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29 Jan 2021, 08:01
| FROM LBS MiM Admissions Blog: Panel with our second year GMiM students |
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By Alex Hurd, MiM & GMiM Student Recruitment Associate In this second of three installments covering the recent Global Masters in Management (GMiM) webinars, we held a panel with our GMiM second year students to hear more about their experience and why LBS was their top choice. This webinar covered:
After our students introduced themselves and why they chose the GMiM programme we discussed more about their experiences. How would you describe the LBS experience and community? Dominik Bründler MiM2020/GMiM2021 One word that is used by everyone is “diversity” and it’s so true, the cohort is incredibly diverse. You do a lot of group work and it means you get the opportunity to work with people with different strengths and who come from different countries, which I think is a great learning experience. The cohort is also super fun; it sounds a bit funny but it’s like a big family. Vishesh Bhuptani MiM2020/GMiM2021 I 100% agree with what Dominik said, it feels like a big family and you settle into LBS very easily. Another thing I would like to add is the amount of networking you get to do. You get to meet people from so many diverse backgrounds, and I don’t just mean meeting people in the MiM or GMiM cohorts; you have a lot of chances to meet people from different programmes. There are always events going on where you get to meet people from industry and hear about their experiences and learn from them too. What did a typical week look like in your first and second terms? Dominik Bründler MiM2020/GMiM2021 I believe that we had 4 to 5 classes a week with a class for Chinese too. For me, it was a different experience to when I did my undergraduate degree because I was used to a system where you had semesters that get more intense towards exams. At LBS you have weekly assignments which keep you busy within each term. The terms are also much shorter so you usually have 5 to 10 weeks per subject and then you have exams before moving onto another subject. This makes the typical week different depending on where you are in the term. Sometimes it’s quite an intense workload because of group projects and upcoming exams, but after exams you usually have one or two weeks which are a bit more free, so this is the time that a lot of people go out and attend events. Vishesh Bhuptani MiM2020/GMiM2021 You will have a lot of things to do even outside of the classroom. At LBS, the amount of learning that you do in the classroom will almost be equal to the learning you can do outside the classroom, and you will be in London so you will want to explore that too. In the earlier months of the programme there will be career events and club events so a lot of things will be going on simultaneously so you will have to manage your time, because as Domink said, the group assignments and weekly assignments do take up a lot of time. If you keep your priorities clear I think you will be able to get through it pretty easily. Watch the full webinar below to hear more about their experience’s so far and why they chose the GMiM at LBS. To view the first webinar in this series on the GMiM, where we introduce our First Year Ambassadors, click here. The post Panel with our second year GMiM students appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
08 Feb 2021, 08:01
| FROM LBS MiF Admissions Blog: MiF Student Perspective: What makes the Masters in Finance a unique experience? |
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By Lucky Singh, MiF Recruitment Manager The Masters in Finance (MiF) programme at LBS is distinguished from other programmes as it is designed for finance professionals with at least 3 years of work experience, and includes: 6 comprehensive core courses, over 40 electives to choose from, 4 concentrations, practitioner courses, professional and technical skills workshops and access to career coaching sessions. As a result, the MiF gives you the knowledge, training and network you need to thrive in your finance career. I asked two of our fantastic Student Ambassadors, Ana Hidalgo Manzano (MiF PT 2022) andJoe Messina (MiF FT 2020) about what they think makes the MiF a unique experience, and how they are finding the programme so far. Why did you decide to study the MiF at LBS? What makes the MiF unique? Joe: “My past experience as a senior auditor at Richter LLP, one of the largest independent business advisory and family office firms in Canada, provided a great foundation to transition into the world of investments. However, I recognised that there are still some gaps in the skills necessary for my career switch. Therefore, I was especially looking to LBS’s outstanding courses – such as Corporate Finance, Private Equity and Venture Capital, Advanced Financial Statements Analysis, Distressed Investing and Digital Investing – to bolster my toolkit. The MiF and the MBA are designed for experienced professionals in the middle stages of their career. However, I chose the MiF rather than the MBA because I was sure that I wanted to pursue a finance career, and I felt that was it best suited for my career aspirations. On the other hand, the MBA is a more general degree, and it will give you broader options in the future.” Ana: “I joined the MiF to sharpen my finance skills, advance my career and enhance my professional network while working. LBS is the best platform as it offers a wide range of options that allows me to tailor my experience to achieve my goals. This unique value proposition is not available in any other executive education institution.” What has surprised you about the MiF so far? Ana: “Besides the impressive number of resources that the School offers (career coaches, sector advisors and technical skills workshops etc) I think the most valuable asset so far is the quality of my cohort. They are really smart people in their fields and the professional and cultural diversity of the class is very enriching for all of us.” Joe: “I was surprised by the extensive career centre workshops where I had the chance to hone my interpersonal skills with experts in the field. Moreover, LBS is very well respected in the finance industry, attracting some of the biggest names in finance to the classroom. I am always pleasantly surprised when the professors invite finance practitioners into classroom sessions. So far, I have had the chance to learn from the world’s most prominent figures in investment banking, SPACs and private equity firms.” What has been your favourite aspect of the MiF? Joe: “I am really enjoying Professor Florin Vasvari’s Distressed Investing course. LBS is probably the only business school in the world that offers a course on this topic which is another reason why I chose to study at LBS. I have had the opportunity to pitch an investment proposal to a Managing Director of one of Europe’s most prominent distressed fund.” Ana: “I personally enjoy the practitioner courses. I find them very practical, as they provide an insightful perspective about the industry, the challenges as well as the opportunities. In addition, they always bring amazing guest speakers to the table, and the sessions are very interactive.” What clubs have you got involved in and how have they benefited you? Ana: “I am part of the Executive Committee of the Foodie Club, in the Marketing team. Besides getting to know people from other programmes (including MBAs and MiMs), I am learning about how to articulate a marketing strategy. I am now more conscious about the effort that all of the clubs put in behind the scenes to make things happen for the LBS community. In addition, the Investment Management Club and the Women in Business club have an amazing agenda of events that I always make time for.” Joe: “I’m the VP of Conference for the Real Estate Club, where I have the opportunity to connect with an extensive network of LBS Alumni in the field. Additionally, the prospect of learning from some of the most prominent figures in the field at the Real Estate Conference is immeasurably enticing. In return, I hope to leverage my accounting background and experience to add a different perspective to the club’s discussions.” What advice would you give prospective MiF students to help prepare them for the programme and business school experience? Ana: “You will be starting your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it will be over in the blink of an eye so, make the most of it! Find out what do you want to get out of the MiF and use the LBS resources to get yourself into there. Make sure you speak to current Students and Alumni. Network as much as you can and make sure you have fun along the way!” Joe: “If you plan on pursuing the MiF, you should hunt for a finance-related job that allows you to grow and demonstrate your strengths. This job should be the stepping-stone before doing the MiF that will best allow you to make the jump to your dream job. I would also recommend writing at least the first CFA exam; many of the concepts helped prepare me for the programme’s core courses. In addition, I completed Wall Street Prep’s premium package before starting the programme, which well-prepared me for many of the investment-related electives.” To discover more about the Masters in Finance, download our brochure here. To speak to our Student Ambassadors, click here. The post MiF Student Perspective: What makes the Masters in Finance a unique experience? appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
08 Feb 2021, 09:01
| FROM ESCP MiM Students Blog: Business as an Art Form? |
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[img]https://i2.wp.com/escpmim.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AnnalisaTramannoni-Annalisa-Tramannoni-1.jpg?resize=162%2C211&ssl=1[/img] by [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/annalisa-tramannoni-67b763152/]Annalisa Tramannoni[/url] During these extremely uncertain times, I believe that the most useful way to exorcise the pain of computer-based life is through trying something new. For this exact reason, when it came time to choose my first of three [url=http://escp.eu/mim-curriculum]specialisations[/url] during my two-year Masters in Management, I chose Impact Entrepreneurship. There were so many choices – 58 in all – but I chose this one since it was the most “on-point” topic: there’s no time like the present for young generations to strive to have an impact, right? According to the course description, “More than ever, today’s entrepreneurs are striving to build businesses that make an impact in the world. Impact entrepreneurs are driven by a desire to disrupt the status quo. They are not just selling, they are solving problems.” Two weeks into the course, now that I have a better understanding of the term “impact” (I don’t know about you, but I didn’t really grasp the concept before as it relates to the business world), I am now able to define what it means and (hopefully) by the end of the course I’ll be able to create it. In a nutshell, the concept of impact in business: Businesses today need to be sensitive to the fast-changing environment and look carefully at the complex needs customers have, in order to have a social impact and transform society. [b]Idea creation[/b] I have always wondered how those clever entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs come up with dazzling ideas, bringing true innovation to the market and leaving everybody with their mouths hanging open, saying “WOW, this is so cool!”. Searching for and getting new ideas is not an easy process. It’s relatively easy to understand a difficult formula or procedure: it might be tough at first to understand the technicalities, but you can see where it’s headed. However, when we deal with innovation and reflection, it’s way more difficult: there is no ending point, no formal set of rules to follow, and most of the time your ideas go directly in the bin. I chose to attend this exciting specialisation in Turin as I was looking forward to co-creating the course, and digging deeper into the human mind to unlock what truly moves people, hoping that this would lead to the development of creative and innovative ideas. [b]An “Improbable” workshop[/b] With these ideas in mind, we kicked-off this specialisation with a really “Improbable” workshop run by ESCP Professor Sylvain Bureau and Artist Pierre Tectin on the Art Thinking Method that they created in 2018. You read it correctly: Art. During the second semester of my [url=http://escp.eu]business masters[/url]. At the beginning of the workshop, I thought that art was going to be used to demonstrate theoretically how new ideas are created and honed, or how the artistic process could be used in business. The reality? By the end of the three days, we had to create a piece of art, on view for all in an online art exhibition. All of this with no physical interaction and only our laptops to guide us. Panic. My first thought was to change specialisations and try something more classic such as marketing or consulting. I ended up staying with it because I really wanted to challenge myself in another way, by breaking away from a more typical class, to try to push my imagination a bit further. [b]Build it up then tear it down[/b] On Day 1, after we were, I realised that not one of us had an artistic bone in our bodies. This was a real challenge. Not only were we facing something “improbable” for our academic career, we also had to deal with the inability to meet each other in person, and we had to figure out a way to develop our project in a non-traditional way by adapting ourselves and the artwork to the current situation. [img]https://i0.wp.com/escpmim.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/schema.png?resize=1024%2C599&ssl=1[/img] We were given a topic, then had to develop a real work of art by using the Art Thinking process. In a nutshell, once you have what you think is a great idea and start developing it, you have to destroy it to create a new and better one. This might sound frustrating (and it was), but it was also one of the most satisfying challenges I’ve ever put myself through. Each group was given a different topic, and ours was food. With this broad subject, we had to find a real-life issue related to it and develop a work that would be an answer to the issue raised. Food as an art form. At the end of the three days, every one of us was truly pleased with their work, even though we never thought we would have been able to create a work of art, especially in this particular situation. [img]https://i1.wp.com/escpmim.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/artwork.png?resize=1024%2C510&ssl=1[/img] As has already happened in previous situations in and out of my studies, I am learning that the most important thing is collaboration: even when you don’t have the technical expertise to do something, if you leverage each other’s ideas, there is always a way to find a solution. I also learned that often, the greatest ideas come from the process of destroying and unlearning. We need to learn to be more courageous and willing to challenge our ideas and not take them for granted. Art is everywhere, and just like in business, during the creative process we need to be courageous enough to question our questions, destroy our beliefs and challenge our thinking. If we are able to find the link between the process of creating a work of Art and of creating a Business, we will unlock many opportunities for innovation and growth. Check out our art exhibition! [url=https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/4203418/improbable-turin]Improbable, an Art Thinking Workshop[/url] Find out more on entrepreneurship initiatives at ESCP Business School: [url=https://www.sayinstitute.eu/]Jean-Baptiste Say Institute[/url] |
10 Feb 2021, 07:01
| FROM LBS MiF Admissions Blog: Masters in Finance and the CFA: What’s right for me? |
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By Lucky Singh, MiF Recruitment Manager As the Student Recruitment Manager for the Masters in Finance Programme (MiF), I talk to many finance professionals who are considering the MiF programme. Many of them are either Chartered Financial Analysts or have passed levels 1-3 of the CFA programme. Which should I do, the MiF or the CFA? The answer is that both are beneficial in helping you gain core financial skills and knowledge and help to accelerate your career. We see the CFA qualification as being a solid indication of your commitment to finance, that you have strong quantitative skills, and a thorough understanding of the key principles of finance. As a result, we offer GMAT waivers to prospective students who have passed Level 2 of the CFA. Receiving a GMAT waiver based on CFA Level 2 makes you just as competitive as candidates who have a strong GMAT score. How similar is the MiF and the CFA? While there will be some finance concepts in the Masters in Finance that you will have covered during the CFA programme, the MiF consolidates your finance knowledge, shows you how these concepts work in real-life, broadens your network, and enables you to specialise in particular areas of finance. Our world-renowned faculty bring these finance concepts to life through lectures, case studies and by leaning on their extensive research. You will hear first-hand the opportunities and challenges facing finance practitioners by attending our Practitioner Courses, which connects you with finance professionals and alumni from across sectors, including Private Equity and Investment Banking. By studying with finance professionals with an average of 6 years of experience, you will gain a strong understanding of how finance works in the real world and expand your network. Furthermore, you will be able to specialise in different area of finance by choosing up to 10 electives from our list of 40 electives, which include Value Investing and Behavioural Finance. Many current MiF Full-time and Part-time students are Chartered Financial Analysts or have passed different levels of the CFA. Kuda Korovedzai, MiF Part-time 2022, was a Chartered Financial Analyst when he started the MiF. We asked Kuda about his experience of the CFA and the MiF, and why he decided to study the MiF after becoming a charterholder:  “The CFA qualification gave me a solid foundation in technical concepts of finance – a foundation that was invaluable at the beginning of my career. However, as I progressed in my career, having leaderships skills and a diverse network became more important. I pursued the Masters in Finance programme at LBS as it offered me access to an exceptionally talented faculty, courses to develop my soft skills and a cohort from around the world. Being part of the LBS network has provided me with mentorship opportunities and connectivity with alumni across the globe in senior positions. In terms of reputation and prestige, the MiF team at LBS does a great job in marketing to employers globally. I know that MiF applicants go through a highly selective admissions process, whereas anybody can enrol for the CFA programme and take the exams. Furthermore, LBS attracts employers to conduct on-campus targeted recruitment and this is important to me as I look to switch sectors upon my graduation. Having completed just one term at LBS, the growth, valuable network and self-discovery is something which is already priceless!“ Tiffany Liu, MiF Full-time 2021, passed all 3 levels of the CFA programme before joining the MiF. She shares:  “Coming from a non-finance background, my CFA programme journey taught me the language of business and allowed me to gain analytical skills before joining the MiF programme. At the same time, I firmly believe it is of equal importance to gain real-world exposure and expertise which is why I decided to study the MiF at LBS. As part of the LBS community, I have access to diverse resources in terms of academics, mentorship, career consultancy and alumni network. In addition to classes, there are countless workshops and discussion panels where LBS students gain access to various business cases, cutting-edge information and trends, and are able to connect with industry professionals and guest speakers. At LBS, you will be amazed at how diverse the community is, in terms of backgrounds, career interests and extracurricular activities. I am honoured to be the Operations Manager for the LBS Chinese Business Forum, where I am able to work with partners who share my goals and explore fields that I haven’t come across before. Being able to connect with over 45,000 LBS alumni makes LBS an impressive community to join for networking and career advancement opportunities.“ To learn more about the Masters in Finance programme and the similarities and differences between the MiF and CFA programme, please get in touch with the MiF Recruitment Team. To learn more about the MiF student experience, [url=https://www.london.edu/masters-degrees/student-alumni-and-ambassadors#sort=%40profilesurname%20ascending&f:programme=[Masters%20in%20Finance%20full%20time,Masters%20in%20Finance%20part%20time]&f:profileisambassador=[Ambassadors]]connect with our student ambassadors here.[/url] The post Masters in Finance and the CFA: What’s right for me? appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
12 Feb 2021, 08:01
| FROM LBS MiM Admissions Blog: HOSTING STUDENT-LED VIRTUAL EVENTS AT LBS: ADVICE FROM STUDENT LEADERS |
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[b]By Sunita Chambore, Student-led Learning Manager[/b] Experiential Learning is key to the student experience at London Business School. LBS is the place to get involved in unique opportunities to apply your learning from the classroom in a real-world context. [b]Leadership in Action[/b] One such opportunity is as a student club leader. We have over 70 student clubs being steered by over 100 student leaders. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience students accumulate by running club events. These events come in all shapes and sizes: small, large, regular, one-off, student only, global. At LBS, we pride ourselves on the vibrant, dynamic and innovative nature of our events, and the student community has a considerable part to play in this. Some of these events are well-established conferences on the London business scene running for 5, 10 and even over 20 years! [b]Going Virtual[/b] 2020 provided an unexpected challenge and opportunity to pivot to virtual events. Understandably, there were many questions from students about how best to convert planned in-person events to virtual. Who better to answer these questions than students who have already made the leap to virtual events? [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/josie-ng/]Josie Ng[/url], Experiential Learning team member, turned her learning design hand to creating a panel, “Tricks of the Trade: On running virtual events” (19 January 2021), as an opportunity from students to learn from each other. [b]Learning From Each Other[/b] Peer to peer support is a valuable part of leadership development at LBS. The following students have walked the walk of running virtual events and shared their candid insights with a group of over 25 students: [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/alonso-bustamante-1b2aaa/]Alonso Bustamante McLauchlan[/url], MBA2021 – Latin America Career Fair Lead [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-chacur-de-miranda-a65402126/]Andre Chacur De Miranda[/url], MIFFT2020 – Brazil & Impact Investing Trek Lead [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiaberghouse/]Claudia Berghouse[/url], MBA2022 – New York Tech Trek Lead [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauryueta/]Maury Ueta[/url], MBA2021 – EUROUT Conference 2020 Chair, Out in Business Club President [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/houyan/]Yan Hou[/url], MBA2021 – China Business Forum 2020 Chair [b]Top 7 Tips[/b]: [b]1. Have a clear intention for your event [/b] Base decisions about your event, including which platform to use, pricing, and how to facilitate networking on these two questions: – Who is this event for? – What do you want to achieve? Further questions to consider are: What would be most valuable and convenient for your speakers and audience? What do you most want them to leave your event with? What kind of interactions do you want? What are they willing to pay? [b]Leadership Tip: [/b]As a leader, don’t neglect your organising team. How might you keep them engaged and motivated in the lead-up to the virtual event? How might you weave in a social element into your weekly team meetings? [b]2. Take advantage of virtual [/b] Virtual events have different benefits, limitations and dynamics to in-person events – how might you make the most of it? You’re not limited by physical presence, so consider spreading your event over several days, weeks or months – whatever suits your audiences’ new (zoom-fatigued) lifestyle best. [b]Leadership Tip:[/b] Dream big to create an exciting vision for your team and have a truly global event. Also, keep in mind how you can support individual team members who might be missing the energy and vibe of working towards a big project in person with others. [b]3. Experiment with engagement[/b] Nobody has cracked it yet. You’re not alone – most people out there are still scratching their heads about how to run useful online networking events or engaging large numbers of e-audiences. There’s no right or wrong here, so try things out. That’s the great thing about being a student leader at LBS; you have the perfect opportunity to apply your learning in real-time. We know that attendee attention span is limited online to about 20-30 minutes. People are more engaged in smaller groups of up to 10. Consider limiting the size of your treks or run your Q&A as rotating breakout groups. Platforms like Hopin also make 1-1 speed networking conversations easier. Interactivity helps immensely with engagement, so play with polls, gamification, longer Q&As, collective photo collages and message boards. [b]Engagement Tip:[/b] Collect relevant data from your attendees early on so you can assign them to breakout groups with people they may not usually have the opportunity to meet. [b]4. Be the driver of diversity[/b] Whether that’s about the diversity of your speakers, audience, or even your team. Take advantage of what’s possible in virtual – bring in those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend or share their insight. Leverage that diversity to make for compelling and powerful conversations and connections. Besides, if your team consists of various programmes, it means there won’t be a bottleneck when half of them drop out for an exam a week before delivering your event! [b]Speaker tip:[/b] Take time to research your speakers. Big names can be a quick win, but lesser-known figures can also share valuable lessons and leave a lasting impact on your audience. [b]5. Thorough preparation is everything[/b] Minor glitches in your event may not be down to the platform but planning and preparation. Leave plenty of time for minute-by-minute running orders, stage/tech direction sheets, moderation and speaker briefing sheets. Take the time to check in with your team and speakers beforehand to run through the event in detail. It’ll surface those nitty-gritty questions. These might be about platform features and potential limitations or preparing questions to kick-off Q&As to avoid awkward silences. Always have a Plan B! There may be unexpected clashes with other events or a low number of attendees. How will you ensure every attendee feels like it was worth their time (and money) joining your event over the dozens of others they could have signed up for? [b]Leadership Tip:[/b] As a leader, set up regular check-ins with crucial team members to ensure they have everything they need. The sooner you know of any potential hiccups, the better prepared you all can be. [b]6. Look to your community for existing knowledge and resources[/b] That might be another regional club that has hosted a career fair; an Operations Lead who has done a thorough cost-benefit analysis of all virtual event platforms; or a Conference Chair who’s had to tackle image rights, contracts and disclosures. Someone has come before you and can share their insight with you; all you need to do is ask! Also look to relevant faculty members, staff and alumni who may be happy and keen to support your event if it aligns with their interests and work area. [b]Insider Tip:[/b] LBS has many resources available to you – think alumni, staff, faculty. They can help you get heavyweight speakers through the e-door or connect you to corporates for your career fair. Contact relevant people early. [b]7. Leave something behind [/b] Just as someone came before you, someone is ahead! They’ll encounter the same challenges and questions you have now. Help them out! Create an up-to-date shared drive to keep all your lessons learnt, materials, schedules, contact lists and comments for them. [b]Leadership Tip:[/b] Leave a legacy for the LBS community you’ll be proud of in years to come. Think about your legacy before you embark on your virtual event. For students planning on running a virtual event, go for it! As with everything you do as a student leader at LBS, use this time and space to: apply your learning from the classroom, experiment and innovate, learn from your peers and create something with a positive impact. A special thanks to panel contributor, [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/tania-gonz%C3%A1lez-gallego-b5541b53/]Tania Gonzalez[/url], Senior Events Manager, LBS. The post [url=https://admissionsblog.london.edu/hosting-student-led-virtual-events-at-lbs/]HOSTING STUDENT-LED VIRTUAL EVENTS AT LBS: ADVICE FROM STUDENT LEADERS[/url] appeared first on [url=https://admissionsblog.london.edu]Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School[/url]. |
12 Feb 2021, 08:01
| FROM LBS MiF Admissions Blog: HOSTING STUDENT-LED VIRTUAL EVENTS AT LBS: ADVICE FROM STUDENT LEADERS |
|
[b]By Sunita Chambore, Student-led Learning Manager[/b] Experiential Learning is key to the student experience at London Business School. LBS is the place to get involved in unique opportunities to apply your learning from the classroom in a real-world context. [b]Leadership in Action[/b] One such opportunity is as a student club leader. We have over 70 student clubs being steered by over 100 student leaders. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience students accumulate by running club events. These events come in all shapes and sizes: small, large, regular, one-off, student only, global. At LBS, we pride ourselves on the vibrant, dynamic and innovative nature of our events, and the student community has a considerable part to play in this. Some of these events are well-established conferences on the London business scene running for 5, 10 and even over 20 years! [b]Going Virtual[/b] 2020 provided an unexpected challenge and opportunity to pivot to virtual events. Understandably, there were many questions from students about how best to convert planned in-person events to virtual. Who better to answer these questions than students who have already made the leap to virtual events? [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/josie-ng/]Josie Ng[/url], Experiential Learning team member, turned her learning design hand to creating a panel, “Tricks of the Trade: On running virtual events” (19 January 2021), as an opportunity from students to learn from each other. [b]Learning From Each Other[/b] Peer to peer support is a valuable part of leadership development at LBS. The following students have walked the walk of running virtual events and shared their candid insights with a group of over 25 students: [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/alonso-bustamante-1b2aaa/]Alonso Bustamante McLauchlan[/url], MBA2021 – Latin America Career Fair Lead [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-chacur-de-miranda-a65402126/]Andre Chacur De Miranda[/url], MIFFT2020 – Brazil & Impact Investing Trek Lead [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiaberghouse/]Claudia Berghouse[/url], MBA2022 – New York Tech Trek Lead [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauryueta/]Maury Ueta[/url], MBA2021 – EUROUT Conference 2020 Chair, Out in Business Club President [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/houyan/]Yan Hou[/url], MBA2021 – China Business Forum 2020 Chair [b]Top 7 Tips[/b]: [b]1. Have a clear intention for your event [/b] Base decisions about your event, including which platform to use, pricing, and how to facilitate networking on these two questions: – Who is this event for? – What do you want to achieve? Further questions to consider are: What would be most valuable and convenient for your speakers and audience? What do you most want them to leave your event with? What kind of interactions do you want? What are they willing to pay? [b]Leadership Tip: [/b]As a leader, don’t neglect your organising team. How might you keep them engaged and motivated in the lead-up to the virtual event? How might you weave in a social element into your weekly team meetings? [b]2. Take advantage of virtual [/b] Virtual events have different benefits, limitations and dynamics to in-person events – how might you make the most of it? You’re not limited by physical presence, so consider spreading your event over several days, weeks or months – whatever suits your audiences’ new (zoom-fatigued) lifestyle best. [b]Leadership Tip:[/b] Dream big to create an exciting vision for your team and have a truly global event. Also, keep in mind how you can support individual team members who might be missing the energy and vibe of working towards a big project in person with others. [b]3. Experiment with engagement[/b] Nobody has cracked it yet. You’re not alone – most people out there are still scratching their heads about how to run useful online networking events or engaging large numbers of e-audiences. There’s no right or wrong here, so try things out. That’s the great thing about being a student leader at LBS; you have the perfect opportunity to apply your learning in real-time. We know that attendee attention span is limited online to about 20-30 minutes. People are more engaged in smaller groups of up to 10. Consider limiting the size of your treks or run your Q&A as rotating breakout groups. Platforms like Hopin also make 1-1 speed networking conversations easier. Interactivity helps immensely with engagement, so play with polls, gamification, longer Q&As, collective photo collages and message boards. [b]Engagement Tip:[/b] Collect relevant data from your attendees early on so you can assign them to breakout groups with people they may not usually have the opportunity to meet. [b]4. Be the driver of diversity[/b] Whether that’s about the diversity of your speakers, audience, or even your team. Take advantage of what’s possible in virtual – bring in those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend or share their insight. Leverage that diversity to make for compelling and powerful conversations and connections. Besides, if your team consists of various programmes, it means there won’t be a bottleneck when half of them drop out for an exam a week before delivering your event! [b]Speaker tip:[/b] Take time to research your speakers. Big names can be a quick win, but lesser-known figures can also share valuable lessons and leave a lasting impact on your audience. [b]5. Thorough preparation is everything[/b] Minor glitches in your event may not be down to the platform but planning and preparation. Leave plenty of time for minute-by-minute running orders, stage/tech direction sheets, moderation and speaker briefing sheets. Take the time to check in with your team and speakers beforehand to run through the event in detail. It’ll surface those nitty-gritty questions. These might be about platform features and potential limitations or preparing questions to kick-off Q&As to avoid awkward silences. Always have a Plan B! There may be unexpected clashes with other events or a low number of attendees. How will you ensure every attendee feels like it was worth their time (and money) joining your event over the dozens of others they could have signed up for? [b]Leadership Tip:[/b] As a leader, set up regular check-ins with crucial team members to ensure they have everything they need. The sooner you know of any potential hiccups, the better prepared you all can be. [b]6. Look to your community for existing knowledge and resources[/b] That might be another regional club that has hosted a career fair; an Operations Lead who has done a thorough cost-benefit analysis of all virtual event platforms; or a Conference Chair who’s had to tackle image rights, contracts and disclosures. Someone has come before you and can share their insight with you; all you need to do is ask! Also look to relevant faculty members, staff and alumni who may be happy and keen to support your event if it aligns with their interests and work area. [b]Insider Tip:[/b] LBS has many resources available to you – think alumni, staff, faculty. They can help you get heavyweight speakers through the e-door or connect you to corporates for your career fair. Contact relevant people early. [b]7. Leave something behind [/b] Just as someone came before you, someone is ahead! They’ll encounter the same challenges and questions you have now. Help them out! Create an up-to-date shared drive to keep all your lessons learnt, materials, schedules, contact lists and comments for them. [b]Leadership Tip:[/b] Leave a legacy for the LBS community you’ll be proud of in years to come. Think about your legacy before you embark on your virtual event. For students planning on running a virtual event, go for it! As with everything you do as a student leader at LBS, use this time and space to: apply your learning from the classroom, experiment and innovate, learn from your peers and create something with a positive impact. A special thanks to panel contributor, [url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/tania-gonz%C3%A1lez-gallego-b5541b53/]Tania Gonzalez[/url], Senior Events Manager, LBS. The post [url=https://admissionsblog.london.edu/hosting-student-led-virtual-events-at-lbs/]HOSTING STUDENT-LED VIRTUAL EVENTS AT LBS: ADVICE FROM STUDENT LEADERS[/url] appeared first on [url=https://admissionsblog.london.edu]Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School[/url]. |
16 Feb 2021, 03:01
| FROM LBS MiM Admissions Blog: Meet Josephine Parquet, MiM2021 |
 Josephine Parquet, MiM2021 “I was astounded by the exceptional work environment the university offers and by the thrilling diversity of highly driven students I met, whom all shared their satisfaction of the programme’s content and excitement about the active student life. “ Education: Bachelor, ESADE Business School; graduated in 2019 Topic studied: Business Administration Interested in: Technology So, Josephine, why LBS? What was the leading factor about the School or programme that made up your mind to come here? There are three main reasons why I decided to join LBS: I want to pursue a career in Tech in London, I want to learn new skills surrounded by an incredibly diverse and talented cohort and most importantly, join the LBS community for life. Throughout the years I have developed a very strong interest in technology and my longer-term plan is to work in venture capital. Having little professional experience in the tech environment, joining the MiM at LBS was the perfect opportunity to acquire new skills and get a better understanding of the tech landscape. I also believed that the career department of LBS would be an unparalleled asset that would allow me to significantly expand my network. In addition to the in-class material and career resources, I knew that the clubs and conferences would really help me close the technical and knowledge gaps I had prior to joining LBS and open my network to London based companies. The diversity and reach of the programme’s content was also a key decisional factor as it would enable me to acquire a new set of analytical skills, like the programming language R and statistics, strengthen and challenge my current skills, and ultimately combine managerial and analytical aspects of the course. I also believed that the unique academic standards provided by LBS professors would constantly satisfy my passionate interest for the topics. I was very drawn by the large number of group-works and the global immersion field trip as they are exceptional opportunities to apply my theoretical knowledge to real-life situations. During my visit of the LBS campus, I had the chance to meet students currently enrolled in the MiM and obtained precious insight into how studying at LBS was like. I was astounded by the exceptional work environment the university offers and by the thrilling diversity of highly driven students I met, whom all shared their satisfaction of the programme’s content and excitement about the active student life. They shared a lot about their experiences joining the clubs’ activities and how they had been able to meet people from other programmes and work on projects that further enriched their experiences. What advice do you have for current prospective students? When completing their application, I advise would students to do a lot of research and talk to current students. It is the best way to have real insights about life at LBS, academic expectations, and the club opportunities. During my application process, I was in contact with current students and it really helped me understand the spirit of the school and was then sure I wanted to complete my masters at LBS. The website is full of resources as well, there is an extensive amount of information on the course content and on the clubs that is worth investigating in. It can provide interesting thoughts about interests that can be shared in the application. In addition to thinking about what LBS can bring to their personal and professional growth, students should think about what they can bring to the community and how they plan to get involved. A general advice would be that any argument stated should be back by research or example (how they were an active member during their undergraduate degree for example). LBS is full of opportunities, so even though they should know what they want to get out of LBS, they should make sure to have and to show that they are open-minded, and ready to have their ideas challenged and embrace change of plans, especially as we live in such an uncertain period of time. You’ve joined a diverse class of peers, what is the unique offering you bring to the table? I am French, studied in Spain, did an exchange in Hong Kong, worked in Bolivia, Paris and Barcelona. This makes me very open to any culture and working style, and very understanding of the different opinions and mindsets I come across. It is particularly important at LBS as we have a lot of group assignment. Study groups are very diverse in nationalities, past working experiences or undergraduate background, which is very enriching and representative of our future global workspace, but also forces us to adapt to different working styles and get out of our comfort zone. Fun fact about you that didn’t get included in your application? When I was small, I wanted to buy a ranch in Argentina and open a horse breeding farm (it is still my dream job). With my business skills and LBS connections I might be able to still pursue my dream in the future. The post Meet Josephine Parquet, MiM2021 appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
17 Feb 2021, 11:01
| FROM ESCP MiM Students Blog: How to get your first job abroad? |
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The idea of working abroad is very attractive to a lot of people. However, getting your first job outside of your home country can be a bit overwhelming. You start to wonder how attractive your CV is to foreign companies. More than anything, you keep asking yourself this one question: how am I ever going to find a job in another country? To get some on-the-ground information, we’ve interviewed Anu Apurvaa Sindol — Business Analyst at The Volta Movement and ESCP alumna — about her experience getting her first job outside of her home country. Originally from India, Anu moved to Paris to study a Master in Management(MiM) at ESCP. She then went to ESCP’s Berlin campus and, for her last year of studies, she chose to take a dual degree at ESCP’s partner the University of South Carolina. Less than a month after graduating, she landed her first position, as a business analyst in a startup in Texas. Success factors to getting your first job abroad Set the scene to create international opportunities More than anything, what helped Anu to get her first job overseas was her ability to leverage her personal network. While she was studying in Paris, she connected with Ardavan Beigui, an ESCP alumnus who ended up becoming her mentor. Founder of start-up Tinyclues located in New York and Paris, Ardavan was well-connected to the American startup ecosystem. When Anu went abroad for her dual degree, he connected her with many startup founders in the United States. While it didn’t lead her to find her first job abroad, it was a great way to extend her professional network. On top of that, Anu reached out to the school’s career services. They put her in contact with a startup in Texas, founded by an USC alumnus. This fast-tracked Anu’s job application process and she got a job in the company straight after graduating. Getting real-life experience Before searching for your first job abroad, you will need some sort of professional experience. While this is true for most jobs, it’s even more important when looking for a job abroad. Anu always made the most of her school’s projects. As part of one of the Masters in International Business courses at USC, she got assigned a 3-month consulting mission at the Seabin Project. Her work had real-world impact and that’s something that she could talk about during her job interviews. University projects are just one way of getting real-life experience. You can apply for an internship, volunteer at your favourite organisation, or even launch an entrepreneurial project. All of these will put you in a better position to land your first job abroad. Being patient and resilient If you have some real-life experience and a network of people that you can reach out to, it’s a matter of time before you sign your first work contract. However, this period can feel like an eternity. Some companies have very long application processes. Just keep in mind that most companies have three or more rounds of in-depth interviews before they take their final decision. In addition, getting your work visa could actually take longer than the job application process itself. Stay patient and, sooner or later, you will get this first job. The challenges of looking for a job abroad While Anu was fortunate enough to get her first job straight out of Business School, she admits that she faced a lot of challenges: Getting ready early is the best way to get a job abroad
Getting a job abroad is possible without having any prior experience or qualifications. However, getting the right education and professional experience will definitely improve your chances of getting your dream job. Anu believes that her choice of business school has greatly impacted the start of her career. The MiM gave her a strong academic foundation and experience working in a multicultural setting. She got some professional experience early on thanks to the projects in the MIB, and eventually, she was employed by an alumnus of USC. “None of that would have been possible if I didn’t join ESCP and its partner institution USC,” said Anu. No matter what, if you stay humble and patient, and apply to positions that you are genuinely interested in, you will surely find a job abroad. |
22 Feb 2021, 04:01
| FROM LBS MiM Admissions Blog: Early Careers Study Group |
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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 set of peers, sharing perspectives and ways of working and forming a close bond. Many of our alumni quote the relationships formed through their study groups at LBS as some of the closest they have had through their career, still supporting one another years on. Below, three current Early Careers students explain why study groups have been so beneficial to them.  Julien Vermeersch (MFA2021) “In my term 1 study group, all six of us came from different countries and it was the diversity of opinions that I valued most from this experience.“ “Study groups at London Business School are something very unique and they provided me with a different learning experience that I didn’t have during my undergraduate studies. Through this system you get the opportunity to not only learn from your professors, but to also discuss the ideas that are covered in the classroom with some of your fellow students. I found this extremely insightful because it provides an additional level of depth to the discussion and it enables you to debate different perspectives covering a range of topics. In my term 1 study group, all six of us came from different countries and it was the diversity of opinions that I valued most from this experience. Although I was very happy with my first study group, I think it is great to have the opportunity to move onto my next study group and get to work with different people and learn more about their perspectives. Besides the numerous academic benefits that the study group system offers, I think that it is also an excellent opportunity to get to know some of your classmates better. Over the course of the term, I found that my study group members became some of my closest friends. Additionally, the more professional relationship that you develop with your fellow group members comes in handy when applying for jobs and preparing for interviews. I received a lot of help and advice from them and we regularly scheduled mock interviews between us, which put is us in a good position for the real thing. Overall, I had a lot of fun working on the assignments with my group members and I was able to take away a lot more from them than if I would have been working by myself. “  David Nazareth (MAM2021) “Ultimately, what you learn from your study group depends in large part on how actively you contribute to group work and how committed you are to learning something new from your teammates on each project.” “A classmate of mine recently introduced me to a wonderful article by Edward Hallowell (Harvard Business Review, 1999) in which Hallowell talks about the importance of regularly replenishing “human moments” (authentic psychological encounters between human beings) in our daily lives in order to stay energised and to avoid feeling isolated and lonely. In a pandemic stricken year, lacking in “human moments” in the classroom and around campus, working with my study group has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience and something that I’ve actively looked forward to. Group work is an integral part of the programme at LBS and an element that started right from our first week on the MAM programme. Learning to work virtually with a really diverse group of people was by no means easy, but there’s something about working for hours on an assignment with the rest of your study group that helps you create unique bonds of friendship and productive patterns of communication. Additionally, over time, we were able to build an understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses and harnessed the power of our diversity. My experience working with my study group have also helped me become much more self-aware. I now have a much better understanding of what I need from teammates in order to be highly productive. I truly believe that this is one of the most valuable things I’ve learnt this year and I hope to continue to improve my self-awareness in future cross-cultural teams. Ultimately, what you learn from your study group depends in large part on how actively you contribute to group work and how committed you are to learning something new from your teammates on each project. I would strongly advise incoming students to focus on this element of the programme because it has definitely helped me learn a lot about myself.”  Sasha Sabharwal (MiM2021) “We have been able to bring our own expertise to the table, helping, supporting, and learning from one another.“ “At the beginning of semester 1 and 2, we are allocated a new study group to work with during group assignments. Both of my study groups have been incredibly diverse in several aspects, including gender, nationality, personality and past work experience. Given the global nature of business, I saw this as an opportunity to strengthen my global mindset and develop my core teamwork skills. Particularly now given the pandemic, it has been a new learning experience for all of us, learning how to collaborate virtually and deliver projects to high standards while being in different time-zones. I have also recognised the importance of flexibility, as well as the need to ensure each member of the team feels supported during these increasingly uncertain times. Our differing backgrounds and unique perspectives have proven to be incredibly complementary when it comes to group assignments. We have been able to bring our own expertise to the table, helping, supporting, and learning from one another. In addition, we all have different personality types, so working as a team was a great way to learn how to use these to our advantage. It has been extremely rewarding to see the change in group dynamics and project efficiency as time went on, as we began to learn from each other’s personalities and working styles. Aside from these differences, I’ve noticed two common themes amongst LBS students. The first, unsurprisingly, is the exceptional level of talent. I feel so inspired to be surrounded by extremely accomplished, impressive and driven individuals as it constantly pushes me to become a better version of myself. The second is how respectful, collaborative and friendly each member of the cohort is. Everyone is very humble, despite their academic excellence, and always willing to help to better the experience of others. It’s no surprise that the highlight of my time at LBS has been the people I have met and worked with. I look forward to the remainder of the semester, working with my second study group on this exciting, unparalleled academic journey.” The post Early Careers Study Group appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
23 Feb 2021, 03:01
| FROM LBS MiM Admissions Blog: Study Groups at LBS: A unique learning experience |
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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. Many of our alumni quote the relationships formed through their study groups at LBS as some of the closest they have had through their career, still supporting one another years on. Below, three current Early Careers students explain why study groups have been so beneficial to them. Julien Vermeersch (MFA2021) “In my term 1 study group, all six of us came from different countries and it was the diversity of opinions that I valued most from this experience.“ “Study groups at London Business School are something very unique and they provided me with a different learning experience that I didn’t have during my undergraduate studies. Through this system you get the opportunity to not only learn from your professors, but to also discuss the ideas that are covered in the classroom with some of your fellow students. I found this extremely insightful because it provides an additional level of depth to the discussion and it enables you to debate different perspectives covering a range of topics. In my term 1 study group, all six of us came from different countries and it was the diversity of opinions that I valued most from this experience. Although I was very happy with my first study group, I think it is great to have the opportunity to move onto my next study group and get to work with different people and learn more about their perspectives. Besides the numerous academic benefits that the study group system offers, I think that it is also an excellent opportunity to get to know some of your classmates better. Over the course of the term, I found that my study group members became some of my closest friends. Additionally, the more professional relationship that you develop with your fellow group members comes in handy when applying for jobs and preparing for interviews. I received a lot of help and advice from them and we regularly scheduled mock interviews between us, which put is us in a good position for the real thing. Overall, I had a lot of fun working on the assignments with my group members and I was able to take away a lot more from them than if I would have been working by myself. “ David Nazareth (MAM2021) “Ultimately, what you learn from your study group depends in large part on how actively you contribute to group work and how committed you are to learning something new from your teammates on each project.” “A classmate of mine recently introduced me to a wonderful article by Edward Hallowell (Harvard Business Review, 1999) in which Hallowell talks about the importance of regularly replenishing “human moments” (authentic psychological encounters between human beings) in our daily lives in order to stay energised and to avoid feeling isolated and lonely. In a pandemic stricken year, lacking in “human moments” in the classroom and around campus, working with my study group has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience and something that I’ve actively looked forward to. Group work is an integral part of the programme at LBS and an element that started right from our first week on the MAM programme. Learning to work virtually with a really diverse group of people was by no means easy, but there’s something about working for hours on an assignment with the rest of your study group that helps you create unique bonds of friendship and productive patterns of communication. Additionally, over time, we were able to build an understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses and harnessed the power of our diversity. My experience working with my study group have also helped me become much more self-aware. I now have a much better understanding of what I need from teammates in order to be highly productive. I truly believe that this is one of the most valuable things I’ve learnt this year and I hope to continue to improve my self-awareness in future cross-cultural teams. Ultimately, what you learn from your study group depends in large part on how actively you contribute to group work and how committed you are to learning something new from your teammates on each project. I would strongly advise incoming students to focus on this element of the programme because it has definitely helped me learn a lot about myself.” Sasha Sabharwal (MiM2021) “We have been able to bring our own expertise to the table, helping, supporting, and learning from one another.“ “At the beginning of semester 1 and 2, we are allocated a new study group to work with during group assignments. Both of my study groups have been incredibly diverse in several aspects, including gender, nationality, personality and past work experience. Given the global nature of business, I saw this as an opportunity to strengthen my global mindset and develop my core teamwork skills. Particularly now given the pandemic, it has been a new learning experience for all of us, learning how to collaborate virtually and deliver projects to high standards while being in different time-zones. I have also recognised the importance of flexibility, as well as the need to ensure each member of the team feels supported during these increasingly uncertain times. Our differing backgrounds and unique perspectives have proven to be incredibly complementary when it comes to group assignments. We have been able to bring our own expertise to the table, helping, supporting, and learning from one another. In addition, we all have different personality types, so working as a team was a great way to learn how to use these to our advantage. It has been extremely rewarding to see the change in group dynamics and project efficiency as time went on, as we began to learn from each other’s personalities and working styles. Aside from these differences, I’ve noticed two common themes amongst LBS students. The first, unsurprisingly, is the exceptional level of talent. I feel so inspired to be surrounded by extremely accomplished, impressive and driven individuals as it constantly pushes me to become a better version of myself. The second is how respectful, collaborative and friendly each member of the cohort is. Everyone is very humble, despite their academic excellence, and always willing to help to better the experience of others. It’s no surprise that the highlight of my time at LBS has been the people I have met and worked with. I look forward to the remainder of the semester, working with my second study group on this exciting, unparalleled academic journey.” The post Study Groups at LBS: A unique learning experience appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
24 Feb 2021, 09:01
| FROM LBS MiF Admissions Blog: Study Group B2: Our Full-Time MiF Experience |
By Guilherme Aguiar, MiF FT 2021 Guilherme Aguiar, Portuguese Hi, I’m Guilherme from Portugal! I was working in Banco Carregosa, a Private Bank before joining the MiF. After working in finance for the last few years, I knew I needed to continue developing my technical skills. I also wanted to join a post-experience programme, where I could engage with professionals from different backgrounds/cultures and in a similar career path. Being part of a study group has helped me to do this. My study group is comprised of 6 members from different backgrounds and cultures. Being part of a very diverse set of people has been a unique experience for me and raised awareness of how different our cultures are and how that manifests in our behaviour. While at work, we can always rely on a member’s expertise and help on a topic. I feel this in particular has helped me in my own development. Let me tell you about the study group B2… Joe is a Canadian CPA. Before joining the MiF, he worked in Richter, one of the largest Canadian independent business advisory and family office firms. Murong is from China and previously was at the Investment Banking and Asset Management division of Bank of Jiangsu. From Japan, Tatsuo was working as an IT consultant at Nomura Research Institute. Lavanya is from India. Before taking the MiF, she founded Rudratic Technologies and was an Open Banking Consultant in Nedbank. Juan is Mexican and worked as a Portfolio Manager at AFORE Sura, one of Mexico’s the largest pension funds. Guilherme, from Portugal, was working in Banco Carregosa, a Private Bank.  Joe Messina, Canadian The MiF and this study group has been a life-changing experience for me. It is not very often that you have the opportunity to connect with individuals from literally every continent of the globe. Not only have I developed a global acumen, but I was able to learn the different financial backgrounds of my teammates. “The diversity brought new ideas and experiences to group discussions which enabled us to succeed academically, but also on an interpersonal level.” The highlight of working with this group was working on the Investments project, where we had the opportunity to pitch a SPAC arbitrage strategy to one of the most prominent hedge fund managers in Europe.  Lavanya Raja, Indian The highlight of working with this study group is that each of us are heavily committed towards every project/group task undertaken. With any project, we always give the right effort in planning and execution, irrespective of the battles with time zones and other professional differences. Also building a positive feedback loop is important for working together in a long run. This was established from the beginning when we decided to talk through our differences looking at the bigger picture. “The key to building rapport and relationships with your study group is by:
 Juan Carlos Weihmann, Mexican “Overachiever” is a word that perfectly describes my study group as we always aim to be outstanding. With people from 6 countries across the world, its diversity adds different views in every discussion beyond our assignments. I had never worked with people so different but talented at the same time, broadening my perspectives both at a professional and personal level. “I enjoy sharing my knowledge and embark in interesting and challenging debates. Our study group has this in common, so our conversations expanded our skillset as we come from different professional backgrounds.” I would like to also highlight the eagerness of our study group to make the most out of every task and the thrill to learn from what each one of us have to offer given our cultural and professional backgrounds. For instance, every time we “zoom” for an assignment discussion, we take the time to thoroughly review and explain our processes and way of thought until everyone understands and incorporates their respective input.  Murong Wang, Chinese My study group experience is my most significant international experience to date. Not only have I learned technical knowledge and skills from my colleagues, but I have experienced working with different leadership styles. The highlight of working in my study group is: for every project/assignment, we each express our ideas, we plan ahead, we assign tasks based on each team member’s unique skillset, and we get to work on it right away. As a result, when working with my colleagues, I feel respected and valued; and I feel assured because I trust my colleagues to complete their parts in time and with high quality. “We stay connected to each other on both a professional and a personal level. And we plan to continue to do so even after we graduate from LBS.” Together with a thriving network of experienced students, powerful alumni groups and world-class faculty, an LBS MiF degree will allow me the privilege of accessing stimulating professional opportunities throughout my life.  Tatsuo Iida, Japan The experiences of bringing together our knowledge and expertise were beneficial as my group members helped me significantly step into unknown territories such as financial statement analysis and corporate valuation. For example, I learnt a lot about financial statement analysis from Joe, who is an experienced accountant. “I have been able to learn how to communicate effectively to achieve a common goal in a multi-cultural team. I strongly believe that in the future this learning experience will help me manage a development team of business analysts and engineers with various background.” Every single project has been a highlight for me because we never missed a chance to give each other proactive feedbacks to overcome challenges. The most impressive project was an investment course assignment in which we discussed and evaluated our arbitrage strategy. We collected actual market data and calculated expected returns by applying theories we learned in the investment course. It was truly an amazing experience of combining theories with practice, which gave me a clear image of how it is like to work in the industry. The post Study Group B2: Our Full-Time MiF Experience appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
26 Feb 2021, 02:01
| FROM LBS MiM Admissions Blog: The Equall Conference: What is it like to Co-Chair the event? |
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By Thomas Nevoa Pereira, MBA2021 and Shajia Meraj, MBA2021 When we became Co-chairs for the Equall Conference event, the Covid-19 pandemic was already something familiar to us. When our co-presidents approached us however, we naively thought that we could host a physical event, for at least part of the audience. As it turns out we signed up to put together the first ever virtual Equall Conference. Below, we share our tips for how to achieve this! No blueprint? Make up your own! Last year’s chair, Madeline McLaughlan, was a wealth of information and she was more than willing to provide us with all the information she had. But accounting for the challenges of a virtual event is another matter. Not having a blueprint can be scary and overwhelming, but it’s also exciting. As there has never been a virtual event like this before it gave us the opportunity to create our own blueprint! The team is also virtual It’s not only the conference that’s virtual, so is our team! We have not had the opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting since we started to work together. Building a team through conference calls presented with its challenges, but getting the right people on board was key. We are all volunteers here, so you need to get motivated people. We have members of our team with full time jobs, and they are still so committed. Since the beginning of this project we have at least one recurring call per day for the conference. We have our sub-team meetings and then our general conference team meeting. By putting those who work on the same vertical together, we created an enhanced sense of ownership. Dividing up into smaller groups enabled us to engage and empower our team members better; it also prevented zoom fatigue! Give a framework and have fun with it We gave as much ownership as possible to each team. We even came up with the theme together. We gave the teams a framework of what needed to be included, but they had free reign over everything else. We were so pleased with how the teams did. They organised an incredible amount, including an impressive 8 keynote speakers and a special address by Senator Elizabeth Warren! More is more We have more panels, keynotes and speakers than ever before. There are several reasons for that. Firstly, we can. Virtual is not the experience we wanted to give our attendees, but on the plus side, we have no frontier to worry about; we were even able to invite people from Africa, the US, the Middle East. Secondly, because we have access to so many more speakers and we don’t need to worry about venue capacity, we are packaging content in different tracks for the second day. You lose a lot of attendees from one day to the other, but our hope is that by providing more niche content on the second day we can target special interests, thus getting people to come back. Teams go further We haven’t put our 20 panels together all by ourselves. This year we wanted to pioneer collaboration with as many clubs at LBS as possible. We asked everyone we knew if they would be willing to help or work with us. For instance, the Foodie, Music, Photography, Out In Business, Black in Business and Yoga clubs all contributed with activities for our breaks which was great! We leveraged everyone’s strength to bring you the best we could find. The 17 people in our team are amazing and we couldn’t be prouder of their work. We are looking forward to how the 2021 conference goes! To sign up click here. The post The Equall Conference: What is it like to Co-Chair the event? appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
26 Feb 2021, 02:01
| FROM LBS MiF Admissions Blog: The Equall Conference: What is it like to Co-Chair the event? |
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By Thomas Nevoa Pereira, MBA2021 and Shajia Meraj, MBA2021 When we became Co-chairs for the Equall Conference event, the Covid-19 pandemic was already something familiar to us. When our co-presidents approached us however, we naively thought that we could host a physical event, for at least part of the audience. As it turns out we signed up to put together the first ever virtual Equall Conference. Below, we share our tips for how to achieve this! No blueprint? Make up your own! Last year’s chair, Madeline McLaughlan, was a wealth of information and she was more than willing to provide us with all the information she had. But accounting for the challenges of a virtual event is another matter. Not having a blueprint can be scary and overwhelming, but it’s also exciting. As there has never been a virtual event like this before it gave us the opportunity to create our own blueprint! The team is also virtual It’s not only the conference that’s virtual, so is our team! We have not had the opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting since we started to work together. Building a team through conference calls presented with its challenges, but getting the right people on board was key. We are all volunteers here, so you need to get motivated people. We have members of our team with full time jobs, and they are still so committed. Since the beginning of this project we have at least one recurring call per day for the conference. We have our sub-team meetings and then our general conference team meeting. By putting those who work on the same vertical together, we created an enhanced sense of ownership. Dividing up into smaller groups enabled us to engage and empower our team members better; it also prevented zoom fatigue! Give a framework and have fun with it We gave as much ownership as possible to each team. We even came up with the theme together. We gave the teams a framework of what needed to be included, but they had free reign over everything else. We were so pleased with how the teams did. They organised an incredible amount, including an impressive 8 keynote speakers and a special address by Senator Elizabeth Warren! More is more We have more panels, keynotes and speakers than ever before. There are several reasons for that. Firstly, we can. Virtual is not the experience we wanted to give our attendees, but on the plus side, we have no frontier to worry about; we were even able to invite people from Africa, the US, the Middle East. Secondly, because we have access to so many more speakers and we don’t need to worry about venue capacity, we are packaging content in different tracks for the second day. You lose a lot of attendees from one day to the other, but our hope is that by providing more niche content on the second day we can target special interests, thus getting people to come back. Teams go further We haven’t put our 20 panels together all by ourselves. This year we wanted to pioneer collaboration with as many clubs at LBS as possible. We asked everyone we knew if they would be willing to help or work with us. For instance, the Foodie, Music, Photography, Out In Business, Black in Business and Yoga clubs all contributed with activities for our breaks which was great! We leveraged everyone’s strength to bring you the best we could find. The 17 people in our team are amazing and we couldn’t be prouder of their work. We are looking forward to how the 2021 conference goes! To sign up click here. The post The Equall Conference: What is it like to Co-Chair the event? appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
05 Mar 2021, 08:01
| FROM LBS MiM Admissions Blog: Early Careers Application Tips |
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By Maria Busz, MAM Recruitment Associate When submitting your application for one of the Early Careers programmes there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Below are a few helpful hints and tips to get you started. Research Choosing to do a postgraduate degree is a big commitment and an investment in your future. Therefore, doing thorough research first is hugely important. Reaching out to our Student Ambassadors and large Alumni network via our website, is a good way to connect with people who are doing, or have done, the programme that you’re interested in. Our Student Ambassadors are always happy to help and can answer any queries you have. Additionally, our online events are a great way to hear more about life at LBS and the student experience. After researching and deciding which programme at LBS is right for you, you can submit your CV for a review via our website. A member of our Recruitment and Admissions team will assess your eligibility for your programme of interest, and will support you through the application process. As part of the application process we will need proof of your GPA, GMAT/GRE and English proficiency, so having these documents to hand ahead of time can expedite the application process. References In order for us to get a better understanding of who you are we require one professional and one academic reference. For these it’s a good idea to ask someone who knows you well and knows how you work, to give our Recruitment and Admissions team a better idea of why LBS is the right place for you. Your referees don’t need to provide a traditional reference letter, we will simply ask for their contact details and send out a form to fill out at their earliest convenience. It’s best to let them know early enough so that they can submit their references in time. Essay questions Essay questions are another important part of the application process, as they allow your personality and experiences to shine through. It’s also an opportunity to explain why your chosen programme is important to you, and what you can bring to that programme and the wider LBS community. Take your time to research, reflect, and tailor your answers to portray your skills, knowledge, aspirations, and personality so they are relevant to the programme of your choice. The first essay question focuses on your personal reasons for applying for the programme. Our candidates come from various backgrounds and hold different bachelor’s degrees, therefore their career goals will be different. Your ideal career journey is unique to you. What you wish to gain from the programme, your knowledge about its benefits and how it will support your career, is personal. The second question focuses on how you will contribute to the LBS community as a student or alum. This is where doing prior research on the LBS community will be beneficial to your answer. It’s great to have an idea of what you wish to bring and contribute to the school as well – these can be new ideas for events or clubs. Your contributions can also be related to supporting others or bringing something new from your background or culture to the school. There is no limit to what you can bring to the table! For Global Masters in Management (GMiM) candidates, there is a third essay question that is focused on what you are looking to gain from your second year at Fudan University in Shanghai. The GMiM programme is ideal for those of you who are looking to gain international exposure in the Asian markets, so it is important that the Asian culture is close to your heart. The essay is a perfect opportunity to highlight this interest in Asian culture in your answers. There’s also a third essay question for Master in Analytics and Management (MAM) candidates. Part of the MAM curriculum focuses on applying data to business, and this is reflected in the essay as we ask you to describe a professional or academic data driven project you have been involved with. It is important that you are able to demonstrate a project you had worked on that has allowed you to apply data knowledge into practice. We do not expect you do be data experts however we are looking for demonstration of those skills, such as programming knowledge. The post Early Careers Application Tips appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
05 Mar 2021, 08:01
| FROM LBS MiF Admissions Blog: Early Careers Application Tips |
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By Maria Busz, MAM Recruitment Associate When submitting your application for one of the Early Careers programmes there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Below are a few helpful hints and tips to get you started. Research Choosing to do a postgraduate degree is a big commitment and an investment in your future. Therefore, doing thorough research first is hugely important. Reaching out to our Student Ambassadors and large Alumni network via our website, is a good way to connect with people who are doing, or have done, the programme that you’re interested in. Our Student Ambassadors are always happy to help and can answer any queries you have. Additionally, our online events are a great way to hear more about life at LBS and the student experience. After researching and deciding which programme at LBS is right for you, you can submit your CV for a review via our website. A member of our Recruitment and Admissions team will assess your eligibility for your programme of interest, and will support you through the application process. As part of the application process we will need proof of your GPA, GMAT/GRE and English proficiency, so having these documents to hand ahead of time can expedite the application process. References In order for us to get a better understanding of who you are we require one professional and one academic reference. For these it’s a good idea to ask someone who knows you well and knows how you work, to give our Recruitment and Admissions team a better idea of why LBS is the right place for you. Your referees don’t need to provide a traditional reference letter, we will simply ask for their contact details and send out a form to fill out at their earliest convenience. It’s best to let them know early enough so that they can submit their references in time. Essay questions Essay questions are another important part of the application process, as they allow your personality and experiences to shine through. It’s also an opportunity to explain why your chosen programme is important to you, and what you can bring to that programme and the wider LBS community. Take your time to research, reflect, and tailor your answers to portray your skills, knowledge, aspirations, and personality so they are relevant to the programme of your choice. The first essay question focuses on your personal reasons for applying for the programme. Our candidates come from various backgrounds and hold different bachelor’s degrees, therefore their career goals will be different. Your ideal career journey is unique to you. What you wish to gain from the programme, your knowledge about its benefits and how it will support your career, is personal. The second question focuses on how you will contribute to the LBS community as a student or alum. This is where doing prior research on the LBS community will be beneficial to your answer. It’s great to have an idea of what you wish to bring and contribute to the school as well – these can be new ideas for events or clubs. Your contributions can also be related to supporting others or bringing something new from your background or culture to the school. There is no limit to what you can bring to the table! For Global Masters in Management (GMiM) candidates, there is a third essay question that is focused on what you are looking to gain from your second year at Fudan University in Shanghai. The GMiM programme is ideal for those of you who are looking to gain international exposure in the Asian markets, so it is important that the Asian culture is close to your heart. The essay is a perfect opportunity to highlight this interest in Asian culture in your answers. There’s also a third essay question for Master in Analytics and Management (MAM) candidates. Part of the MAM curriculum focuses on applying data to business, and this is reflected in the essay as we ask you to describe a professional or academic data driven project you have been involved with. It is important that you are able to demonstrate a project you had worked on that has allowed you to apply data knowledge into practice. We do not expect you do be data experts however we are looking for demonstration of those skills, such as programming knowledge. The post Early Careers Application Tips appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
09 Mar 2021, 04:01
| FROM ESCP MiM Students Blog: Who said there’s nothing to do in Paris during the pandemic? |
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[img]https://i0.wp.com/escpmim.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Fiorella-Dalle-Fiorella-Dalle-1.png?resize=171%2C212&ssl=1[/img] by Fiorella Dalle Paris is known for its iconic museums, breathtaking monuments and its traditional cafes – to name a few. With the current pandemic, sadly, all those places are closed but I have come to realise that there are still lots of things to do. I was born and raised in Paris, so I thought I knew of all the best things to see and do. The current situation pushed me to search for new activities and I was really surprised by the number of things I had not yet discovered. Let’s take a look. [b]Visit Montmartre and enjoy the sunset from the Sacré-Coeur[/b] [*][img]https://i0.wp.com/escpmim.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/montmartre-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C678&ssl=1[/img] Hilly streets of Montmartre[/*][/list] Montmartre is, in my opinion, the cutest neighborhood in Paris and the good news is all the best things to do/see there are still running in spite of the lockdown. Indeed, the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur is open and there aren’t any tourists, so there will never be a better time to visit. Go for a stroll in the hilly streets of the neighborhood, grab a drink and a crêpe and watch the sunset from the stairs of the Sacré-Coeur for the best view of Paris – guaranteed. [img]https://i1.wp.com/escpmim.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Wall-of-love.jpg?resize=933%2C611&ssl=1[/img] The Wall of love If you feel like walking a bit more, the Wall of Love is located less than a 10 minute walk, at metro Abbesses, and is worth a quick visit. On this famous wall, ‘I love you’ is written in more than 250 languages. Paris truly is the city of love. [b]Eat at Marché des enfants rouges in the 3rd district[/b] [img]https://i0.wp.com/escpmim.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/sandwich.png?resize=876%2C494&ssl=1[/img] French-style sandwich from ‘Alain-miam-miam’ Since I was getting tired of having food delivered and the rising temperatures make it pleasant to eat outside, I looked for nice street food places. I discovered a unique and super affordable food market in the center of Paris that is really AMAZING: le Marché des enfants rouge. They have so many choices of carry-out food: classic French dishes and pastries but also Mediterranean and Asian specialities. I would 100% recommend the sandwiches from the Alain-miam-miam stand, they are just delicious (miam is French for yum). [b]Street art in Oberkampf, Menilmontant and Belleville[/b] [img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Xi5OVSW9hL5JmLL0qtRalx6N_DULH-v6q41sf9gonyqJv2xDwToHxHixXvUH2JEQUxNMnpVvk28wrTNNjtvAK1Mes_ftgvxR5W3te8qwxnm8NcIODEc7MfNHcPqTxQ[/img] “The Wall” in Oberkampf (right behind ESCP!) Paris is an open-air museum with all of its beautiful monuments. I never realised, however, that it was also an open-air art gallery. Before the pandemic, I never thought to look for street art in Paris. With most inside cultural activities closed, I was forced to do some research and found three neighborhoods where you can find excellent works: Oberkampf, Belleville and Ménilmontant. My favorite is “The Wall” on Oberkampf street, right behind the [url=https://escpmim.blog/paris/]campus[/url], where every two to three weeks an artist is invited to create a new mural. Over the course of two days, you can watch the artist at work. When I want to enjoy nature, I take a walk in the park of Belleville (20th district) where you will find lovely street art frescos. [b]Visit the Galerie Perrotin – 76 rue Turenne (3rd district)[/b] The Emmanuel Perrotin Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in a mansion in the famous quarter of le Marais. Thanks to its small size, it has remained open. It organises more than 40 different contemporary art exhibitions each year, so you can always expect something different. The best thing is you can easily enjoy it as a walk-in since no reservation is needed and the entrance is free. Once in le Marais you can go shopping at the numerous thrift shops located in the area. I would also recommend eating at L’As du Fallafel located at 34 rue des Rosiers where you will enjoy the best falafels and shawarmas of Paris. [b]Admire the most beautiful Parisian facade at 29 avenue Rapp[/b] [img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/T1A8n40g06I5Hz3Kl1xmB0RwDHJulNDsUEm0LducWShhANokPkiRkWi-KUYttll-7A8h2REb5qzip-lcJ3LInAL1Q6MiEKjdnnq_u6uglB-C6du80lg73PAuJOwGHg[/img] The art nouveau Lavirotte building Photo credit: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France – Immeuble art nouveau de Jules Lavirotte à Paris, CC BY 2.0, [url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24669763]https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24669763[/url] Paris is known for its Haussmann-style buildings but there are also other styles that will surprise you. There is one façade that is really worth seeing: the Lavirotte Building at 29 avenue Rapp by architect Jules Lavirotte, a fantastic example of the art nouveau style. You can spend hours looking at the various design details. [img]https://i1.wp.com/escpmim.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Le-Mur.png?resize=1024%2C623&ssl=1[/img] After seeing the façade I recommend that you go buy a box of macaroons from the best macaronier (chef specialised in macaroons) of Paris: Grégory Renard at 120 rue Saint-Dominique (7th district). Afterwards, go for a stroll in the Champ de Mars and admire the Eiffel Tower. Actually, one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower is said to be at rue de l’Université near the places mentioned above. [img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/CRxy3Zp4RcWN1TyCN2fBUH4U1VrhVcHx5q_iVDZ7czRTos8267IySN9eWaItCWCfU-fiEjeBkqgi8RUjGkuBIAzEUWIzrqv1eSa9tIPaL6g42x40jwkxMI_dZpWzkWiSxDTv3Vs[/img] Gregory Renard’s macaroon shop [b]Take a virtual visit of the Versailles [/b][b]château [/b][b]and the Louvre [/b] Visiting the Louvre and the Versailles château are on everyone’s bucket list when in Paris. Unfortunately, both places are closed until further notice. However, both have created excellent virtual tours and while it is of course not the same as being there, they have a big advantage: no queues! [b]Walk across the many beautiful Parisian bridges [/b] [img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/rl7YOwj-GY2HSambKI3p0AtuPYfjds6tOttcNLBmElU1X568z0q8Gdy11tdxKWkZVrmVC3fN0O2ZFYvkFOdZ-bjboHfkNxT4czkG5t-EVyaqipdB07HArg7r-2cOVg[/img] The Alexandre III bridge Photo credit Eric Pouhier – Own work, CC BY 2.5, [url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=446153]https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=446153[/url] Since Paris has a river running through it, it has bridges everywhere – some are not only beautiful but they also offer amazing views of the city. My favourite one, without a doubt, is the Pont Alexandre III. It is the most grandiose bridge in the city as it is decorated with gold leaf-covered statues. It connects the Invalides and the Palais Royal (connecting the 7th and 8th districts) while offering a great view of the Eiffel Tower. My second favourite is the Pont de l’Archevêché (4th district) as it offers a great view on the Notre Dame Cathedral. Fun fact: it is also the narrowest bridge of the city. I hope this list of things to do in Paris will inspire you to get out and explore – even during the pandemic! After experiencing all these places and activities, you will probably have seen more of the city than most Parisians. Fiorella Dalle [b]Tags: [/b]#Paris, #sightseeing, #monuments, #museums, #food, #art |
17 Mar 2021, 07:01
| FROM LBS MiF Admissions Blog: MiF: From Cairo to London Business School |
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By Omar Taha, MiF2021 Growing up as the son of a financier instilled in me a profound understanding of how finance can have a far-reaching impact on our lives. The stark contrast between Egypt and other economically developed countries of the world, sparked my curiosity to learn more on the subject matter from an early age and a desire to be a part of the change towards the country’s development. As I was getting ready to graduate from high school, protests were erupting all over the country to culminate in the January 25 Egyptian Revolution. These events deeply affected my view of the world, the state of our country and the devastating effects of failed economic and financial policies, ultimately driving me to pursue a career in finance.  The Masters in Finance (MiF) programme at LBS offered the exact toolkit to compliment the skill set I’ve been keen to develop. The MiF offered me a well-rounded, multidisciplinary approach to finance that I needed to achieve my career goals. The unique nature of the programme covers areas often overlooked in other programmes, such as the personalized learning experience coupled with an extensive variety of electives. I found that LBS offered a more hands-on learning experience, as you are taught about the financial challenges of real-life businesses and other case-studies. Not only is the programme taught at a globally leading institution, but it’s also located in one of the world’s most prominent financial, political, and cultural capitals in the world. LBS’s stature as one of the world’s leading academic institutions and its diverse environment has created the perfect place for any finance professional who wants to grow their professional network. My application process at LBS was seamless. The admissions team at LBS supported me and ensured that I was always informed throughout the whole process with frequent calls and emails; they have been very easy to talk with and speaking with the admissions team made me feel more confident throughout the application process. I was awarded with the Qalaa Holding Scholarship, which helped me to invest more in my studies and words cannot express how thankful I am to have been chosen as a scholarship recipient. My education has always been of upmost importance to me, and to be rewarded in this way is very humbling. I was impressed by the high level of professionalism that I received from Qalaa Holding Scholarship Foundation team during the application process. To speak to our MiF Recruitment and Admissions team about the programme, please contact mif@london.edu. The post MiF: From Cairo to London Business School appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
18 Mar 2021, 06:01
| FROM LBS MiM Admissions Blog: An insight into LondonLAB |
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By Alex Hurd – MiM & GMiM Student Recruitment Associate ‘Can you tell me about LondonLAB?’ is often asked by aspiring MiM applicants. I got in contact with Dominic Hughes, an Experiential Learning manager at LBS to shed some light on the project and find out if you actually go anywhere near a lab. Overview Dominic sums up LondonLAB at LBS in a simple sentence, “It’s a student group consulting project with a real client.” Running for ten weeks from April to June, students use the learning from core courses in the earlier terms and put these skills to use in a real client facing scenario. Dominic explains, “Our students get to put those learnings into context and have a genuine impact on clients. Our students can also build their network and start to really get their name out there.” The ten weeks on the project act as a real eye-opener to life as a consultant, and student findings develop into real business decisions for the clients. MiM2020 LondonLAB was a great success with clients including:
The projects are separated into three key focus areas: New Markets and Products, Responding to and Managing Change and finally Improving Performance and Growing Market Share. These project categories allow students to choose an area that interests them or potentially could benefit their future recruitment choices. The LondonLAB team then do their best to ensure students are working on a project most aligned to their objectives and preferences. Diversity Dominic adds that the project allocation doesn’t just stop there: “We try and allocate students their top choices whilst also maintaining diverse working groups; that’s diversity in terms of nationality, gender and also educational background. For example, we look at their undergraduate degree subjects to help balance the teams out.” The idea behind this is to have groups of 6 that represent the strong diversity values of LBS and allows teams to flourish with members having a range of strengths to contribute to the team. Work or Assessment? LondonLAB is not just for work experience and the project is assessed by faculty as a core module. LBS support the students during the course as they have a number of consultations with a supervising faculty member. The faculty will essentially act as a critical trusted advisor to the students, and they will be constructively challenging their thinking and also guiding them in the right direction. Some faculty members are former senior consultants and have substantial client-facing experience, so they are able to get the best out of the students and make an accurate assessment of their performance. These projects can be challenging for students, but as faculty often note, the harder the project, the greater the learning experience. LondonLAB in Covid Times Pre-Covid students would have had an in-person introductory meeting with the clients and be shown around the office, thus meeting the key stakeholders within their organisational environment. Dominic explained how the adjustments to the project due to Covid do have their advantages: “These are some of the first students to do a full consulting project remotely, which could be a real distinguishing point for them when they move into recruitment process in the near future.” So, there you have it, a real insight into what you will be doing in the LondonLAB. You won’t be stepping into any laboratories, but you could be gaining experience helping London based clients make their next strategic business moves. LondonLAB Student Feedback You can read MiM2020 Echo Wang’s Case Study of her LondonLAB Experience here. MiM2020 Student Feedback “The client challenged us and supported us to produce a strong recommendation. It was great to work with them and understand the way their firm thinks about investment.” “I actually enjoyed working with a more NGO-type organisation, and think it really opened my eyes to an industry I hadn’t really considered before.” “The Faculty supervisor brought a very pragmatic approach to our LondonLAB project which helped the team maintain a focus on adding value instead of being distracted by unrealistic recommendations that we might have given to the client.” “I enjoyed the entire course from the virtual to working with my team on an actual project with a real company to the sessions with my Faculty supervisor. Overall, one of my favourite experience at LBS!” “Working with a client as a team alone and without the direct supervision of faculty. I think it is an important learning experience to be on your own in client meetings and having to sort out client issues as a team. At all times, however, I knew we could fall back on the qualified support of faculty and the LondonLAB team and never felt left alone. I very much appreciated that!” The post An insight into LondonLAB appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
26 Mar 2021, 08:01
| FROM ESCP MiM Students Blog: GMAT Success Story: It is doable with only 3 weeks of preparation! |
 The dreaded GMAT. Recommended preparation time to get the score you want is 8 weeks. Master in Management student Catarina Machado thought she had double that, until she discovered that exam dates filled up quickly, and internship offers can take forever to come. At the end, she only had 3 weeks. I was in my last semester of my Bachelor’s Degree in Management and I already knew I wanted to apply to ESCP, so I needed to take a logic test. For me, the best choice was the GMAT. The dreaded GMAT, seen as one of the biggest challenges for students worldwide trying to apply to the best Business Schools in Europe. I had already done my research, talked with friends who had done it or were preparing for it – some of them already had done more than 6 months preparation! According to GMAC, the organisers of the GMAT, well over 60% of students spend at least 4 weeks preparing for the exam. It was late October when I decided to apply to a Master’s in Management. And to do the GMAT on time for the ESCP deadlines, I had to take it, at the latest, at the beginning of March, which gave me about 4 and 1/2 months of preparation. I checked the test dates, and everything was planned out so that I could spend the recommended time of studying to be able to perform my best.  Source mba.com However, I could not schedule a date right away, since I was still waiting for answers to internship applications. I wanted to make sure that it would be ok for me to miss a day of work to take the test; I had not mentioned this during the interviews. The waiting process took much longer than I expected: it wasn’t until late November that I was able to accept an internship offer. I made the naive mistake of thinking the test dates would be there waiting for me. Wrong! When I went to schedule the exam, the latest available date was the 10th of January – 2 months before I had planned on taking it! At the same time, end of semester group works and individual workload started to increase and every time I tried to open the GMAT books (which I had bought in October), it was impossible to focus because of all the tasks I had to finish to complete my Bachelor’s degree. When I was done with all the group projects and exams, I realised time was running out: I only had 3 weeks to prepare for the GMAT Test! How was I going to succeed in such a short time? How I squeezed it into 3 weeks of prep time Acceptance, determination, and willingness There was no need to think about how I got myself in this situation, but rather focus on the time I still had. I had set the goal of being accepted to ESCP, and this test was one of the means for my success. I knew I would have stressful and tiring weeks, in which I would have to spend most (if not all) of my time studying, but it was a sacrifice I needed to make to reach my goal. And I guarantee you it was worth it! Use the difference resources you have available The books have everything you need. The platform listed in the books has videos to help you master the exam and gives tips from different sources on how to address each rough spot you come across, such as how to solve an exercise faster. The platform exams are in a really similar format to the final one you take, and you can also choose by exam section. Use them in a tactical way to address your weaknesses! Study timetable and learning plan Try to make a calendar of your goals for each day, the learnings, and what you actually covered. This way, you will find your rhythm in the first few days, determine a pace, and adapt your calendar accordingly. Make sure you are covering all the different topics and types of exercise and, especially, that you are doing a lot of them. Here’s a sample study plan proposed by GMAC – that I squeezed into 3 weeks.  Source mba.com Realise! Prioritise! Adapt! Repeat! I was surprised to learn which were my strong and weak areas. And after a while, I realised there were different times of the day when I was more or less productive in the different areas of the exam. For example, I was mastering the Quantitative Reasoning exercises in the morning or the last thing in the evening. The Verbal Reasoning had to be done after a break longer than 10-15 minutes, and after lunch, the only part I could do effectively was the Integrated Reasoning. I advise you to have the ability to understand yourself, your difficulties and your timing, then prioritise the area(s) you need to focus on, and when (especially if you don’t have much time), adapt according to this, and repeat the process the number of times needed to achieve the best results. My Advice Set your priorities and find your rhythm, then work them in order to have the best result possible. You may experience stress and fear of failure. If that happens, just focus on your goal and when you’ll be finished. For example, I was really disappointed with my results in Verbal Reasoning. I was failing so many exercises that I didn’t think that I would be able to overcome it, but in the end, I was able to find my way to address it by watching videos, reviewing tips and doing a LOT of exercises. The key to success is repetition and speed. The main challenge of the GMAT is the short time you have to answer so many questions. Avoid getting stuck on one question, and even if it is hard, keep in your mind that you HAVE TO move on to the next one. This is true not only for D-Day, but also during exam prep. Do not get stuck for several hours or days on a specific topic. Move on! The difference between the exam and the prep, is that on the latter you can go back to the exercises where you had difficulties to figure out how to solve them. Keep in mind that everything is possible! I don’t know if my score is good enough… Should I still apply? Yes, 100% yes. The GMAT Test is just one of the many criteria to get accepted at ESCP. It has the same (or less) weight than other components. For example, the admissions team looks at all of these factors:
And if you’re shortlisted…
Can you see how there are so many factors weighing on your application? A mediocre GMAT score can be compensated if you excel in the remaining selection criteria. So, my advice is for you to apply, and you may get surprised as I was. Even though I was proud of what I achieved in such a short time, my GMAT score of 630 was not brilliant, and I wondered if it was enough to be accepted. I shortly realised after being in the interview that the focus was way more towards me and my achievements in the above-mentioned areas, rather than what logic test score I had. ESCP and the Master in Management offer a world of opportunities you will not want to miss! So, do not let your self-doubt ruin the possibility of enjoying this amazing programme. Join us! About the author Catarina Machado, BSc in Management at Nova SBE, Lisbon I’m currently in the ESCP Master in Management Master Year 1. I took both semesters on the Madridcampus, and I plan on taking a gap year starting this summer. If the right internship opportunity does not present itself because of the pandemic, I’ll start M2 in Berlin, and then follow it with a gap semester. |
06 Apr 2021, 07:01
| FROM LBS MiF Admissions Blog: Masters in Finance Part-time: Our study group experience |
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By Ross Barnes, MiFPT2022 Hi I’m Ross Barnes from the UK, and I’m a student on the Masters in Finance (MiF) Part-Time programme. I decided to study the MiF at LBS because the school has an outstanding international reputation, and its MiF programme has repeatedly been ranked as the best of its kind in the world. I specifically wanted to study the MiF as opposed to an MBA, as I wanted to broaden my finance knowledge and deepen my expertise in finance. I was keen to apply an academic lens to the work I do to broaden my thinking and analysis. The Part-Time programme was ideal as I wanted to study but keep working and apply my learning in my role. I would like to tell you a bit about my brilliant study group, as it’s been a key highlight of my time so far. Highlights of my study group experience If you were to combine Italy, Cyprus, Japan, America, South Africa and Watford, they would create the wonders that are Study Group 11. For those curious about Watford, I will tell you that it is one of England’s top tourist destinations, and a place that everyone has to visit, the Harry Potter museum is not to be missed! I am overjoyed that I am able to experience the rich diversity of LBS and only have to travel 19 miles from my home. The diversity of our group not only enriches our experience but contributes to the way we think about various subject areas. The ultimate goal of any master’s programme is to challenge ones thinking, and it has been a pleasant surprise to have this come from other students and not just my professors. The benefits of my study group are endless. Without Masaya (quantitative market and credit risk expert) we would all be lost when it comes to fixed income securities. Without Tin (a fellow chartered accountant) there would have been fewer debates regarding whether it is more or less appropriate to deduct lease payments from EBITDA during our accounting project. I have gained from my fellow students’ expertise in technical areas such as fixed income and portfolio management. Equally, as a chartered accountant I was able to contribute a lot to the financial accounting and analysis course. Without further ado, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Study Group 11… Tin Mangwiro is South African & Zimbabwean and works in corporate finance for BDO UK LLP: “My study group has been great! We have collaborated well and shared insights, leveraging our many years of experience in different areas of finance. The most exciting aspect of working with my study group is how we have managed to be efficient, and yet still be light-hearted when working on tasks and assignments. This is important to me, as I have a very demanding job and therefore limited time.” Kristiana Tsingi is from Cyprus and works as Chief Operating Officer for Aristeus Financial Services: “Our study group functions very well, everybody pitches in, we all do the work and keep each other’s interest and the whole group’s interest in mind. Sometimes the weight falls to different members, depending on the project and the expertise necessary to complete the assignment. A big advantage of the study group was learning how to efficiently and productively work with other people.” Luca Fiume is Italian and works in asset management for JP Morgan: “My study group is simply amazing! We are totally different students coming from 6 different countries. Each of us studied different subjects (accounting, economics, law…) and we do not work in the same industry. However, we have great synergy and have been able to help each other in an effective way.” Masaya Komaki is Japanese and works in risk management as VP for Mizuho International Securities: “A highlight of working in my study group was during the Purpose of Finance core module where we discussed how finance evolved, how financial innovation benefited society, and the implications of the global financial crisis. This assignment required philosophical discussion and having everyone share their views on the benefits and limitations of financial innovations, which allowed us to reach a good conclusion. With regards to the Investments course, though it was challenging, we worked together intensively and got a good score in the assessments.” Patrick Rooney is American and works for First Trust as Regional Sales Manager: “Diversity is the spice of life. Meeting people from different backgrounds, cultures and points of view is what makes for a great university experience. Our group has just this as we represent America, Britain, Cyprus, Italy, Japan and Zimbabwe. As a result, we have not only had a lot of laughs and gotten to know one another, but also learnt about life outside of our own.” Advice to prospective MiF students: Kristiana Tsingi “I do not think there is even a comparison with other schools, as LBS has an unquestionably top programme, an impeccable reputation in the work market, a unique community feeling, and a diverse student body. Anyone would be lucky to be accepted for any programme at LBS. As someone who has more work experience than most of my cohort, I could have chosen to do a more general degree like the MBA. I didn’t as I felt that the MiF would offer me more real and substantial knowledge. The MiF gives students the educational experience necessary to respond to the demands of the business world, while keeping the whole picture in mind. The course is an absolute balance of science and theory.” Luca Fiume “I would suggest that applicants think about their plan and what they want to achieve. The MiF is a real investment in terms of time and money, and you need to be prepared to balance your job and study obligations. However, to achieve great results you have to be prepared to make sacrifices and dedicate time towards what you want, and ultimately this will be worth it.” Patrick Rooney “The LBS MiF is ranked #1 for a reason. The professors have been excellent, the subjects thought provoking, and the interaction with classmates fulfilling. The diversity of our class is also quite extraordinary, and even though we haven’t had as much time together in person as we would have liked, we have become close friends. As they say, the proof is in the pudding, and not only do my classmates boast impressive resumes, but we have helped each other through the tough times of being isolated over the past 6 months. I couldn’t think of a better option than what I’ve experienced so far.” Would like to hear more about the programme? [url=https://www.london.edu/masters-degrees/student-alumni-and-ambassadors#sort=%40profilesurname%20ascending&f:programme=[Masters%20in%20Finance%20full%20time,Masters%20in%20Finance%20part%20time]&f:profileisambassador=[Ambassadors]]Speak with our current students[/url]. For a review of your fit for the MiF submit your profile here. The post Masters in Finance Part-time: Our study group experience appeared first on Student and Admissions Blog - London Business School. |
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