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Imperial College Business School supports a variety of student-led Career Clubs that aim to bring together both MBA and MSc students with shared interests, values, career aspirations and backgrounds. There are currently 16 different Careers Clubs at the Business School spanning a wide range of interests. The Careers Clubs provide students opportunities to expand their network, gain valuable industry insights, build links with employers, and a platform for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Kicking off the first of our IB Career Club of the month features, we have the Social Impact and Responsible Business Club (SIRB)! Candidate Experience Manager, Ollie Waite sat down with President Maya Hoang and Vice President Sneha Kuruvilla to discuss the club, their mission statement, and what inspired them to join.
"We all share a passion for making the world a better place and being an impact maker. We are in a great position to bring students together and connect them with professionals in industry and also make them aware of what's happening around the world."
Ollie: First, let’s talk about the Social Impact and Responsible Business Club and its mission, what is the aim of the club?
SIRB: We all share a passion for making the world a better place and being an impact maker. We are in a great position to bring students together and connect them with professionals in industry and also make them aware of what's happening around the world. We organise events that provide insights into different career pathways in sustainability such as social entrepreneurship, sustainability consultancy, or working in responsible businesses with comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes or charities and NGOs.
Our members have access to networking events, panel discussions, mentoring programmes and member-exclusive events. Alongside career insights events, we help members further develop employability skills through masterclasses, workshops, and hackathons.
Ollie: Well, that sounds incredibly exciting and very topical given the ever-increasing need for social enterprise and sustainability initiatives. Could you tell me a bit more about the type of events and activities you have run so far?
SIRB: We have run a range of different activities including panel discussions, roundtable events, company office visits, dragons’ den competitions, hackathons, fireside chats, and networking events. The events typically include professionals working in different sectors and are making an impact on society in some capacity. By sharing their experiences with club members, students can gain valuable insights, ask questions, and network, which further helps them with their job search or current roles if they are already working.
Ollie: It sounds as though you are keeping yourselves very busy running all these activities! Could you tell me more about the Social Impact and Responsible Business Club Committee? Who makes up the team?
SIRB: The 2021-22 Social Impact and Responsible Business Club Committee is made up of:
President – Maya Hoang (MSc Business Analytics)
Vice President – Sneha Kuruvilla (MSc Strategic Marketing)
Treasurer – Laura Marconi (MSc Finance)
Digital Director – Jonathan Leung (MSc Strategic Marketing)
Marketing Director – Sandra Omilo (MSc Strategic Marketing)
Marketing Director – Shiqi Huang (MSc Economics & Strategy for Business)
Events Director – Victoria Li (MSc Business Analytics)
Events Director – Dev Chaudhuri (Full-Time MBA)
Careers Director – Tony Chan (MSc Management)
Careers Director – Daren Tan (Full-Time MBA)
Ollie: It sounds like a very diverse committee both in terms of your regional backgrounds and your academic backgrounds. That’s one of the things we take pride in at the Business School, the diversity of our community, so it’s great to see that reflected through the committee members too. What have you gained from being a member of this club?
SIRB: We have had the privilege of interacting with experienced guest speakers and extremely passionate and dedicated students. Their commitment to contributing to society has been a remarkable learning experience. We have learnt a lot more about how companies can make an impact and how we as graduates can be a part of that change. It has also been fascinating to learn about how the pandemic has accelerated the shift towards sustainability and how companies are looking to incorporate sustainability in their strategies. Most importantly, we have had a lot of fun hearing about and discussing innovative ideas that can make an impact on society!
"We are such a diverse team from a range of programmes across the Business School. We may not have had the opportunity to meet each other if it weren't for the club, it's been really fun!"
Ollie: Glad to hear that you’ve been able to make such great connections and also been able to have some fun along the way! What would you say your proudest achievement is as a club?
SIRB: Our proudest achievement is when we hear positive feedback from our members on the events we have organised. We work really well together and work hard as a team to organise various events in different formats for our members and it was very rewarding to hear their feedback and know that we are making an impact!
Ollie: It’s great to see that you’ve made such valuable connections and friendships with each other. Many people reading this will be thinking about how to make the most out of their time at the Business School. What would you say to a future student considering joining one of the IB Careers Clubs?
SIRB: We are such a diverse team from a range of programmes across the Business School. We may not have had the opportunity to meet each other if it weren't for the club, it's been really fun! It is a fantastic way to meet new people and gain insights about the industry in which you are interested. There is something for everyone as all careers clubs cater to specific sectors and have events in several formats. It broadens your horizons as you are able to interact with students from different programs with similar interests. You can be sure to find a brilliant and supportive team regardless of which club you choose to join. Moreover, going beyond the classroom and engaging in other activities will enhance your university experience and network.
Follow the Social Impact & Responsible Business Club on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter! If you are interested in being a part of their committee, the applications for President and Vice President will open from June and will be communicated via The Hub. Applications for other positions will be open once President and Vice President are appointed and tend to take place from October onwards. You can contact them via ibsi-rbclub@imperial.ac.uk if you have any questions!
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