Alumni profile: Becoming a podcast producer

Virginie Bauman (MSc Strategic Marketing 2014) recording a podcast

Frustrated by the lack of podcasts produced in her home-country to showcase the incredible local talent, Virginie Bauman (MSc Strategic Marketing 2014) took matters in to her own hands. In the summer of 2020 Instant Cactus took to the podcast-airwaves for the first time, featuring Switzerland-based inspiring individuals with remarkable stories to tell.

Website image of alumni business, Instant Cactus

Background

I am a huge fan of podcasts. My favourites are about entrepreneurship and social change, and I follow mostly French, American and British podcasts. About a year ago I realised I was discovering inspiring individuals and fascinating stories, but all from abroad. I thought: ‘hey, there should be equally amazing people in my homeland, right?’. I wanted to listen to people I could relate to and discover projects that would matter locally. So I started digging a bit, but I realised that the podcast landscape in French-speaking Switzerland was not very developed, or at least there wasn't what I was looking for. And that's how Instant Cactus was born, filling the gap of what I wanted to listen too.

Developing a theme

At first I planned to host a podcast with entrepreneurs as guests, to discuss their startups, the successes and failures, etc. But then I crossed path with Taline Bodart, who is a brilliant young woman working in the humanitarian field. Her story is truly inspiring and that’s what led me to broaden the theme to interview individuals with diverse backgrounds, life paths and projects.

The tagline for Instant Cactus became “a podcast that highlights inspiring individuals from French-speaking Switzerland with remarkable projects and life stories”.

One of the standout episodes I am most proud of was with Celine van Till. Her story is very humbling. Celine is my age and had a terrible accident when she was 17, one that changed her life forever. While training for a horseriding competition, she was thrown off the horse, causing a massive head injury. Partially tetraplegic and visually impaired, she had to re-learn everything. Not only did she ride a horse again (she participated to Rio 2016 Paralympic Games) but she re-learnt how to run and became a sprinter, taking part in many competitions. She says “anything is possible” and I believe her, her story is a miracle.

To date, I have produced 33 episodes, with more than 7,000 listens.

Reflections on lessons learned

This has been an amazing journey so far. I think the key lesson I have taken from this process is that whatever you want to do, just go for it. It makes no sense to wait for the right time to start something new; we will never be 100% ready anyway. So start, go ahead, even if you feel uncertain, unprepared or unqualified. Trust your gut. If you wait too long someone else will do it first, and you will regret it forever.

Another great learning is that curiosity is everything. This is how you grow as a person and this is how you innovate as an entrepreneur. I have always been curious, but being in touch with so many fascinating people through the podcast has further boosted that personality trait. Learning and being challenged keep my mind going, and that in turn helps me generate fresh ideas and make new connections that are highly relevant to my projects.

This has been an amazing journey so far. I think the key lesson I have taken from this process is that whatever you want to do, just go for it.

In parallel to Instant Cactus I had the chance to become a host for another podcast, developed by a Swiss-based association for female entrepreneurs called Genuine Women. The mission of the “Genuine Podcast” is to share insights and advice related to the entrepreneurial journey, while giving visibility to network members. This is a great opportunity to hear from like-minded entrepreneurs who are currently building or growing their businesses.

I love crafting my own career, and hope in the future I will be a successful entrepreneur. I picture myself developing a couple of business ideas, making them grow and turning them into profitable ventures. Let’s see what the future holds.

Your Imperial days

I have a lot fond memories of my time at Imperial. I remember the first day of my Master’s degree and the adrenaline rushing; we were all like “This is it. This starts now”. Our daily walk through Kensington Gardens. Our first time at Imperial College Union Bar. The time spent brainstorming with my work group at the Business School. I could go on and on.

Attending Imperial was one of the best life choices I made. Not only did it make me more skilled and confident (both as a marketer and as a person), but it also opened doors I wouldn’t have been able to reach otherwise. It taught me there is no limit to what we can accomplish – as long as we think we can. This mindset is not so ingrained in the Swiss culture, so maybe I wouldn’t have launched Instant Cactus if I hadn’t been a student at Imperial.

Group of classmates outside the Business School
Virginie with some of her fellow students

I still have close friends from my time at the Business School. From Barcelona to Hong Kong, Paris, Boston… they are located all around the world. The bond we created is strong and these friendships are very important to me. Beyond the actual friendship, I know I can reach out to discuss business-related issues and they will always be supportive and share some good advice –  and perhaps even collaborate together on future projects!

How the Business School is supporting the Athena Swan Charter

Women@Imperial week banner
Staff member Karen Tweddle

In celebration of Women@Imperial week and International Women’s Day 2021, Karen Tweddle, Director, Education Quality at the Business School and member of the Business School’s Athena Swan committee, discusses the work of the group and why the School is committed to supporting female students and staff.

Why is the work of the Athena Swan Charter so important?

The Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education and research. Established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine employment, the Charter is now being used across the globe to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

Athena Swan provides a framework for self-assessment and action planning. It follows a three-tier award system of bronze, silver and gold and aims to recognise, promote, and celebrate good practice. Imperial College Business School was one of the first business schools to receive a bronze-level award in 2016, following the expansion of the Charter to include arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law.

Within the Business School, we aspire to providing a working environment that empowers all staff to reach their full potential. Gender equity has been present as a key pillar of the School’s Strategy since 2014.

It is more than an accreditation stamp and a tick-box exercise. We have a focused and lengthy action plan, including some initiatives that are just common sense and that we should all be doing to encourage equity of treatment for all.

What have been the changes and successes of the committee's work?

A lot has changed over the last five years.  Female role models are now far more visible in the School: from the brochures that we use to recruit students, to articles in School publications and on the website, to the portraits we display in our building - Women at Imperial Portraits. We make sure that when we have a speaker series that women are represented, when we are shortlisting and interviewing that panels include gender representation and that we have a minimum of 30% gender representation on all School Advisory Boards and Committees. 

We are working hard to provide a supportive environment for staff, such as introducing policies to enable faculty going on parental leave to be assigned the same teaching upon their return, providing teaching assistant support for junior faculty approaching the end of their probation and encouraging staff meetings and events to take place between family-friendly hours.

We have introduced unconscious bias and active bystander training for staff and the School has introduced a compulsory ‘Working in Diverse Organisations’ module for all students, for which we have just won Gold at the 2021 AMBA Teaching Excellence Awards.

We celebrate inclusivity and have created an annual teaching excellence award for inclusive teaching and a Dean’s Community Award for students for Inclusive Business.

How is the committee supporting the International Women’s Day values of ‘Choose to Challenge’ this year?

Dame Inga Beale

We are very pleased to be running a Joan Woodward Memorial Lecture on 18 March 2021, with speaker Dame Inga Beale.

Joan Woodward was only the second woman to hold a Chair at the College when she was appointed Professor of Industrial Sociology in 1970. She became one of the world’s foremost organisation theorists and was much sought after as a consultant and a commentator, and epitomised the spirit of the College in its commitment to the application of ideas to practice.

Our speaker will be Dame Inga Beale, who became CEO of Lloyds of London in 2014 and was the first female to hold the post in its 326-year history. Dame Inga was the first leader to move the company from paper-based to digital. And she was openly bisexual. But while Beale is a pioneer today, it was a status not easily won, with much of her early career spent hiding part of herself or trying to belong. That journey shaped her understanding of ‘inclusivity’ and how crucial it is for both an individual – and a business – to flourish.

Everything we do is consistent with the Choose to Challenge ethos. Our Athena Swan work consistently identifies and challenges gender bias and inequity.

What is the next priority for the Business School?

Our priority is to increase the number of female faculty within the School.  The School has grown considerably over the last 5 years with an increase in overall faculty numbers, however our percentage of female faculty has remained roughly the same. We also do not have enough senior female faculty.  Again, this is an issue across the sector but we need to do more to attract talented female faculty to join us and we have a working group creating an action plan to address this.

What more can the higher education sector do to support women?

We need to attract more women on to our MBA programmes and Finance Suite of programmes. Our student body as a whole is composed of approximately 50% female students, but this is not the case in our MBA and Finance programmes. This is sector-wide as can be seen in the Financial Times ranking league tables.

We are a member of the Forté Fellows Programme which aims to increase the number of women applying to and enrolling in MBA programmes and we offer over £1 million in scholarships to talented female applicants every year. Imperial is also a member of the 30% Club, which offers several scholarships to improve the representation of women on graduate management education and executive programmes.

Find out more about the work of Athena Swan at Imperial.

Keeping up with learning - preparing for postgraduate studies in 2021

Keeping up with learning blog Feb 2021

2020 was certainly a year of learning for both the world and me personally, with an intense mix of both inspiring and difficult lessons. From bushfires to civil unrest and pandemics, the world has seen drastic changes ranging from the paradigms we hold as decision makers to the way we act as students.

Of the not-too-many available options, choosing to study was the preferred one for me for several reasons, with the most important being the need to continue learning.

Each of our reasons for studying differ; our intents and expectations shape the way we approach our opportunities. If you’re taking on further studies in the coming few months, I recommend thinking about the following before your programme begins:

1. Are you ready to learn?

It takes a learner to readily embrace and utilise new knowledge. Opening our minds to new perspectives taught at the Business School helps us discover the underlying reasons behind great managerial decisions, where the “why” matters more than the “what” and “how”. Learning is not about knowing the right answers, but rather about moving forward by mining our failures for insights.

2. Are you curious enough?

It takes a curious mind to keep ourselves engaged and interested in our respective disciplines. Like explaining finance to a marketer, there are always subjects that venture beyond our scope of expertise and interests.

Staying excited and open to new knowledge while exploring unchartered waters encourages us to explore what we don’t know and question our pre-established first principles. Curiosity is about asking questions and staying inspired to make the best out of our postgraduate studies.

3. Can you accept your vulnerabilities?

It takes courage to admit to our mistakes and what we do not know. With the numerous new concepts that come our way as postgraduate students, admitting to our blind spots helps encourage others to open up and share their expertise with us. Vulnerability builds trust, and trust becomes the cornerstone for every collaborative assignment during your postgraduate studies.

I hope these three prompters serve you well as they did for me when I first decided to pursue MSc Strategic Marketing here at Imperial.

With the physical classroom no longer posited as a focal study experience, we are beginning to see the inventive approach Imperial College Business School is taking.

From multi-modal learning format, including remote live lectures and 24/7 accessible online recordings), the various teaching modes on offer have adapted to the times and made the online study experience even more enjoyable than streaming shows on Netflix!

Teaching and learning are two sides of the same coin. With the teaching team equipped and ready for remote learning, what about us students? Are we ready to learn? Or are we prepared to simply tick assignment items off a checklist? A good educator teaches students rather than subjects; likewise, a good student learns rather than memorises. The challenges of learning during uncertain times are plenty, but the fruits of our labour can be highly rewarding.

As an MSc Strategic Marketing student, I’ve found our current curriculum highly demanding yet enriching; pushing us beyond our ability to simply know things, but to also apply and make sense of the new paradigms that we are taught to embrace. So, go forth and be learned, curious, and open to vulnerability!

Ming-Yan Wan MSc Strategic Marketing 2021 crop
Min-Yan Wan, MSc Strategic Marketing 2021-22
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Ming-Yan Wan MSc Strategic Marketing 2021 crop

About Ming-yan Wan

MSc Strategic Marketing 2021-22

Learnings from my first term as an MSc Strategic Marketing student

Shruti Maheshwary

Last year was anything but ordinary, however, I strongly believe that it is during such unexpected circumstances that extraordinary opportunities present themselves if we look for them hard enough. My first term at Imperial has been exactly that.

I commenced my journey with an overwhelming concoction of emotions including (but most certainly not limited to) excitement, nervousness, uncertainty and hope. Upon reflection, I recognise that the first term made strong contributions towards my holistic development, equipping me towards a career in brand management.

Through the multi-mode study approach, extremely accessible teaching faculty and the knowledge gained from the exceptionally relevant modules, here are my learnings from my first term as an MSc Strategic Marketing student.

Effective planning is a total game changer!

Even though it sounds like a cliche, it could not be more relevant to a Master’s degree. Contrary to what I imagined being an MSc student would be like; over-worked, over-stressed and perpetually exhausted, it is far from the truth.

I realised having clear, time-bound goals at the beginning of the term is half the battle won. For some it may be obtaining a first in every module, while for others it might be securing a job before the start of the second term or both. In order to meet your objective, preparation is key.

The induction week provides workshops for effective presentation skills, team building and time management, and the ‘Study Skills’ primer offered to the class in preparation for the programme was a helpful aid.

As an intensive planner, I ensure I set out my priorities on a weekly basis. For instance, whether it was completing preparatory activities for class, working on job applications or undertaking responsibilities as the Social Leader for the cohort, abiding by deadlines helped me strike a healthy balance between work, exploring London and forming meaningful friendships.

As exciting as it is, starting a new programme can also be slightly daunting so it is important to give yourself some time to get into the rhythm of things and be positive that you will do your best!

Commercial awareness is a continuous process

It can sometimes be unsettling to not always fully know case references being discussed during the modules, however, I ultimately found this to be a motivating feeling. All modules are practical and have substantial discussion-oriented elements around real business cases and recent industry events. Additionally, given the diversity of our cohort, we were exposed to global business examples.

Since my cohort came with different depth and breadth of work experience, every conversation with my classmates enabled me to learn something new and challenged me to delve deeper into my research and consequently broaden my knowledge.

Along with this, our Strategic Marketing Management professor, James Eteen, shared his insights and suggestions on resources such as Business Insider and the Drum, and instilled within me the habit of keeping up-to-date with industry news.

Our professor for Consumer Behaviour, Dr Andreas Eisingerich’s reading list also enabled me to go beyond the modules and fuel my all-round development as a future marketer. The key here is to be attentive right from the beginning and *pro-tip: everything learned and discussed helps during interviews!

Seek opportunities, keep your eyes open!

What I did not anticipate was the remarkable quality and variety of resources and support services available to students even before the start of the programme! Like many others, being an international student deep in the process of job applications, I was confused about the process but the various career-focused events, virtual fairs and weekly careers newsletters helped in going about the job-hunt process.

The accessibility to the Careers team made navigating through job applications during a pandemic significantly less intimidating. I realised that while it is easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged during these unprecedented times, it is crucial to be agile and proactive. If you look for it, you will find several avenues to get you one step closer to achieving your goals, especially when it comes to finding jobs.

Imperial has made the process easier with their huge volume of resources and its extensive employer and alumni network. So far everyone at Imperial has been immensely helpful. *pro-tip: if you need help, all you have to do is ask.

Shruti Maheshwary - learnings from my first term blog picture 2

Question everything! Think critically

This would perhaps be my most vital learning – even outside the programme throughout my first term. The programme goes beyond simply imparting theoretical knowledge and the assignments encourage practical analysis and creative thinking on real-life scenarios, much like the ones we would face as marketing professionals on the job.

Most notably, the Strategic Marketing Management module helped us rethink what we attribute as ‘successful’ marketing strategies, to not take potential marketing ‘wins’ on face value and assess its longevity and relevance. This has noticeably improved my ability to challenge and view pieces of information from a critical perspective and honed my analytical ability, preparing me to perform well during case-studies as part of job applications.

Group-work works!

The MSc Strategic Marketing programme places a considerable amount of emphasis on group work and rightly so. The programme carefully places you in a diverse team from varying backgrounds to work with for the entire term.

What worked well for my group was to align objectives, working styles, strengths, and break the ice by getting to know each other right at the beginning. Since a lot of our group work had to be done virtually, adhering to timelines and clear division of responsibilities became imperatives to working efficiently.

The challenges and triumphs that came with it have honed my ability to communicate well and make worthwhile contributions in a team.

It IS possible to find your tribe, even during a pandemic

Starting a new life in a city amidst a global crisis can make the already difficult task of making new friends substantially harder, or so I thought. One of the ways that helped me in getting to know my classmates better was by first putting myself out there.

Joining career clubs, applying for student leadership positions and simply engaging with the cohort before and after class also made for easy yet effective ways to make friends. Whether it’s within your syndicate group or outside, grabbing coffee after class or going for walks in Hyde Park can do wonders.

Pro-tip: the fastest and easiest way to make a friend is to just say ‘hi!’!

It has only been one term, but I can safely say that the friendships I have formed at Imperial and through the programme will be everlasting.

Shruti Maheshwary - learnings from my first term blog picture 3

This term has been supremely rewarding and I cannot wait to uncover what the rest of the year has in store!

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Shruti Maheshwary

About Shruti Maheshwary

MSc Strategic Marketing
MSc Strategic Marketing 2020-21

The Consulting Sector Blog 2021 - An Introduction

Mark Daley introduces this series of blogs for students wanting to enter the Consulting sector.  Mark sets the scene for the blogs to follow and discusses his background. 

Please note that 1:1 Appointments are only available to Admitted Students, Current Students and Alumni of Imperial College Business School.

Mark D

About Mark Daley

Career Consultant
Mark Daley, Lead Career Consultant for the Consulting Sector. Prior to joining Imperial College Business School Mark worked at two other business schools and also worked as a Headhunter for the Consulting sector.

My experience studying MSc Finance at Imperial College Business School

Martin Simacek, MSc Finance 2020-21, student at Imperial College Business School standing in a park

Hi everyone, my name is Martin, and I am an MSc Finance student from the Czech Republic. Due to the pandemic, I am currently taking the programme from the comfort of my hometown of Prague; however, I hope to return to London soon. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about why I chose to study at Imperial College Business School and what my experience has been so far.

Why I chose to study at Imperial

During my third year of undergraduate studies, I started to ponder what my future path would look like. It was an easy decision to continue my education with a Master’s, however, choosing an institution was much harder. 

The first thing I did was to open the Times Higher Education Ranking and look at the Top 20 universities. No surprise that Imperial is in that ranking, but that was definitely not the only reason why I chose to apply and eventually study the programme.

The first thing that impressed me about Imperial was their personal approach, even going as far as organising information sessions across Europe where prospective students had the chance to meet recruiters and talk to each other. I had the opportunity to attend one such event in Amsterdam, and it definitely shifted my perspective on prospective business schools.

That was the first time I said to myself, “This is where I want to study”. The other reasons pretty much found themselves. Imperial is located in the financial heart of Europe, an ideal location for Finance students looking for internships and future careers. Most global banks are right around the corner from Kensington. Moreover, it is only one of a few top business schools that does not require GMAT. All in all, studying at Imperial was an easy choice to make in the end.

My favourite module so far

It is hard to say what my favourite module has been so far as I judge the modules by the professors who teach them. Despite the transition to a multi-mode teaching format following the global pandemic in 2020-2021, each professor put in the same amount of motivation and enthusiasm which really gets you interested in their teachings, meaning that I enjoyed all modules.

However, if I had to pick one, I would choose the Business Valuation module that formed part of our foundations term. What made it special was that it was given by a professional in his field who actively interjected with examples from his professional career and even invited a few of his colleagues as guest speakers. The opportunity to be so heavily exposed to London’s financial world from the start of the programme was eye-opening and further persuaded me that it is the path that I want to take.

Working in groups remotely is tiring but rewarding

A significant part of the experience of doing a Master’s is the people you meet. Due to the global pandemic in 2020-2021, everything moved to a multi-mode setting, and fully remote during periods of lockdown in the UK, I was worried about this aspect of my studies. Thankfully, the Business School prepared exceptionally well for online learning, and I found the transition to meeting and working with people online to be seamless. 

It is a pleasure to work with such a diverse and interesting cohort; each person I meet on the programme has something new to teach me. MSc Finance is very coursework heavy, which gives us ample opportunity to network and meet each other. The groups get mixed up regularly meaning that you constantly work with new people.

However, remote working with others does not come without its challenges, namely, the time difference. For example, in my last group, we had individuals that were exactly 12 hours from each other which made scheduling calls a little tricky.

What the future holds for me

An Master’s in Finance at Imperial gives you a broad skillset that is applicable far beyond the Finance sector. I went into the programme persuaded that a career in Finance is the only option for me; however, now I am much more open to other career paths and sector. 
My horizons broadened thanks to the countless company presentations and career-fairs that Imperial College Business School organises, which gave me new insights into industries I never considered. Five years from now you could find me anywhere, both location and career-wise.

Listen to our podcast, Inside IB, to learn more about how to navigate the MSc Finance application process

Meet the Executive MBA class of 2021-22

Executive MBA Class of 2021-22

In February, we welcomed our new students to the Executive MBA class of 2021-22. Starting their Imperial journey during one of the most crucial of times for the world’s business leaders, this exceptional group has much to look forward to over the next 23 months.

The blended learning* format of the Executive MBA programme allows candidates to pursue a busy, full-time workload while balancing their MBA studies. It also provides a thorough grounding in essential business disciplines and strategic leadership skills, as well as opportunities to specialise in areas of expertise and experiences to develop the students’ global perspective on business.

For the new class, choosing to study in an unusually tumultuous year has meant an incredible commitment to furthering their careers in pursuit of becoming leaders in a technology-driven world. The road to the Executive MBA at Imperial meant hours spent crafting their application, interviewing with our specialist team, and engaging with pre-study modules - all before the first day even began.

Such dedication, in many cases managed alongside a demanding full-time role, is a testament to the already impressive achievements of this year’s class. Find out more about this inspiring group, and hear from them directly on their backgrounds, as well as what drove them to study the Executive MBA.

What does the new class look like?

EMBA Class 2021-22 Stats

The diversity in the Executive MBA programme is integral to creating rich class discussions and enabling students to build a global network. This year’s class represents 14 nationalities, with 35% currently residing outside the UK. They also bring to the classroom a remarkable amount of experience, with an average of 15 years spent in the workplace. The Executive MBA candidates will surely have much to learn from one another.

This year’s cohort also join the programme from a variety of sectors, which enables them to gain insight from peers with varied industry-specific knowledge. The top sectors students work in are pharma, biotech and healthcare, consulting and professional services, energy, and IT, tech and telecoms. As is to be expected from such an exceptional cohort, a fifth (22%) of the class of 2021-22 have received some form of sponsorship from their employer as a testament to their effort and achievement, with a number also receiving one of Imperial’s wide range of scholarships.

What lies in the year ahead?

Having already completed a range of foundation-building online pre-study modules in areas such as accounting, finance, and data analysis, the Executive MBA 2021-22 cohort now begin getting to grips with their first set of core modules. These cover the general functions of management, explore essential business topics, and equip students with the skills to be effective and inspiring leaders in their field. Each module provides a solid grounding in business theory and practice, with an emphasis on applied learning, providing opportunities to test understanding through case studies and simulations.

The class will also begin their individual ‘Executive Leadership Journey’, a unique element of the Imperial MBA that runs through the length of the programme and draws on themes from core teachings in Organisational Behaviour and Responsible Leadership and Corporate Success to provide an opportunity to practice the behaviours required for success. A fundamental part of this process is coaching, which all students will receive on a 1:1 basis, in conjunction with different tools and experiential learning situations, which all contribute towards candidates getting to know themselves better, gaining in confidence, and ultimately changing behaviour to make the step from manager to leader.

The programme culminates with the individual final project, in which students have an opportunity to create value for their employers at the highest strategic level in a tangible and measurable way as a culmination of their learning experience.

The Executive MBA has been designed around and for our students. Our cutting-edge online learning platform enables students to stay connected with their peers, tutors and the greater Imperial community, allowing us to deliver a world-class blended learning programme that delivers ultimate adaptability no matter what difficulties may arise during the year.

By the end of their programme, the cohort will have a comprehensive toolkit that is tailored to their future careers and will enable them to deliver impactful outcomes in their future leadership roles.

We’d like to extend a huge welcome to the class of 2021-22 and wish them every success as they continue to build their careers with the help of Imperial College Business School.

Meet the Executive MBA students

Nana Adjoa Hackman

Nationality: Ghanaian

Job prior to the MBA: Managing Partner, Africa Legal Associates

How did you come to the decision of studying an MBA, and why did you choose Imperial? 

As well as my day job as a corporate lawyer, I have always felt like an entrepreneur. I have a varied business background – including some years in banking, as well as setting up and running small businesses in real estate and the media – which led me to set up my own law firm, Africa Legal Associates, in Accra, Ghana, five years ago.

My firm is now at a stage where we are accelerating our international expansion across Africa. I believe that getting a formal business education will help me build on what I am learning in my job every day, and become a better leader to take my firm to the next level.

Imperial has a great reputation internationally and benefits from its location in London, the global capital for business and finance. The programme is known to be challenging, but ultimately rewarding, and is supported by a top-class faculty that takes a rigorous, scientific approach to research. I am excited to learn from my experience here. 

What goals are you hoping to achieve on the programme? 

I was lucky enough to be selected for a scholarship by Imperial College Business School and the 30% Club, a campaign that champions board-level diversity. This chimes with my core aim of building and strengthening my contributions at the boardroom level and expanding my experience of corporate leadership internationally. I hope that what I learn and contribute at Imperial can help me prove the value of having people of diverse backgrounds on the boards of international companies.

Stewart King EMBA 2021-22

Stewart King

Nationality: British

Job prior to the MBA: Partner – Europe, Nolan Partners

Can you describe your career journey up until now?

I have over 15 years of experience working in executive search as a headhunter. The first half of my career was spent working in the city, partnering with major corporates to recruit C-suite executives.

In 2015 I transitioned into the professional sports industry as a headhunter. At the time, football clubs in England were shifting to become more professionally run (both on and off the pitch). Since 2015, I have advised and worked with sports organisations across a range of sports to recruit CEOs, presidents, sporting/technical directors and chief commercial officers. Whilst I am proud to have worked across a variety of different sports, 75% of my time is spent working with football clubs. Specifically, I work with ownership consortiums to advise them on leadership appointment as well as organisational restructures. We also advise investor groups looking to acquire football clubs/assets (largely US PE/investment groups acquiring European football clubs).

How did you come to the decision of studying an MBA, and why did you choose Imperial?

I decided to study an MBA to broaden my commercial awareness. I enjoy working with high-profile investors and they have inspired me to continue my personal growth. My role, whilst challenging, is quite specialist so I am looking to develop a deeper understanding in areas I don't tend to encounter on a day-to-day basis (i.e. accounting, economics etc).

I work in a global and entrepreneurial industry. It was therefore important for me to choose a business school that represented my passions for these two mindsets, resulting in my application to Imperial.

Ulas Malli

Nationality: Turkish

Job prior to the MBA: Global Senior Commercial Manager, (Big Data & Artificial Intelligence), Vodafone

How did you come to the decision of studying an MBA, and why did you choose Imperial?

I decided to study an MBA in order to enhance my business skillsets, to advance my career in the technology industry. Specifically, I wanted to develop my strategy, innovation and entrepreneurial knowledge – both areas in which Imperial College Business School excels, making the school a perfect fit for me. I have already met people from numerous countries and diverse cultures and begun exchanging and learning different viewpoints on business issues in my classes.

I chose Imperial because I have observed the positive impact and many success stories of the Imperial Alumni who are senior executives in many companies globally. I also hope to broaden my international perspective by studying in Berlin and Hong Kong - two cities I have never visited prior to joining Imperial.  With its multiple classes around the globe, flexible curriculum, and diverse student profiles, Imperial is a great place for me to achieve my career objectives. 

What aspects of the programme are you most looking forward to?

I am really looking forward to a world-class education in innovation and leadership, as well as entrepreneurial skills from my cohort and the programme content. Imperial’s Executive MBA programme has a wide variety of modules such as Design Management, Corporate Finance, Advanced Strategy and Digital Business which can help with the transition from student to leader over time. I also look forward to joining Careers sessions with the coaches and building great relationships with my fellow students, faculty members and Imperial’s alumni. This will no doubt be an amazing journey at an amazing institution.

Joyce Aghahowa EMBA 2021-22

Joyce Aghahowa

Nationality: British

Job prior to the MBA: Director, Grant a Smile

How did you come to the decision of studying an MBA, and why did you choose Imperial?

As a Social Entrepreneur who is on a mission to implement solutions to social, cultural and environmental wellbeing, investing in an Executive MBA was a no-brainer. In today’s ever-evolving world of business, my background as an educational leadership professional was not enough to help my organisation grow faster, nor was it enough to help me think better and more boldly. It was time to act and hence the decision to study an MBA. I choose Imperial because I wanted to be part of an innovative and collaborative community where I can sharpen my analytical skills and enhance my entrepreneurial skills.

What aspects of the programme are you most looking forward to?

Firstly, I am looking forward to learning new skills and studying modules that will seriously stretch me. I do not have a strong academic background in subjects like accounting, managerial economics and corporate reporting, however I am excited about the unknown journey and eager to learn.

Secondly, I am looking forward to the networking opportunities on offer through the Executive MBA programme and across the College. The amazing opportunity to get to know and connect on a deeper level with my diverse cohort, and the chance to contribute and learn from senior professionals from various industries and countries. 

Oge Akinola EMBA Class of 2021-22

Oge Akinola

Nationality: British

Job prior to the MBA: CEO, Bump n Chic Ltd

How did you come to the decision of studying an MBA, and why did you choose Imperial?

Choosing Imperial for my Executive MBA was not a difficult decision at all. My father, who is an Imperial College Business School graduate, exhibited such an excellent spirit in his work life that he became a challenge to us as his children. In addition, Imperial as a university stands out as one of the best in the world with the reputation of its Business School also ranking amongst the best in Europe and the world. 

Imperial graduates are highly sought after, exhibiting outstanding knowledge in their different fields of endeavour. Imperial College Business School boasts many acclaimed alumni that have and are still excelling in their different areas of expertise. For me, Imperial is not just a university, but a citadel of excellence building formidable world-class graduates that are in great demand all over the world.

What aspects of the programme are you most looking forward to?

I am eagerly looking forward to the entrepreneurship and management consulting/leadership classes. I am also excited about the international residencies to Germany and China, and the face-to-face element of the Executive MBA experience to network with and learn from like-minded executives from across the globe. I am all geared up and ready to hopefully make the most of the great opportunity ahead of me.

Malika Larabi EMBA 2021-22

Malika Larabi

Nationality: French

Job prior to the MBA: Senior Consultant for Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical

How did you come to the decision of studying an MBA, and why did you choose Imperial?

The MBA will give me the tools to become a C-level executive and be part of the strategic decision-making team. I chose Imperial amongst a preselected list of MBA programmes in Europe for their focus on technology, innovative research, and their international environment. Therefore, Imperial will provide me with managerial skills via an interdisciplinary approach which will allow me to become an effective leader. The Executive MBA will enable me to acquire the tools that I need to progress into different fields of knowledge e.g., accounting, finance etc, which will help me further develop my leadership skills and push me forward in my career.

What aspects of the programme are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to every aspect of the programme - the outstanding knowledge to be gained, the project work with amazing teammates, the international environment, and the learning process. Dozens of astonishing elective modules make it almost impossible to reduce the list to 6 selections! Not to mention the Enterprise Lab opportunities that make new ideas happen and change the world for the better. I am looking forward to learning new managerial skills with an interdisciplinary approach, visualising new opportunities, and sharing my past experiences with a wonderful cohort of similarly motivated people.

*On-campus teaching subject to government restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Meet the full class in the 2021-22 class profile book

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Finance Careers Club Q & A

Finance Career Club

Anita Borkowska, Employer Relations Manager, talks to the Finance Careers Club Presidents about their recent event….

Careers-ipad-image

One of the great things about my job is that I get to work closely with the Presidents of the Finance Careers Club and assist them in organising various events and activities in the Finance space.

The Finance Careers Club is one of the largest professional student-led clubs at the Business School, hosting fantastic events throughout the year – and through a Q&A with Yifan Li and Madhav Mahendra, I would like to share their recent event.

What were your thoughts on deciding to run an event focused on a financial modelling?

Earlier this year, we received an overwhelming demand for a financial modelling workshop from our members. Therefore, the Finance Club recently partnered with AMT Training to provide our members with an intensive training session on fundamentals of financial modelling and M&A analysis. AMT Training is one of the world’s leading financial training organisations, whose clients include the top ten investment banks and some of the biggest private equity firms in the world.

What were the benefits for students to take part in this workshop?

This was a perfect opportunity for students interested in developing core modelling skills required in banking and related sectors. Students learned from an industry leader that trains analysts and associates at leading investment banks. Peter Mazzarese, CFA, who previously worked at Barclays Investment Bank, was the trainer for this workshop. Participants also received a certificate after the successful completion of the workshop.

There were 217 participants joining this event on January 30th. The workshop was divided into two parts: a 3.5-hour Financial modelling Fundamentals and a 3.5-hour M&A analysis. During this one-day workshop, students learned various financial modelling knowledge and skills, including (but not limited to):

  • Building a three-statement integrated financial model
  • Learning best practice modelling techniques
  • Learning how to stress-test assumptions
  • Analysing an acquisition and impact of deal on financial statements (focusing on EPS, PE and contribution analysis)
  • Building an accretion/dilution model using EPS forecasts and acquisition assumptions, proforma leverage ratios and a proforma balance sheet

What did our students think about this event?

Heng

I really appreciated the opportunity to join the Financial Modelling Workshop from AMT Training. It was a great chance to learn integrated three statement forecast model for a corporate in practice. Actually, this was my first time learning financial modelling systematically and AMT Training really helped me a lot!

Gowtham

One of the best decisions I have made was to attend the financial modelling training conduct by AMT organised by Imperial College Business School Finance Club. With limited financial knowledge, I attended this workshop to gain extensive knowledge on building financial forecasts. I learned to build a detailed, fully integrated three statement forecast model for a corporate. I learned the best practice in formula construction and how to use keyboard shortcuts to eliminate the use of the mouse. Throughout the training, I learned techniques to minimise errors, and make models easy to interpret, adapt, and audit.

Eva

The workshop offered by Finance Club has helped me grasp essential concepts of financial modelling and M&A analysis. 7 hours of intense and practical training developed my better understanding of forecasting three statements and accounting impacts arising from business investments. I am grateful that I attended this event to be more prepared for valuation and modelling tasks in the real world.

To find out more about the Finance Career Club click here

Anita Borkowska, Employer Relations Manager, Finance Sector

Madhav Mahendra, President, Finance Careers Club

Yifan Li, Vice President, Finance Careers Club

Learn more about the latest career and recruitment advice

For the latest on the current job market and review of what employers are looking for, as well as top tips on working with headhunters, hear from our guest speakers as they shared their advice during this panel session:

  • Jack Mulcahy is a recent graduate of the Business School's Global MBA programme, with over 10 years' of recruitment experience for leading financial services and fintech firms. He discusses how best to work with headhunters and recruitment consultants, including some very practical quick hacks to help you land that ideal job.

    Jack stresses the importance of preparation when it comes to looking for a job, including asking your network for their experience of moving jobs in the last 12-18 months. He also advises to make sure you know which recruiters are active in the space you are interested in, and which website to track for best opportunities.  
     
  • Anthony Goodwin, Founder and Chairman Antal International, a global recruitment and talent solutions organisation, shares his wealth of knowledge and experience to give an overview of the global and UK recruitment market - those which are busy and currently active, as well as what attracts an employer. He discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the market, which industries have been resilient and grown through the pandemic, Microsoft for example, and those which have struggled.
     
  • Tracy Ward, Executive Career and Leadership Coach, works with clients to define their personal brand and discover their competitive edge to drive their career forward with confidence.

    She discusses the importance of career mobility which will become the norm, with on average 12 career moves in our lifetime and therefore the importance of having a robust career strategy to support this: "Your career must be viewed as a small business, with a strong brand and identity, and specifically an identity as a leader." This personal brand is focused on your reputation and this also includes your authentic values, your network and your value proposition.

The webinar also includes some great LinkedIn profile tips, including how to sell yourself with a focus on what ‘problems’ you can solve and the strength of your network - ‘quality over quantity’.

A full recording of the webinar can be viewed online. 

Ceri Willmott, Director, Career Consulting & Professional Development at the Business School also provided a recap of the current services and career support open to alumni from the Business School.

Alumni profile: My journey to student career consultancy

Alumnus Alizeh Atif stood with some of her students

Alizeh Atif began her education in Pakistan, her home country and has since studied in Turkey and the UK, completing her MSc in Strategic Marketing at Imperial in 2017. With her international experience it is no wonder she is determined to support others achieve their personal and professional development goals when it comes to studying abroad.

In 2018 Alizeh set up Be Guided Now, offering personalised support and guidance counselling to those looking to apply to top tier universities. The bespoke service, tailored to each individual, focuses on effective CV writing, interview preparation, public speaking and interpersonal development.

Alizeh discusses her journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur, how she overcame her own self-doubt and the impact of COVID-19 on the students she coaches.

Starting out

When I moved back to Pakistan I was applying for marketing roles across several industries. But when I went in for an interview to a high school, I vividly remember the energy and positivity I felt being around students. I intuitively knew the environment was going to be the right one for me from a personal satisfaction level. After spending a year there as the College and Careers Counsellor for over 600 students, charting out a student self-awareness and career exploration strategy, I knew this was an area I wanted to specialise in.

So I took the risk, I left my job to set up my own college and career consultancy for students and young professionals.

Was this something I always knew I wanted to do? Not really. But in hindsight, there were moments in my time as a student which were reflective of my career choice. During my time at Imperial I was the Careers Leader for my programme and part of the Student-Staff Committee. And during my undergraduate I worked in the university's Writing Centre conducting CV and Interview feedback sessions. But it was over a long period of time, with career twists and turns, and lots of risks and challenges that I discovered my own passion and career choice.

Alumnus Alizeh Atif

I am lucky to have a career which I love, where I get to instill hope and positivity in others about their future. I love enabling others to independently learn how to get to know themselves better, set goals, work hard and with honesty when it comes to achieving their dreams, and leap towards growth, self-awareness, and opportunity. 

Overcoming challenges

I think there were two key challenges I faced initially. The first one was of self-doubt. Early on when someone asked me what I was doing, I would find it hard to clearly explain that I was a young female entrepreneur. To overcome this, I had to work on my mindset. I began to reassure myself, internally and intrinsically to trust my skillset and believe in myself first, to have confidence in my offering and take pride in what I was doing.

The second challenge was struggling to figure out the right balance between hard work and rest. In my first two years, I was constantly working, and did not take a formal break, or follow strict working hours. I thought that was ‘normal’ for a budding entrepreneur when setting up a new venture. However, I am now actively working on maintaining a balance when it comes to working and giving myself a physical and mental rest, and keeping my emotional and mental health in check too. 

COVID-19 has also presented a whole new set of challenges. Students are facing a lot of uncertainty with a completely new mode of learning and education going online.

 

Supporting students

When it comes to international higher education, for most young people especially those applying from developing countries, one of the main challenges is cost. Owing to foreign exchange rates, studying abroad can be very expensive. I think very talented and capable students can find funding their studies a barrier as they cannot find adequate scholarships or external funding options to make their studies a financial reality.

Another challenge young people face is being overwhelmed at the sheer number of study abroad options, as well as different regions having different criteria, timelines, and application processes. This can lead to students putting together hurried applications, feeling stressed and regretting they didn’t start their research and preparation earlier.

The last challenge they face is realistic goal setting when it comes to their university shortlisting and admission chances. It is good to be positive and aim high, but I often think students are not given the right tools and awareness of how to create an overall balanced university list, where they can be ambitious but also understand the kind of universities they would realistically be a good fit for.

COVID-19 has also presented a whole new set of challenges. Students are facing a lot of uncertainty with a completely new mode of learning and education going online. They are confused, overwhelmed, and nervous about their future job and overall life prospects. COVID has shaken us all in different ways but for students, in particular, they are having to rapidly settle into a very digital and connected, yet sometimes a very isolated, world. They are trying to maintain normalcy in their grades and academic milestones, but it is a very stressful time for them. Especially for students who do not have access to a reliable internet connection or dedicated study space, which could affect academic performance, further adding to their anxieties. 

In response to this, I believe overall universities and academia has done a stellar job when it comes to understanding the need for a more humane approach to crisis management and unprecedented volatility. They have kept open a two-way channels of communication, adapted rapidly, and offered support in terms of mental health and trauma support through university facilities.

Ideally I would love to see a bit more flexible with entry requirements and testing criteria, as well as a more holistic approach when it comes to evaluating student profiles, giving weightage to more personal elements to really get to know the student beyond their grades and academic data points.

Alumni Alizeh Atif on her graduation day
Alizeh Atif on her graduation day

Imperial and beyond

My degree at Imperial has been one of the best investments of my life and gave me the exposure and a way of thinking that was certainly ahead of its time. I feel the professors, the classroom discussions, the overall ambience really refined me to become someone who likes to innovate, to bring real value into the lives of others, and to take baby steps to solving global problems in a local manner at the heart of the process. 

The Imperial experience doesn't just end on graduation day, rather a new phase begins. I certainly see my relationship with my Imperial friends as a lifelong connection which is very precious to me.

As for the future, I see myself combining areas of international higher education, social equity, entrepreneurship, and content creation. I think social media is a great tool when it comes to solving problems for students, reducing barriers of achievement and facilitating equity for students from different income and social brackets. If used mindfully, it can help students really discover who they are, what makes them unique, and explore their passion, personally and professionally. I also can’t wait for the time when travel restrictions are over and I can catch up with my Imperial alumni in person!

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