Why would you want to enroll for the full-time one-year MBA program at the Imperial College Business School in London? Some of the students of the Class of 2019-20 provided the answers that ranged from assuming leadership roles, embracing technology for development to broadening horizons.

The MBA Class of 2019-20 comprises 70 students with an average age of 28. They represent 26 nationalities. Female students form 33% of the class.

The cohort started classes in September. The students aired their views in a blog post on the B-school website.

Why would you join the Imperial One Year MBA Class 2019-20?

Students Weigh in on the Imperial MBA

Australian national Oscar Buckle worked as Improvement Lead Project Engineer at BHP prior to enrolling for MBA at Imperial. He said he realized that innovation and productivity were becoming more important for companies to stay relevant and profitable in today’s fast-changing business environment.

“I am passionate about helping to solve some of the toughest problems we face, and I believe the next generation of business leaders will be required to embrace technology, innovation, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Imperial’s focus on these aspects and the diversity of the cohort made it an obvious choice for me,” he added.

He rates Imperial as one of the world’s most innovative technology and engineering universities. Having joined several clubs, including the innovation and entrepreneurship club, he hopes to broaden his knowledge outside his field of expertise. He is also happy to attend lectures by “some of the best professors in the world.”

MBA for Broadening Horizons and Career Options

For British national Hollie Dobson, who worked as Freelance Program Manager,  Facebook, the need for an MBA was felt as she took on more senior roles to broaden her horizons and career options.

“My background and passion remain at the intersection of arts and technology, so the easiest part of the MBA journey was choosing to study at Imperial College Business School. Imperial’s reputation for technology and innovation was a big draw, as well as its location in London, my favorite cultural melting pot,” she added.

Hollie wants to be closely associated with the Imperial Enterprise Lab. The lab supports startup collaborations and creates an environment for meeting and working with a diverse range of students across both the Business School and the wider university.

“I plan to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and strategic skillset to help teams take their ideas further. My previous experience in large corporations has been an incredible journey, and I am ready for something small and dynamic,” she says.

MBA for Strategy and Management

Xabier De Aretxabala from Chile was FX Trader at Santander Chile prior to enrolling for MBA. He felt the degree was necessary for career advancement, for achieving results and effectively leading teams.

He expressed the hope that Imperial, with its intensive curriculum of core modules and numerous electives, will help expand his knowledge in Finance to become a leader in strategy and management.

Xabier found the relevance of group projects ‘amazing’ as “from day one you start developing tools and networking, necessities for the success of the different group projects, such as the Group Consulting Project.

“Furthermore, the small class sizes foster a collaborative learning environment where I can build lasting relationships and share my viewpoints with people from around the world and enjoy memorable moments, for example, the Global Experience Week,” he added.

MBA for Global Professionals

Arushi Gupta from India was Consultant at KPMG before enrolling for MBA. She said she wanted to hone up her leadership skills and critical thinking ability by working in an intensive and challenging environment.

She said she found that the school, through its well-crafted curriculum, was building an ever-growing community of influential leaders. “Imperial’s focus on the global industry also resonates with my motive of pursuing an MBA to grow as a global professional.”

Arushi said she was looking forward to the Business Insights in Europe trip to Copenhagen and the Global Experience Week in Zambia.

MBA for Expanding Networks

Julio Axel Millan Hollsten from Mexico had worked as Operations & Logistics Manager at Uber Eats. For him, an MBA was necessary to obtain the necessary skills and knowledge to become a leader within the technology industry.

He expressed the hope that he would be able to expand my network and get exposure to different perspectives and solutions to the challenges that communities are facing in a digitized world.

MBA for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship

Rhea Singhla from the United States was a Senior Consultant at Virtusa. She decided to enroll for an MBA to learn accounting and finance fundamentals while sharpening her leadership and management skills in a global environment.

“Imperial’s MBA program stood out to me because the School is a reputable leader in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, which aligns perfectly with my pre- and post- MBA goals.

“Outside of the MBA program, I plan on taking on leadership roles for some of the various clubs and organizations such as the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Club. Amongst that, I will be actively involved as an ambassador to the Forté Foundation where I will use this platform to promote women in business, build contacts, and find job opportunities for others and myself.

“Finally, following my passions for innovation and social impact, I plan on starting at least one company with the help of my fellow peers, using resources like the Imperial Enterprise Lab to do so,” she says.

Imperial MBA Class 2019-20: Employment Background

With an average of six years’ work experience, the class comes from varied industry backgrounds.

The majority of 21% is from Banking/Finance followed by Consulting/Professional Services 19%, IT/Tech/Telecom 17%, Energy and Pharma/Biotech/Healthcare at 10% each, Engineering 9%, Consumer/Retail 7%, Other 4%, FMCG and Media/Entertainment 1% each.

Imperial MBA Class 2019-20: Nationality by Region

Asia/Pacific had a representation of 47% followed by North & South America 20%, Europe 10%, United Kingdom 9%, Africa/the Middle East 7%.

Imperial MBA Class 2019-20: Education Background

The highest proportion of students was from engineering, followed by business/management, economics and science/medicine. It also highlights the draw of the Business School’s connection to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as part of Imperial College, London.

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