While these two feelings are very contradictory, both perfectly align with my experience of the first term at London Business School. To say it has been a busy few months would be an understatement. With all the novelty from starting a Master’s programme at a new school, in an area you might not be familiar with, there has been plenty to keep occupied with while working towards the Masters in Management (MiM) degree. I don’t even know where to begin, but, to put it shortly, I have gained more academically in the past 3-4 months than I could have ever anticipated. Having selected LBS for its world class teaching and with the purpose of improving my business acumen, my experience during term one has definitely exceeded my expectations of the programme. I was prepared for it to be intense, but I could never have known how immersive and engaging all the core modules and material would be. The highlight of the programme for me so far has been the excellent faculty and staff, who I find to be extremely passionate about their subjects. Taking part in contrastingly different classes – from Financial Accounting to the likes of Marketing and Data Analytics, I am certain that by the end of this year, I will have achieved a rounded education and feel completely prepared for the world of (in my case) consulting. But really, I do not believe LBS and the programme limits you to any specific career path – rather it opens more doors and opportunities, especially with all the support offered by an excellent Careers Team. And of course, there are the socials and clubs, which, at first, overwhelmed me, because there are numerous to choose from – a variety which does not cease to impress me. At LBS these past few months, I have been able to meet such a diverse crowd of inspiring peers with whom I would have never connected with if it weren’t for the MiM programme. There is always talk about being diverse and representing multiple nationalities, but in the case of LBS, I am experiencing it first-hand. And the learning opportunities from being part of such a multinational crowd may even outweigh the academic learning. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us in next term. See you in 2022! The post Masters in Management: My first term reflections appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
24 Dec 2021, 00:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: What is it like doing the LBS MBA as a parent? |
 By Carolina Darraidou, MBA2023 For MBA student, Carolina Darraidou, the decision to do an MBA abroad came with many questions about fitting it around parenthood. Below she shares her journey to LBS. September 2012 When I first met my husband nine years ago, one of the first things I told him was: “One of my dreams is to study a master’s abroad.” At that time, I was still doing my undergraduate back in Chile, had no clue where I wanted to work, what I wanted to do with my life, or that the person I was talking to would become my husband. But the idea was set. August 2017 Fast forward five years. I had finished my undergraduate, was working for a big CPG company, and that person I had talked to before had become my boyfriend. One day, I was speaking with some colleagues about our plans: where we saw ourselves in 10 years. I can remember how anxious I became as I realised how much time had passed and I wasn’t closer to achieving my dream. So, I started thinking of what I wanted to do with my career and researching my different options. It quickly became apparent that an MBA was the way to go. I still wasn’t sure when or where I wanted to apply, but I decided to take the GMAT anyways. I set myself a deadline: I had five years to figure out the rest. July 2020 Three more years had gone by. I had continued to work for the same company, had done the GMAT, and was married to that same person I had told my dreams to eight years ago. The clock was ticking, and I knew that my GMAT score would expire soon. I discussed it with my husband on a Monday and decided it was time to apply. I was incredibly excited! I was finally going to pursue my dream of doing a master’s abroad! My computer was quickly filled with information about different schools and programmes. By Thursday, a question appeared on our minds. When would we have kids? That dreaded math that some of us face and feel pressured to do: if I wait after I do my MBA, I’ll be x years old (nope, I’m not going to reveal my age in this blog, thank you very much), and then I must wait a year or so after I find a job to get pregnant and then another nine months for my first baby to be born. And then add another kid or two, and I’m too old. I didn’t want to quit my dream, but I was also aware of how this affected our family plans. Being that this would be our first kid and having never done a master’s, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, and concluded: well, let’s do both! How hard can it be? Spoilers: hard, but possible. December 2020 I received *THE* email letting me know I had been accepted at LBS! (insert a video of excited me dancing in our apartment and then quickly lying down because of morning sickness) June 2021 We had the best day of our lives! Olivia was born a healthy (and adorable) baby. December 2021 And here we are! 11,665 km away from home, married to that same person of nine years ago, one baby in our family, and doing an MBA at London Business School. I can’t even begin to describe how lucky and blessed I am. As Term 1 is ending, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on our time here. I’m not going to lie, it’s been hard, but I’ve never felt this fulfilled by anything I’ve done in my life. So, here are my thoughts and comments so far (they are a lot, so prepare yourself): 
 And so, knowing what I know now, do an MBA or have a baby? Or do both? Do both!! Doing an MBA at LBS is a one-of-a-kind experience. Doing this with my family makes it even more special! It’s the three of us as a team living our lives and creating memories in London while I’m studying to provide Olivia and our family with a better future. And as for the problems that appear? The way I try to see things is: there will always be problems, but most of them have solutions. For us, we are just solving one at a time. If you want to know more about my experience doing an MBA while being a mom go follow @itsanmbamom on Instagram. The post What is it like doing the LBS MBA as a parent? appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
06 Jan 2022, 03:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: My top tips for the MiF “hidden” application essays |
 By Matthew Eidinger, MiFPT2023 Here’s a question to ponder before submitting your application to the LBS Masters in Finance programme (MiF): How many application essays are required? You might think, “Well, that’s an easy question! There are two essays!” There are indeed the two main essays on the MiF application – the first is about your motivation for applying to the MiF and your career goals, and the second is about your interest in getting involved in student life at LBS. These two essays are important, since they are the first glimpse into your profile that the admissions committee will have prior to your interview. However, you would be only partially correct to say that the MiF requires two written essays. There are actually four other opportunities to write responses to questions on the application. These “hidden essays” cover your personal interests, the challenges you envision in the MiF, your international experiences and how your circle of friends and family will take to (or have taken to) your decision to study at LBS. I feel that these parts of the application are often overlooked and viewed as simple routine questions. However, they provide great opportunities to stand out from other applicants and show the MiF admissions team who you are as a person outside the classroom and the office. If you write something that stands out, chances are that it could imbue your application with a certain “spike factor”, leaving a good impression with both the admissions committee and your alumni interviewer. In my case, my write up on the personal interests hidden essay served as an interesting talking point during my application interview. My interviewer had already read through my application prior to our chat. At one point during our discussion she brought up my personal interest in stargazing, which I had discussed in the essay, and we discussed it for a good 5-10 minutes. She told me that it was something she’d never seen on an application before during all her years of interviewing MiF candidates for LBS. In the end, I think applicants should focus most of their effort on writing good essays in response to the main questions asked on the application – what will the MiF do for your career, and what parts of student life at LBS you’re interested in getting involved in. Do not neglect these hidden essays, since they provide great opportunities to show the admissions committee who you are before they meet you and can provide great talking points to put you at ease during your admissions interview! If you’re interested in learning more about our Masters in Finance programme, please visit our website. The post My top tips for the MiF “hidden” application essays appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
11 Jan 2022, 03:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: Building a focus on Tech & Media at LBS |
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By Giri Kesavan, MBA2021 Giri Kesavan was part of the MBA2021 cohort. During his time at LBS, he was involved in every aspect of the student journey across Recruitment & Admissions, Degree Education, Experiential Learning & Student-Led activities. He was an Academic Rep for MBA2021, Co-President of The Tech & Media Club, an MBA Ambassador, a TEDx LBS speaker as well as an Alumni Representative for the MBA2021 class. Coming from an engineering & product background, he pioneered a new focus for the school on Technology, Media & Product careers, working closely with faculty, staff, alumni & industry. He continues to be heavily involved in Recruitment & Admissions for the MBA programme and all things tech at LBS. The central element to my MBA journey at LBS was working across Recruitment & Admissions, Degree Education, Experiential Learning, Student-Led activities & Alumni/Advancement to build a new focus on Technology & Media Education and Careers. LBS isn’t just about banking and consulting, but we’re now extremely well positioned to power careers in technology, on a global scale. It’s been an 18-month journey to get to this point, with 6 key moments!  December 2019 It all started following on from our Dublin Technology Trek, chatting with David Morris, Head of Technology & Media Careers. David and I kicked off conversations around the gaps in the MBA programme related to Technology, as well as getting feedback from alumni and industry as to what was needed. We spent time mapping out the skillset that we needed to create in our students to truly drive careers in the sector. March 2020 Leveraging my position as Co-President for The Tech & Media Club, we created a taskforce across the school to create initiatives that would directly cover Technology, Media & Product Management. Working horizontally across the school, we launched a drive towards data-fluency in the MBA. SQL, Python and Tableau were launched as part of Leadership Launch, embedding critical data skills into our MBA. We assessed the elective portfolio and outlined the key courses across faculty to develop, improve market school-wide, that would power tech careers. May 2020 A critical month. Working with the school, for the first-time, we launched a new MBA degree concentration in Technology & Analytics. Covering a range of courses across Product, Fintech, Digital Marketing, Digital Strategy & Data Analysis, the Tech & Analytics MBA concentration opened up a suite of tech-focused electives to the student population – ensuring that our students were well equipped with the skills, experiences and network needed for careers in the Tech space. July 2020 We truly kicked off the Tech & Media Club and elevated the club to be the cornerstone for all things Technology at LBS. Through conferences, events, international treks, mentorship, interview prep, deep dives, digital boot camps and more, we organised an array of amazing events throughout the academic year to immerse students into the tech sector. December 2020 Leveraging the virtual context we were now in, we launched new courses and initiatives with a pure experiential & product focus. We brought back alumni from as far as San Francisco and embedded them virtually into our Product courses. We launched ‘Digital for Impact’ – an experiential course partnering students with companies in emerging markets, focused on digital consulting. With the Tech & Media Club – we also launched Projects at TMC, a way for students to gain practical product management exposure through key projects. April 2021 Looking towards the future, we setup a Technology SteerCo incorporating students, alumni, industry, faculty & Careers Centre to holistically drive the technology agenda at the school. We meet monthly and look at the initiatives across the departments: Recruitment & Admissions, Degree Education, Experiential Learning, Careers Centre, Student-Led, Alumni & Advancement. It’s been a fantastic learning experience for me personally to drive the conversation for Technology at LBS, and it’s great to see that we’re no longer just a banking and consulting school, but our students are well-equipped to succeed in technology & media, on a global scale. In the last year, nearly half the MBA2021 cohort completed summer internships in tech, and nearly 30% of full time roles in the MBA2020 cohort were in the tech space. This is just the start. Tech at LBS has been transformed over the past 18 months, and we’re working collaboratively across the school to pioneer a focus on Technology, that opens up exciting new opportunities for our students. The post Building a focus on Tech & Media at LBS appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
14 Jan 2022, 04:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: EMBA-Global Admissions Process |
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By Elena Aldea, Recruitment and Admissions Manager – EMBA Global & Sloan Our Executive MBA Global Americas & Europe programme, run in partnership with the prestigious Columbia Business School is considered as one of the world’s leading EMBA programmes. The admissions process mirrors the rigour of the programme itself, grounded in academic excellence, in order to build a class comprised of the strongest candidates and future leaders. The admissions stages are as it follows: Application submission The application is completed online and candidates have the chance to review and edit any information in the form prior to submitting. There are 7 main components: an application form, most-recent CV, three essay questions, scanned copies of academic transcripts, two references, a company support letter from the employer, and an EA/GMAT test. It’s very important to upload all relevant documents from the beginning, as we are not able to progress an application to the next phase unless the application is fully complete. Review stage Once the application comes up in our system as complete, we will begin the review process. The decisions are usually communicated within 7 business days. Towards the end of the cycle, the review period is usually even less. Interview The interview is held with a member of our Admissions Team at either LBS or CBS, depending on the residential territory of the applicant. It lasts approximately 40-45 minutes, followed by a 5-10 minutes Q&A session. The key objectives are to ascertain the fit between the candidate and the programme, explore the application in more depth as well as the synergy between the background, objectives, and the level of contribution within the class. Decision There are 3 scenarios in terms of the outcome. If successful, candidates can receive either a conditional or unconditional offer. If the Committee needs some more time to decide, candidates will be placed on a waitlist. Or, if unsuccessful, candidates can be rejected or asked to reapply to our future streams. Ready for a new journey? Our last two deadlines for EMBAG2024 are approaching, with the class commencing in May 2022. If you wish to have your profile assessed before applying, followed by a personalised chat with our team, feel free to get in touch at embaglobal@london.edu. We look forward to hearing from you! The post EMBA-Global Admissions Process appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
18 Jan 2022, 07:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: Why lessons from the EMBA-Global can be utilised right away |
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One of the many aspects of the EMBA-Global that make it stand out is that the lessons learnt on the programme can be applied into your work right away. The part-time nature of the programme allows you to implement your skills into your work and feel the positive benefits in your career from the start. We asked current students, [b]Kwame Bekoe[/b] and [b]Ivo Batista[/b], both [b][url=https://www.emba-global.com/americasandeurope.html#.YeaO7WjP1PY]EMBA-Global Americas & Europe 2023 [/url][/b]students, what they felt the immediate benefits have been since joining the programme. [b]Kwame Bekoe[/b] I had always been looking to do an MBA at a world class institution in a global setting at some stage in my career. Coming from an Aviation background which had seen a significant decline in 2020, I felt this would not only give me the opportunity to focus and dedicate the time needed, but it was clear that the industry as a whole would need to change and prepare for a new normal, and that would take a particular type of leader. The diversity and scope of the individuals on the EMBA programme, together with its world class professors, facilitates discussions that have depth and cover a broad array of subject matters. The perspectives gleaned and shared enable us to further collaborate and learn to apply science and analytics to decision making, leading to a successful overall outcome. This thinking has led me, as a leader, to become more deliberate in decision-making, while applying the lesson’s learnt and best practices from differing sectors and industries. Self introspection and simply knowing oneself has been one of the most valuable tools instilled in us for personal and leadership development. Over the period of the programme, I’ve learnt to truly hone into who I am, my values and where I see myself going, and this has given me a clear sense of direction and focus to navigate my personal and professional life. The application of skills and tools has helped me develop significantly over the course of the programme, and grow to become a better leader. [b]Ivo Batista[/b] My primary objectives for joining the EMBA-Global programme were to develop a better awareness of myself, the evolving global market place and leadership traits through exposure to the leading academic thinking in two leading educational organisations; and most importantly, to build relationships with and learn from the leaders around me in the programme. Armed with these new insights, relationships and a rekindled appetite for personal and professional growth, I continue to look for exciting challenges in which I can create value. The leadership aspects of the course have been incredibly valuable to me, providing frameworks and insights from leaders in academia and industry that I’ve begun to assimilate into my own thinking and used to further refine my values and objectives. The strategy courses have also been particularly useful in refreshing and building on knowledge sets that have greater relevance in my role and are something that I plan to use much more directly in shaping my thinking and engagement with stakeholders. I’ve found the broad exposures through the course have helped me to connect the many aspects of business more effectively and to improve my communication with stakeholders, aligning my messaging (both written and verbal) to audiences more effectively. I’ve also found that the very fact that I’m doing the programme appears to have driven a shift in stakeholder perception of my views, particularly outside my areas of expertise. If you’re interested in learning more about the EMBA-Global programme, please visit our [b][url=https://www.emba-global.com/]website[/url][/b]. The post [url=https://admissionsblog.london.edu/why-lessons-from-the-emba-global-can-be-utilised-right-away/]Why lessons from the EMBA-Global can be utilised right away[/url] appeared first on [url=https://admissionsblog.london.edu]Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School[/url]. |
18 Jan 2022, 10:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: My MAM Study Group Experience |
By Marianna Taki, MAM2022 It’s no secret that life at LBS is all about collaboration, exchange of ideas and developing a global mindset. As part of a study group not only do you get to do all of that, but you are also building bonds with your classmates that you are going to be carrying for the rest of your year at LBS, if not for the rest of your life. But let’s start with the basics. What is a study group? At the beginning of each term every Early Careers student is assigned to one study group. This is a group of 5 or 6 people from the same programme which are expected to complete all group assignments of the term curriculum together. As there are three terms during the LBS academic year, every student is part of three different study groups over the course of the Masters. Study group members are assigned by the programme office. Every study group is diverse in its own way, with members from different nationalities but also a range of academic backgrounds. The outcome is a well-rounded group, with each member bringing different views and skills to the table allowing for effective collaboration and high standard work. Okay so now we know what study groups are, but how do study groups work together? The truth is that the beginning can be quite tricky. Put six strangers in a room and ask them to work on a graded submission together. Most of the times there’s bound to be panic and awkwardness. Well, that’s why we do things quite differently at LBS! The first interaction with your study group will be during the famous ‘Away Day’ where you will have the chance to work together on a non-academic, hands-on project with the aim of meeting the community. This is a chance to get introduced to every member of your group and bond before you start working with each other on assignments. A few days later, group submissions will be coming your way one after the other. At this point, there’s going to be many long meetings with your group, late night messages and hard work to be completed. The fact that you have each other will help a lot with calming nerves and motivating you to bring your best work, not only for yourself but for the sake of the team too. Communication between study groups is key. Normally, groups meet both in person and over Zoom to discuss and work on assignments. Of course, you’re free to choose your own means of communication and decide how you want to go about assignments or divide up work. What’s important is that every member of the group has their own input in each assignment. All in all, in a couple weeks’ time you will feel so accustomed to your group members that they’ll become your LBS family. You’ll be ready to tackle any assignment that comes your way no matter how long or difficult, knowing that you’ve got your group to back you up! Right, let’s talk about my personal study group experience. Although I’ve always enjoyed working within teams my previous experiences were not particularly great. This made me quite anxious when it came to my study group as I wanted to perform well on group assignments and get on with the other group members. Here are the three things I realised after working with my study group for an entire term at LBS:
Average work was not an option when it came to my study group. From the very beginning we were all prepared to put in maximum effort and produce the best work we could. I could see everyone’s motivation and eagerness to perform at every meeting. This was not something that I was used to from previous team experiences at all, but it’s certainly a reflection of the motivation of all LBS students
As group assignments tend to be quite long and tricky most of the times the work is split between group members and then brought together at the end. However, this doesn’t mean that you’re completely on your own for your individual part. Countless times I found myself struggling with particular tasks. However, I knew that my group mates were only a message away and they’d always do their best to help me get over any difficulty I was facing.
Through my study group’s diversity, I had the opportunity to exchange ideas with people from entirely different backgrounds and combine them to achieve our common goal. I realised pretty early on that I had to take full advantage of this, and so, I did. By keeping an open mindset, I started to view things from a completely different perspective and engaged in discussions that at times were absolutely enlightening! As Term 2 is about to begin, I’m beyond excited at the prospect of my new study group. I cannot wait to find out all about my new group members and discover the dynamic that we will bring to this term’s assignments! If you would like to learn more about our Masters in Analytics and Management (MAM) programme, please visit our website. The post My MAM Study Group Experience appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
21 Jan 2022, 08:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: Welcoming our new Sloan 2022 class! |
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By Elena Aldea, Recruitment & Admissions Manager – EMBA-Global and Sloan The LBS community and Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy programme is excited to welcome the new cohort for 2022! It’s been a year-long, but fruitful process, so congratulations to everyone who secured a place on our Sloan programme.  The class is comprised of 52 students, who started their first week – Orientation Week – at the beginning of January. It’s been a real success so far – for some, it was the first official in-person interaction with the rest of the group at our London campus; for others, it offered the opportunity to strengthen the relationships already established during Admits events and other social activities before the start of the programme. There are 21 nationalities represented by students who came from 38 international cities to relocate to London, at least for this year. Among the new nationalities against last year, we have students from Argentina, Iran, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Israel, Lebanon, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine & UAE. The average number of years of work experience is 18, ranging from 12 to 31 years – one of the most senior we have ever seen. They bring a background of impressive careers and job functions, management and leadership experience as well as academic merits – 11 of them already hold an MBA qualification with close to 20 members of the class having obtained a postgraduate qualification previously. There is a wide range of industries displayed, such as Defense and Military services, Law, Education, Construction and Manufacturing, IT services, Upstream Oil & Gas; still, the most predominant one remains Finance with 34% of the class size. Some of the remarkable companies include MUFG Bank, KMPG, Gazprom Kyrgyzstan, Israel Defense Forces – Navy, Coca Cola, and EY. We are pleased to welcome 11 women to the programme, which equates to 21% female representation for the class. Of course, as a School, we aim to reach an even balance between men and women, and this is a priority for the upcoming stream. Ready to start the journey? We have just opened the new cycle for the Sloan 2023 class. If you wish to have your profile assessed prior to the application, feel free to contact us on sloan@london.edu. The post Welcoming our new Sloan 2022 class! appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
31 Jan 2022, 08:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: Hear from the Africa Club in our upcoming event on MBA application tips and pitfalls |
 Join us on Thursday 17 February for an online session hosted by the LBS Africa Club for all African candidates who are applying or thinking about applying for the MBA programme at London Business School. This session will be led by African students, Damilola Onabowale (MBA2022) and Sabra Banane (MBA2023), and will give candidates the opportunity to hear from a member of the Recruitment and Admissions team. The session is designed for candidates to get practical tips and insights for a successful MBA application and to address frequently asked questions from prospective students. Candidates will have the opportunity to interact further with all attendees through a Q&A session that aims to answer any questions not covered by the host students. This event is free and open to anyone who is thinking of, or in the process of, applying to the LBS MBA programme. Sign up to the event below:  The post Hear from the Africa Club in our upcoming event on MBA application tips and pitfalls appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
01 Feb 2022, 09:00
04 Feb 2022, 02:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: 9 Tips for your sponsorship pitch |
By Deboleena Dasgupta – EMBA London, 2023 ‘What is the best way to ask my employer for sponsorship?’ I often get this question from several EMBA aspirants and peers. So, here’s my story and my perspectives around preparing for the conversation and navigating it effectively. Whether financing your EMBA is a challenge for you or not, money, like everything else, has an opportunity cost. For an employer, sponsorship, whether full or partial, is always a coveted reward. But for an ambitious corporate professional, apart from just the financial angle, the most rewarding element of employer sponsorship is a sense of assurance that your company values you and that your bosses care. I was eager to do an EMBA at LBS that I was quite sure in my head that I would plunge in whether or not I got funding support in the form of any scholarship or sponsorship. Therefore, I started the employer conversation with an absolutely ‘nothing to lose’ mindset. And now when I think back, I feel this attitude truly helped me in making a pitch that was genuine, thoughtful and came from a place of clarity and confidence.
And finally,
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17 Feb 2022, 01:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: Black at LBS: Exploring the Stats and Recognising the Gaps |
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In October, we marked Black History Month UK by highlighting some of our Black students, alumni and partners and the positive contributions they are making to organisations around the world. As a part of the month-long events focused on creating sustainable and viable change for Black professionals, we hosted London Business School’s inaugural Black at LBS series.  The first event in the series, Black at LBS: Exploring the Stats and Recognising the Gaps, discussed the reasons why Black professionals still faced barriers to entry throughout their career and what they think are the necessary changes needed to overcome adversity. Amber Haque (Senior Recruitment & Admissions Manager) and Tabria Lenard (MBA Graduate 2021 & Co-Founder of the Black in Business Club at LBS) explored some of the most striking statistics by leading a conversation with current students and alumni. Joining Amber and Tabria were Ayo Gabriel (MBA2018 Executive Director, Private Wealth Management, Goldman Sachs), Zipporah Gatiti (EMBA2014 Founder & CEO, Taste of Kenya), Claude Fidelin (EMBAG2012 Head of Digital Commerce for Jordan Brand EMEA, Nike) and Anneke Gustafson (MiM2022 Marketing Coordinator, thirteen lune). The discussion aimed to foster an open dialogue on race and work and also bring to life some very important emerging statistics. Perhaps one of the most striking statistics addressed was that according to the US Bureau of Labor statistics 4.1% of US chief executives and 7.8% of people in management occupations identified as Black and in addition, currently in 2021 there are zero Black executives leading UK companies.  Zipporah Gatiti confirmed that she was not surprised by the statistic. She argued that it’s usually very hard to advance in corporate companies at senior levels because of either a lack of support, lack of network, or lack of mentors. She chose to leave the corporate world after 10 years and set up her own start-up where she was able to craft the leadership positions that she wanted. She feels confident that with work, the statistic can be changed. On the other hand, Ayo Gabriel finds the statistic triggering. He isn’t shocked but he is disappointed. During the discussion, he spoke about his upbringing in South East London, which he likened to sometimes being like a mini Lagos within London where the majority of his school and church friends were Black or of some ethnic diversity. When he entered the corporate world, it quickly became apparent that he was one of three salespeople out of a workforce of two to 300, which sparked an immediate psychological association with the running theme of ‘being the only Black person in the room’. “Whenever you are the only Black person, you have a heightened consciousness of this fact. In a perfect case scenario, you will be in an environment that is highly inclusive so everyone appreciates you being different, where there is no difference to your ability to do the job. As a society, I don’t think we are there yet.“ When looking at the stats more practically, Claude Fidelin explained his shock when hearing the following fact for the first time – there are more CEOs in the UK called Peter than there are Black CEOs and similarly in the US there are more CEOs called John than there are Black CEOs. Claude has been working in the corporate world for over 20 years across Europe, the Middle East and the US and has had both negative and positive experiences. This is one of the reasons why he started his blog where he explores the impact of being Black within a corporate setting. Claude asks “When looking at a CEO as an individual who is part of a corporation; and if we agree that Black people regardless of their sexuality, orientation and a range of other contributing factors, have the same capabilities as everyone else, then why are Black people not present at these higher levels? Is it time for corporate companies to look inwardly as to why this underrepresentation of Black employees continues to be an issue?” Anneke Gustafson is a current Masters in Management student. As someone who will enter the corporate world as a fresh graduate within the next year she is concerned about the barriers to entry, especially around mentorship and the unfortunate lack of senior Black role models. “It’s disheartening looking at the workforce that I’m trying to enter and to not see anyone that looks like me and not have anyone to compare the difficulties of my journey with.” During the session, panelists made reference to the importance of having a ‘blueprint’. If we believe that representation matters and the research clearly states that representation is important, then what motivates and inspires Black professionals to achieve given the absence of role models?  Ayo explained that motivation has many different drivers. If you want to see change and you are motivated to see this change, then you will continue to stay motivated. For example, if you take the various civil rights movements, the leaders of these movements were so incredibly motivated because they wanted to see a change in the world. “My mother to this day is the most motivated human that I know. My upbringing was an interesting experience and I saw first-hand that through motivation you can achieve things that the world says you can’t. Being Black in today’s society is hard and being a woman in isolation is also hard. If you intersect the two, imagine how hard it is as a Black woman with your own additional unique hurdles. I saw her overcome so much. If you push hard enough, you can achieve what you set your mind to.” Ayo went on to explain that upon graduating from his MBA, the potential career paths that existed had a very specific demographic which for the most part seemed to be for the most elite with very few opportunities for Black professionals. It became a goal-driven motivation for him to try to fill this gap. “When thinking about becoming a blueprint for other people, I hope other people can follow in my footsteps and achieve more than I have. This for me is a big enough incentive for me to keep doing what I do.” In Zipporah’s experience of being the first Black woman producing and exporting coffee in Kenya, she explains that it is very important for people to see Black people, specifically Black women in sectors or leading sectors that are historically male-dominated. “It was important for me to let girls and boys in Kenya see that it’s possible to enter into this sector. I also think it’s important for Black people to be represented in other sectors that they often don’t consider because of this lack of representation. This will allow us to trail blaze, thus creating our own blueprint. And only then will we begin to see change.” It became clear from the discussion that looking for role models outside of your specific industry is a common occurrence for the panelists and equally for Black professionals in white-dominated environments. Anneke states that she has gotten a lot of inspiration from looking at people outside of her specific career path. She referenced Elaine Welteroth‘s bestselling book, More Than Enough, which states ‘It’s so heavy a burden to be the first and the only in a field but it’s also such an immense privilege to be there and to set the course for someone else following in that path’. Anneke takes great comfort from the idea that by moving forward within whatever sector she chooses, she is helping someone else move forward in their own.  There has been lots of talk recently in business, the press, and in publications about bringing your whole self to work. Being authentic in who you are in the workplace, yet there are still plenty of Black professionals who feel that they can’t be themselves in a professional environment. And that they must either sensor or hide a part of who they are. The panel was asked whether they have adopted a work persona to better appeal to their White colleagues and whether they thought this either impedes or advances their career. Anneke says that she makes an effort to try not to code-switch in whatever environment that she is in. She argues that there is definitely a lot of pressure, especially coming up through the education system, to be considered or seen as a palatable Black person and to adhere to a very specific form of what the business culture expects you to be. One example she gave was the expectation for Black women to change their hair. “I used to straighten my hair and I used to wear braids. I made a very conscious decision when starting Business School that I was going to wear my hair natural all the time. I think it is important to bring my most authentic self to whatever space that I am in so that others feel they can do the same.” On the other hand, Ayo says that he has been on an entire journey when it comes to code-switching. After landing his first job in the corporate world, he saw it as the most unsocio-economically demographic place that he had ever seen. Although he considers himself British, he also states that it is very important to acknowledge his identity as a British-Nigerian, as it is its own identity in its own right, with its own mannerisms and cultural norms. “On starting at that company, I thought, wow, I’m different, but that’s fine. I’ll get my head down, work hard and everything should go to plan. However, I realised quickly that I might have been missing out on opportunities as I wasn’t at drinks or social functions because I didn’t initially feel entirely comfortable. Once I realised this, I thought let me jump all the way in and try to fit in with the majority.” Ayo added that as his journey continued, he started to receive promotions and pay rises but he considered the process of trying to be someone else ineffective despite his success. He understood that he could still be his own person, stand for his values and his culture, but in a way that he could adapt to his work environment rather than change to fit the majority. Ayo likens this approach to that of an equalizer, which takes a song, changes its general sound, for example from hard rock to a more acoustic sound, but the song in itself stays the same. “So in the office and in life now, I can equalize who I am. My song stays the same, my personality stays the same, my values stay the same and my cultural norms stay the same. I don’t have a persona amongst friends or family or work, I am the same person, I just have a different equalizer setting for the environment that I’m in.” But how does this expectation change the further you are into your career? Claude raised the point that as you get more senior you are always mindful of bringing your authentic self to work. And often Black professionals have to make a decision based on the negative and positive impact of being an authentic Black person in the corporate world. Claude argues that if it negatively impacts you, you have to decide whether it is really the right company culture or organistation for you. “Attending an elite university in Paris, I felt that I was always trying to play catch up and be accepted, but I never truly felt that I fitted in. Once I began my career, I made the decision to stop trying to fit in. I started to share my journey and my experiences and my career started to take off in ways that were unimaginable. It’s much easier to take this kind of risk much earlier on in your career when you’re less concerned about paying rent or finding another job. I find it sad that people may go their whole working lives without being able to be themselves and show their full potential.”  In May 2020, the murder of African American George Floyd by White police officer, Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota sparked widespread rage around the world. The panel was asked their feelings about why it took this kind of event, for businesses, organisations, and institutions of higher education to pay serious attention to racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. No longer could the real underrepresentation of Black employees be skewed by wider BAME figures and companies were under mounting pressure to address and prioritise the recruitment of Black leaders in their boardrooms. Anneke, who worked for thirteen lune, a beauty company set up by only ‘Black and brown founders’, says her organisation was founded following the murder of George Floyd when there was a real calling for companies to respond to the stats of its Black employees. “It revealed how many Black people were leading companies, how many were responsible for driving sales, how many had a say in the marketing materials, how many were involved in leading the development and production for skincare for Black people. I must say the beauty industry is changing, but in my honest opinion, it took a pandemic for people to really pay attention. People had a lot of time on their hands. Businesses are working hard to incorporate Diversity & Inclusion into their business models and employer engagement strategies, but the bigger question to ask is how long will this last and will Black people feel engaged enough to participate. This is something that we are yet to understand.” Tabria asked if 2020 was a turning point and whether real change is taking place. She also questioned what businesses can do better. Ayo states that it is encouraging. Although up until now progress has been slow, he acknowledges the acceleration over the last 18 months. Speaking on his firm in particular, he says that there have been honest conversations from senior levels down to lower ranks. “It was only in 1965 that the Race Relations Act was first introduced to protect Black people from racism, which wasn’t that long ago. We are very early in the journey of trying to unwind years and years of societal injustice – Fifty years in, it’s going to take time and firmer stances to ensure that Black people are fully represented.” Zipporah reflects on the need for systemic change. In order for changes to happen, the system needs to change. And this is the reason why you have very few Black people in leadership positions and tragic events such as the George Floyd murder have been allowed to happen. Diversity & Inclusion initiatives are a good thing, but they are a Band-Aid solution because the system is broken and we are not taking the time to understand how to fix it. “In order to deal with systematic change, we need to have every stakeholder at the table and on the same page. If an organisation genuinely wants to be more diverse, then every single person in that company should be responsible for looking at exactly what is broken and the reasons why they do not have enough initiatives in place for encouraging more hiring of Black professionals.” Although the conversation so far has been largely aimed at underrepresentation within corporate environments, Zipporah speaks about being an entrepreneur and the similarities she faces. “Surprisingly, the same situations or issues that you see occurring in the corporate world are happening in the entrepreneurship world. The statistics for funding that goes to people of colour is stark. And funding for people of colour, who are women, is even worse. And funding, for people of colour, who are women and of African descent, it is minute. I was advised that in order to get access to better funding I should have more male representation on my board. The reality is, it’s all about biases. People like to hire people who look like them and similarly people like to fund people who look like them.” Throughout the conversation, there were many different aspects brought to the table. From exploring statistics to asking whether Black people can really bring their authentic selves to the workplace and still be successful. Tabria goes on to discuss the unspoken conversation about a ‘double-burden’ that Black professionals face. She details the normal pressures to be successful within your role, to be a successful role model to others behind you, and all while being active in Diversity & Inclusion conversations to try to make a difference.  In many companies, as a Black person, sharing your experience is becoming the new normal. To have a voice and for your voice to be amplified is something many have fought for a long time. Ayo is an advocate for speaking about the Black experience. He admits that he’s happy to share his experiences with anyone who will listen, but he thinks it is unfair that Black people should always be expected to share their journey, especially with strangers. “It doesn’t account for who you are as a human. Because you’re Black and there has been an injustice, you now have the floor and no choice but to tell your story. There is a lot of psychological unwrapping that needs to happen with being Black. And to do so publicly is a very tough thing to do. When that choice gets taken away is when it goes too far. Even using the word ‘Black’. For the first time, I’ve had colleagues refer to me as a Black person. This tells me we’re making progress. We now have a platform where we can be more comfortable discussing race. But we cannot keep speaking about it if there’s no action that follows.” Claude adds Black people, should ask themselves what is their intent and strategy when sharing their stories. “If you feel like your story is going to make a difference, then go for it, but not if it feels like an opportunity to give a bunch of people a nice story at their next dinner party to say that they’ve suddenly learned something new. We all have a limit of how much time we have in a typical day and even though we are passionate about the cause, we should also be mindful of when it’s time to step away. I understand it’s difficult when the topic is so personal.” Anneke is a London Business School Black in Business Scholar. Tabria asked whether she feels pressured by the role of being a Black scholar “Sometimes as a Black scholar, there is a little bit of a burden, purely because I’m asked to give so much of myself. From a US context, we do speak very frankly about issues, but I feel like I have to give a bit of myself and a bit of my trauma of what it is to be African American, each time I talk about my experiences. I do sometimes have to weigh up how much of myself, I’m giving up for other people because it is hard to talk about the trial and tribulations of my life on a daily basis.  Zipporah agrees that dialogue is important to inform and educate people, but the goal should always be to get Allies. “It’s very hard for people who are affected to have to be the ones trying to champion change. It can be very traumatizing. A lot of my former colleagues don’t understand the pressures of being a Black person applying for jobs or going through different career trajectories or even just the biases that you face on a daily basis, so it’s important for me to educate people with the hope they become Allies so that they can advocate on your behalf.” To conclude Ayo agrees that Allies are indeed important. “In order to genuinely change this Zero Black CEO statistic and even the low % of senior managers (7.8%) we need Allies who are on board. Allies are the incumbent part of this change. As there are currently no Black leaders, at some point when an Ally steps down, he/she should ensure that all measures are taken to consider a pool of talent including diverse candidates before a replacement is decided.” The post Black at LBS: Exploring the Stats and Recognising the Gaps appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
18 Feb 2022, 09:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: My experience in Student Clubs as an Early Careers Student |
 By Lindsey Zastawny, MFA2022 I remember a year ago when I was writing my application essays for LBS, scouring the website trying to narrow down the clubs that I wanted to join. Being involved in activities has always been an important part of school for me, as it’s afforded me the opportunity to meet so many people outside of my courses and take on leadership roles. This year during my MFA, I’ve been lucky enough to serve on the Executive Committees for Women in Business, as part of the Community and Social Team and the Sailing Club as a VP – Cruising. Choosing What to Get Involved in and Applying to the Executive Committee With so many clubs offered at LBS, it can be overwhelming to try and only choose a few. Personally, I chose to be a member of the Investment Management Club, Sailing Club, and Women in Business. These were three organisations that I believed would help me grow professionally while expanding my network across all the programmes at LBS. Furthermore, just because you’re only a member of a few clubs doesn’t mean you can’t still participate at events held by other clubs! I recently attended the Retail and Luxury Goods Conference, and you don’t need to be a member to attend such events. A good rule of thumb is to pick at a professional and a social or sports club, one to further your career and one to have to blow off steam and relax. Next, it’s important to decide if you want to apply for a leadership position, or “ExCo” position as we call them at LBS. The application process and deadlines differ for each club, so make sure to stay up to date with the communications they send out. Typically, there will be an initial application where you fill out some basic information about yourself as well as your motivation for joining the club and the specific team you are applying for within the club. Then the senior members will select people for interviews. In my experience, they were super short, only around 10 minutes, and they were a chance for me to meet some of the people I could potentially be working with throughout the year and share some of my ideas. If you end up not getting the position you apply for, don’t fret! There are still many ways to stay involved in the club and be an active and contributing member even without being on the Exco. My ExCo Experiences at LBS Ever since I first started researching LBS, I knew that if I joined the MFA I wanted to be involved with the Women in Business (WiB) club. During my undergraduate degree I was always one of the few girls in my finance curriculum, so I wanted to be a part of an organisation that uplifted and supported of women. As a member of the Community & Social team, I helped out with the Equality Ball that happened before winter break. Luckily, we were finally able to hold the event in person again and while there are always challenges when planning such a large event, we were successful in raising money for UN Women – the ultimate goal of the event. Throughout the rest of the year, my team oversees planning events that bring WiB members together to foster community and promote interaction across all the programs and cohorts. During my undergraduate degree, sailing had been a way for me to push myself out of my comfort zone, and I thought that it would help me to do that LBS too. As a VP of Sailing – Cruising I plan our Salty Dog day sailing trips that allow everyone from beginners to those who have been sailing for years a chance to get out on the water. The camaraderie among the ExCo team is great, and I always look forward to seeing them in at social events or out on the water. I’m most excited for the LBS MBA regatta in Athens, Greece this spring. I’ve always raced in smaller boats during university, so I can’t wait to be racing in bigger boats in such a beautiful area. I don’t think my LBS experience would have been the same if I had not pushed myself to get involved in various clubs. While it’s important to get close with your cohort, it’s equally important to make an effort to meet the MBA and MiF students as well, you never know when those connections could come in handy and the advice I’ve received from many of my fellow ExCo members has been invaluable. The post My experience in Student Clubs as an Early Careers Student appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
22 Feb 2022, 08:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: My life on the MFA |
 By Isahelen Chen, MFA2022 No two weeks are the same at LBS. One reason is that LBS has a unique class schedule—we have two to three courses every two months and then take finals afterward. The other reason is that there’s a wide range of things to do here, from curricular and extra-curricular to professional. My typical week Typically, I have 4-6 lectures every week, depending on how many classes I’m taking during the term. The number could go up a little if I have more elective courses. For the core courses, I only take it with my programme colleagues; however, for the electives, I can meet colleagues from other programmes such as MiM, MBA, EMBA, etc. There are so many opportunities to meet people who are from different cultures and backgrounds—different nationalities, different educational backgrounds and different levels of working experience. There is also a lot of teamwork and group projects that can help improve my soft skills when I collaborate with my study group members. In addition to my classes, I usually arrange myself 1-2 career coaching sessions per week, especially during the first term (the recruitment season). There are career coaches from multiple different industries—investment banking, consulting, asset management, PE/VC, and technology. On weekends, I participate in various student events, for example, the board game event and the social dance gathering; these events are organised by student clubs where we can go out and have fun together. It’s also worth mentioning the Sundowners events that happen on Thursdays. It is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from and outside of my programme. Outside of my regular week Besides the typical weekly schedule, we do have other interesting opportunities such as the LBCW (London Business Challenge Week) and the GIFT (Global Immersion Field Trip). During LBCW, groups of students spend one week of time providing business solutions to help client companies out and achieve their enterprise goals. GIFT gives us a chance to travel internationally to visit different companies and experience local cultures. Both opportunities allow us to apply what we have learned during class into practice as well as connect with other students. Why LBS? Apart from the rich and wonderful life schedule, another reason I like LBS is because of the people. At LBS, I can always communicate with inspired and talented colleagues, from topics like schoolwork to more interesting social talks. Everyone is supportive and caring that we all make progress together, encouraging each other. If you’re interested in learning more about our Masters in Financial Analysis (MFA) programme, please visit our website. The post My life on the MFA appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
24 Feb 2022, 05:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: Our EMBA-Global Study Group Experience |
 A cornerstone of the LBS experience is working alongside other students from a variety of backgrounds. Study groups provide a unique experience to work closely with a diverse group of peers, sharing perspectives and ways of working and forming a close bond. Below, a study group from the EMBA-Global programme describe why it’s been beneficial to them on their LBS journey. Describe your study group; why and how does the diversity work and benefit you?  Lixia Zhu My study group consists of 5 outstanding and well-accomplished professionals from a variety of industries, including oil & gas, fintech, and finance. However, the key is we’re also people from all over the world – Colombia, Africa, France, Argentina, and China. The diversity and authenticity keep us humble and curious as we learn from each other – the professions, languages, cultures, etc. The diversity provides us with different perspectives and encourages innovation as well as collaboration. Our different ways of thinking also help us to focus our knowledge to better structure our assignments that lead to better decision making. Tell us about your involvement in your study group. How have those benefited you so far?  Carlos Arango Despite the time difference and our personal and professional obligations, we made sure we would all chip in and contribute on every assignment. We had a “rotation” system where one member would be in charge of setting up the calls and submitting the group assignment. Whilst the individual contributions and involvement of every team member wasn’t always the same for every assignment, the group worked as a team for every delivery we had as a group. We reached a consensus each to time to make decisions, which led to healthy and enriching discussions. What has been a highlight of working in your study group so far?  Miguel Munoz From the beginning, our study group had fun or enjoyment as a core strategy for success. In fact, we included having fun as part of our study group team agreement at the beginning of the programme. Early in our journey, we realised that humour was important in order to keep us closer to our own beliefs and values; which is a fundamental part of self-awareness and effective leadership. Additionally, enjoying each other’s distinctive personalities and experiences, allowed us to perform to the best of our ability. Delivering top work, while ensuring fun in our study group sessions was a winning strategy. One that enhanced our leaning experience throughout the programme and helped us built fantastic memories and strong relationships. How did you manage to build rapport and relationships with your study group? (Amaka)  Amaka Nsofor In our very first session with our team coach she made us bring childhood pictures of ourselves to tell our story. It was such a great bonding experience because it broke personal barriers and enabled us to understand ourselves and our background better. After that we became friends and not just study group partners. At every zoom meeting, we would typically spend the first 30 minutes catching up on what the various team members were up to, we jointly discussed our career goals and ambitions and supported each other even with personal circumstances. In addition, we were deliberate about team activities. For every block week where we were all together, we tried to ensure that we organised a team dinner and that helped deepen the relationship. Most importantly, there was mutual respect amongst everyone which ensured that the relationship that we had built was sustained. Have there been any challenges that you have had to overcome as a group?  Plabon Rahman EMBA-Global is, by definition, global. We all come from different parts of the world. We live in South America, Europe, North America and Africa. The biggest challenge for us was to find the right time to set up group Zoom calls that would accommodate all of us. The extensive time zone range means that these working sessions could finish at 1 or 2 am for some of us. For others, these sessions would be in the middle of a workday, so they had to rearrange their professional schedule to attend the study group meeting. This pushed us to be well prepared and time-efficient during each team session to limit screen fatigue. Despite these challenges, we learned to work more efficiently with highly skilled colleagues on very diverse topics.  If you’re interested in applying to the EMBA-Global programme you can read more on our website. The post Our EMBA-Global Study Group Experience appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
01 Mar 2022, 09:00
02 Mar 2022, 02:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: MBA Round 3: Advice from the Admissions Director |
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[b]By David Simpson, Recruitment & Admissions Director, MBA & MiF[/b] On the [b][url=https://www.london.edu/masters-degrees/mba]MBA[/url][/b], we operate a ‘staged admissions’ process, just like most top schools. We have three rounds, starting in September and running through to a final round in March. On other programmes we extend even longer, especially for part-time programmes where the candidate decision-making process is quite different. For us on the MBA, although a large portion of our places are filled in rounds one and two, it is essential that we hold back places for the final round, in order to build the very particular kind of class we are seeking. What we don’t want to do is front-load our admissions process and sacrifice our class diversity. Aside from having an incredibly customisable programme, powerful London location and outstanding employment success, one of the key points our students love about us, is the class diversity – typically around 70 nationalities and a huge range of professional backgrounds. In addition, we recognise that everyone has quite different decision-making cycles and influences; as a result, we see trends on timings from different regions and professional backgrounds. Sometimes, our students just needed a little longer to prepare for their GMAT / GRE. Some of the most dedicated and successful students I have known applied in the final round, (or later!). Applying for business education may be something you have had meticulously planned for years, or you might have been persuaded to be brave and go for it by a friend or mentor just before the final deadline, after thinking it might not be for you. The main thing you need to know is that whilst admissions deadlines are open, if you’re a strong candidate, you honestly have every chance. So if you’re sitting there thinking ‘is it too late to apply in round three?’, then let me reassure you, no, it’s not – but I recommend you get moving! The final application deadline is [b]Friday 25 March 2022[/b] Applications for our MBA2024 class are now open – to find out how to apply, please visit our [b][url=https://www.london.edu/masters-degrees/mba/apply]website[/url][/b]. The post [url=https://admissionsblog.london.edu/mba-round-3-advice-from-the-admissions-director/]MBA Round 3: Advice from the Admissions Director[/url] appeared first on [url=https://admissionsblog.london.edu]Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School[/url]. |
04 Mar 2022, 07:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: Want to learn more about our Masters in Finance Programme? |
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By Charlotte Tait, MiF Recruitment Manager If you’re considering our Masters in Finance programme (MiF), the most important thing to do before starting your application is research! You need to be sure this is the best programme for you, and your future career goals. We recognise there’s a huge amount of information out there, so in this blog we’ll condense your research for you, and give you a breakdown of our unique Masters in Finance programme. What is the MiF? Our London based Masters in Finance is a post experience programme. The programme is aimed exclusively at finance professionals with a minimum of 3 years post-graduation finance related work experience. The programme provides a rich and diverse learning experience, not just from our international world class faculty, but from your peers too. The programme focuses on finance and business from around the world. Our MiF is ranked #1 globally by the Financial Times, meaning you will leave with a strong international network of recognised finance professionals. Full time or part time? We have two programmes, a full time and a part time programme. Both programmes cover exactly the same content, the only difference is the structure and duration of the two programmes. The full time programme is full time on our London Campus, and is completed in either 10 or 16 months. The part time programme is designed for students who have full time finance careers. Lectures are held on Friday evenings and Saturday all day, every other week on our London Campus and the programme takes 22 months to complete. What will I study? Every MiF student studies 5 mandatory core courses. These core courses cover the fundamentals of finance, ensuring the whole class has a solid foundation in finance. You can plan and tailor your learning to your career goals when selecting your electives. Students complete 8-11 electives, with over 59 different electives to choose from. You will study some of these electives with students from our other degree programmes, making it a great networking opportunity! There is also the option of 4 concentrations too.  On top of your core courses and electives, students complete professional and leadership skills workshops and technical skills workshops, and our very popular practitioner courses, which are delivered by finance professionals. Are there any international opportunities? Yes! We offer a range of global experiences, for both our full time and part time students. One such experience is our full term exchange. MiF students can study at one of our partnership universities, in Europe or Asia for a full term. This opportunity can expand your network and allow you to take electives not offered by LBS. We also offer a block week exchange at Columbia Business School in New York. Everyone can apply for this opportunity and it’s available throughout the year. Lastly, we have our Global Immersion Elective. This is where students visit major banking and asset management firms abroad. Go to the website to find out more about our international opportunities. Are there any extracurricular activities? There are over 75 student led clubs at LBS, with clubs ranging from professional and regional, to social and sports clubs. All clubs are cross programme allowing you the opportunity to socialise and connect with the whole student body. You can decide to be a member of one or more of these clubs, or you can become a student club leader. Some of our most popular clubs are Women in Business Club, Social Impact Club and our Foodie Club. I hope this blog has given you a better understanding of MiF. If you’re looking for a more detailed explanation of the programme listento Maria, the Masters in Finance Senior Programme Manager’s programme overview webinar. Or if you would like to hear from one of our current students or Alumni about their personal experience of MiF and School please feel free to reach out to them with any questions. If this blog has inspired you to apply to our MiF programme please be aware of our upcoming deadlines: MiF Full-time August 2022 intake Round 5 final preferred deadline: Tuesday 26 April 2022 MiF Part-time August 2022 intake Round 6 final preferred deadline: Tuesday 29 March 2022 If you have any questions or require further information, please contact us at mif@london.edu. The post Want to learn more about our Masters in Finance Programme? appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
08 Mar 2022, 09:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: Celebrating International Women’s Day 2022 |
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In the spirit of International Women’s Day, below are some key resources and initiatives to highlight what we at LBS are doing to support women and how we’re continuing to drive diversity and inclusion in our community. LBS Women in Business (WiB) Club WiB is a community of students, alumni and academics that educates, inspires and supports the next generation of business leaders to build an equal future, by facilitating the exchange of information, ideas and experiences through a series of forward-thinking, world-class initiatives, events and workshops. The club welcome people of all genders, sexes, ages, and stages in the leadership lifecycle who are passionate about building an equal future in business. Visit their [url=https://mscrmapp.clickdimensions.com/editor/previewversion?accountKey=amoZ79MrFgkKJ2VMBYgRWj&version=4&orgname=DynamicsLive&userlcid=1033&userid={B9E3BD08-1253-EA11-966E-0050569D0995}&id={FF77E72B-437B-EB11-967B-0050569D0995}&typename=cdi_emailtemplate&sessionId=5e7d2273-f69e-ec11-969d-0050569d2a92]website[/url] to learn more. Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund “Unfortunately, many women reach a glass ceiling, particularly in the corporate world. I am deeply committed to helping more of them break that glass ceiling through expanding access to top business education,” Lord Laidlaw, Chairman of the Laidlaw Foundation London Business School and Laidlaw Foundation share a commitment to women in business and women’s initiatives. As well as this shared commitment, we also share a joint vision – to help exceptional women to excel in their careers, regardless of their background. The Fund aims to attract exceptional women from a diverse range of backgrounds, in particular women who may not otherwise be able to afford a top-tier business education. To learn more about our scholarship, please visit our website. International Women’s Month at LBS: Intersectionality – a panel discussion Being a woman in the world of business is complex. Part of navigating this complexity is to establish your sense of belonging. At London Business School, nurturing campus communities where you feel most comfortable is important to us. With over 75 student clubs, finding people to connect with, build professional networks with and become friends with is at your fingertips. Learning is just one part of your experience at LBS. Join us on Wednesday 30 March, 17:00 – 18:00 (GMT) as we invite you to celebrate International Women’s Month with a lively discussion on Intersectionality. Register for this event here. How LBS women are leading with impact Expectations about work have been shifting significantly in recent years, and the desire to contribute in a role that has purpose and a positive impact has become a strong motivation for many LBS alumni in their careers. recent alumni and current students joined Amelia Whitelaw, Executive Director of the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development, to discuss this trend, their careers so far, and how they are driving changes around the assumptions of what business can and should achieve. Read the full Think article by visiting our website. The post Celebrating International Women’s Day 2022 appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
10 Mar 2022, 01:00
| FROM LBS Admissions Blog: How I Got My Job: Ishita Gupta |
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Ishita Gupta graduated from LBS with a Masters in Analytics and Management in 2020 and leveraged her data skills to secure a full-time role with Uber in their Operations department. Ishita talks to us about making the most of the Career Centre, how to impress at interview and how best to position the MAM to employers. What were you doing and where before you arrived at LBS? I did my undergraduate in India in Information Technology and started off as a Software Developer, interning at Toshiba. I then took up a full-time role with PwC India as a financial data analyst where I was identifying fraudulent transactions for companies through data and I was helping them find ways to mitigate this in their system. Through this experience, I realised that I really liked solving problems with data. It was so interesting, but I wanted to be in a more fast-paced environment, so I moved to a hyperlocal delivery startup in India called Dunzo, that delivered anything from anywhere to anywhere. I was always fascinated by their business model and from there I realised my love for customer-centric products and how great products can really make an impact in people’s day-to-day lives. I decided to do the MAM to transition from the pure data side of things towards the strategic business side, so I think coming to LBS was the perfect choice for me. I was looking for very tech-centric roles, primarily product, but I realised that product roles might not be very entry-level, so I thought of doing some strategy-related roles in tech and then going from there. How did you develop that plan throughout the MAM? Was it just about exploring as many things as possible, or did you have a direction company-wise that you wanted to head in? We had a lot of sessions with the Career Centre during the summer, and I feel like I saw all my friends do applications so early in the year for sectors like Consulting. Tech applications start very late, in March, whereas a Consulting application might start in September. For me, a person from India who needed a sponsorship, I really wanted to get a job in London, so I did fall into the peer pressure of doing Consulting applications! But I also knew that the analytical skills that I had paired with the learnings from the MAM of using data in business-centric problems, there would be real opportunity in other consumer-focused areas. Actually, before Uber, I had two Consulting offers, but even with these roles, they were very ‘Tech’ Consulting focused roles. I still tried to stay in more of the Tech sector rather than just move completely to Strategy Consulting. What would you recommend as something that worked really well in securing those offers? I think there are a few things here. Firstly, I think making the most of what LBS can offer is so important; we do have a lot of resources which people don’t really realise! My programme’s Career Coach was always just there to help; I had a lot of interviews during the year and before every interview, I would have sessions with her to practice it. I did get a lot of rejections as well and a few of them were quite upsetting for me, but I set up review sessions for them, went through what happened in the interviews, and we reflected back on what I could have done better. It was a very iterative process and it helped me to do better in every interview. I think this is something that other students don’t realise – they said to me ‘oh, does the Career Center even do that?’ And they do! I’ve made the most of it, I think. Apart from that, it’s definitely the LBS community. People are always ready to help. For example, I was always very interested in Uber as a company since it is so ingrained in our daily lives, and I remember talking to an alumnus a really long time back about it. He told me, ‘If you want to go into a company like Uber, you should maybe look into roles in operations because they are mostly strategy-focused.’ I’d never realised until I had the conversation with him, and now I am an operations manager at Uber. I went through all the Peer Leader sessions too, incorporated their advice every time. We also had this MBA leadership program for EC programmes where an MBA peer was assigned a mentor you. I happened to have an amazing mentor who really helped me a lot throughout the year, especially with interviews and overall development. What didn’t work in securing you your current role? Any challenges or surprises? A lot of students think that once they’ve applied to a company and get rejected, they don’t stand a chance there anymore, this concept of a cooling period, which isn’t true for a lot of companies in the UK, especially for tech. For example, one of my applications I gave all my heart and soul to, and my last interview was with the CEO. I thought it went really well, I was so sure I was going to get an offer, so I definitely learnt not to get your hopes up too high as it took me about a month to get over the eventual rejection! But even when I did, I was in touch with their HR, and she actually said that there was another role, a 12-month internship, which I interviewed for and was offered (I didn’t end up taking it because then I got a full-time role). But I found just trying to be connected to the HR recruiters can be a really good tip as well. Everyone gets very disappointed because, at the start of the year, you’re doing so many applications and often not hearing back. The Jan-Feb period is the maximum burnout phase! But that’s the time when you can’t get demotivated because from March, it starts kicking in, especially for the MAM students who are more tech-focused. I learnt that you just need to hang in there. It will happen! If you manage your time well, you can actually balance things very well too. Term 1 was very hectic for us, but in Term 2, I did a part-time job with an LBS alumni for her startup. I feel like experiences like that, even though they were short-term projects, allow you to always develop and regardless of how your applications are going, it’s good to make the most of your time at LBS in other ways too. How did you utilize your MAM in recruitment processes? How did you position it to greatest effect? A lot of companies are now becoming more data-focused. This is where the MAM students can really sell their skills in terms of data visualisation, data manipulation. The best part is that the MAM covers a lot of other skills, like data science, machine learning, SQL, and Python. You can adapt your CV and application to suit the role you’re applying for in that sense; if I was applying for more tech roles, I would highlight courses like machine learning and data science. Or, if I was applying to a more traditional business role, I’d highlight that side of MAM. It does cover a broad range of topics. The second thing is that during an LBS programme, we do a lot of different volunteering activities, a lot of different things, so it was about trying to highlight those in your CVs as well. I put my social impact project on my CV, which was a very interesting topic of conversation with a lot of recruiters. We’ve done a lot of practical, hands-on data work in our programme and a lot of companies asked me to develop insights from a live dataset for the interview and I feel like that really resonated with the data science projects I’d done at LBS. What do you think ended up making that difference between you and other candidates? I would say for me it was probably about my new ideas. Sometimes companies just look for how much you can stretch your creativity to the problems they’re facing, so I think just trying to understand what the mission of the company is, what their ambitions are, and then trying to demonstrate those values in your interviews is very important. For example, I knew Uber are very customer focused, they’re just like ‘think of a problem, do it’ so I tailored my mindset to that, with the research I did. I’d always recommend that you go through the blogs, go through anything and everything on their website, what the top leadership of the company is saying over the past six months…I think it really gives you some good talking points. And finally, at the end, just ask loads of smart questions, as they’ll evaluate you on those too. It’s definitely about building that rapport, in interviews, assessment centres – they’re looking for how you interact as well as what you know. What’s the one thing you’d advise to other Early Careers starting out in their careers? I would say definitely explore your options, but don’t give up on your passion just because of peer pressure or because you think you won’t get something. If you do all you can to try, you will get it. If you settle for a job that you don’t really like at the end of the day, you’re not going to be happy. That really matters and apart from that, I think LBS is a great resource to try to make the most of, so network, talk to people, try to build relationships not only just for work, but as human beings. What stands apart is how you build that relationship with them. The post How I Got My Job: Ishita Gupta appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
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