I can’t believe it is almost the end of my year at Imperial College Business School. The pandemic has made it tough sometimes, but what a year! With the uncertain times and the COVID-19 travel restrictions, I feel lucky that I had the possibility to move from France to the UK and study on campus for several weeks this year.
Before coming to Imperial to study MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance, I was studying environmental sciences and entrepreneurship at Institut Mines-Télécom in France. This year was my first long experience abroad and certainly one the richest experiences of my life so far.
My career plans
When I started studying my Master’s, I already had a clear idea of what I wanted to do after it. I started creating my own business in energy management with a friend. We aim to provide energy consulting and a software as a service for businesses, local and regional governments and private individuals to help them monitor their consumption and production of energy and consume more responsibly.
To better understand how my business could benefit society and the planet, I needed a relevant education on the synergies between business development and climate change mitigation. This is the number one reason why I applied to Imperial for this specific Master’s. The programme has already helped me a lot to better define my entrepreneur route and objectives.
Getting ready
Week after week, I felt like I was building my knowledge in environmental sciences, thanks to one of my favourite modules, The Science of Climate Change. The MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance programme is jointly delivered by the Business School and the Grantham Institute, and thanks to that our lecturers are proficient experts in their respective areas.
In addition, as I am working on energy management in my business project, the modules Mitigating Climate Change and Energy Business and Strategy (another of my favourite modules) have been so helpful to me, as they brilliantly describe the global and local energy systems and viable clean solutions to fight climate change.
These modules were a opportunity for me to develop my skills and knowledge way beyond what I already knew about energy systems. It has helped me to master my subject area in English, as previously I was only comfortable discussing these issues in French. Corporate Finance, Quantitative Methods, Financial and Carbon Accounting and Reporting, and Risk Management and Climate Change are other core modules I really appreciated.
At the time of writing, I am studying the module Innovation in Cleantech and Climate Change Solutions. It is about developing the business idea around carbon capture and storage or greenhouse gas removal. We are asked to build a business model canvas and pitch our project. It is a wonderful exercise for me to learn being as spontaneous in English as I am in French when pitching an idea.
Assessments
I really liked that during the Master’s our assignments took several different forms. We collaborated on group reports, created business strategies, wrote individual reflective or critical essays, and even created a business website where I had the opportunity to actively build new skills in writing, pitching and presenting in English.
I have really enjoyed the individual essays, which gave me the chance to dive really deep into particular areas. As an example, I wrote essays on the role of fluorinated gases in refrigerants worldwide, which in my view is the very first issue we should solve to reduce global warming.
I have also written about the governance of the African Green Belt project, on the threats to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and on the interest of the green millennial wave for electricity storage solutions and millennials’ new habits concerning energy consumption.
For my summer work placement, I will work on my project and try to use everything I have learned so far to make it successful. To do so, I will also apply for the Imperial Enterprise Lab Summer Accelerator, which is an amazing opportunity for me to move forward surrounded by experts.
My experience of London
When I arrived in London in August 2020, I had in mind a plan to go back to France for my business. But as time went by, I became really attached to what London has to offer, and just recently I have decided to settle and work here.
London offers everything you could dream of! Although COVID-19 restrictions made me spend a lot of time at my desk in my room, I still had the chance to discover lots of London’s districts and parks, and our social committee organised really cool events to meet everyone in London.
There’s no doubt that London is among my favourite cities in the world, and my time here has allowed me to meet inspiring people and develop unforgettable friendships.
My role as a Student Ambassador
Early in the year, I applied to be selected as a Student Ambassador. I received a lot of help when I was a prospective student and I wanted to return the favour. This role was also a very useful position to meet students from other Master’s programmes at Imperial, and it was one more chance for me to strongly improve my English competency!
My year in the MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance at Imperial College Business School has been amazing. I am delighted to be part of this big family!
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