Two Cambridge MBA students at Cambridge Judge Business School, Hugo Mkhize and Juliet Powell (both Cambridge MBA 2023), were named among the 2024 Best and Brightest MBAs by business education publication Poets & Quants.

The list of 100 MBA students, now in its 10th year, honours top graduate business students at elite MBA programmes worldwide, the publication said. “At an uncertain time in the world, these remarkable young people would give even a cynic hope for the future. For other aspiring applicants, this group provides a close look at the exceptional qualities of future classmates.”

Those honoured as Best and Brightest MBAs were chosen from 226 nominations from 74 business schools based on their academic prowess, extracurricular achievements, innate intangibles and potential, or unusual personal stories.

Hugo Mkhize is transitioning from finance to clean tech Hugo Mkhize (MBA 2023)

Hugo, a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, was an investment banker for Morgan Stanley before beginning his Cambridge MBA. He was recently selected as one of 12 MBAs in the US and Europe as ClimateCAP Fellows, and will focus over 12 months on a climate action plan to help emerging economies reduce dependence on coal for energy.

“Cambridge Judge Business School was the only MBA programme where I applied,” Hugo says in the Poets & Quants article. “I knew that embedding myself in an atmosphere of innovation and knowledge sharing for a year would be the ideal place to facilitate my career transition. I am currently in the second year of a 2-year journey of transitioning from my previous role advising Europe’s leading utilities and power companies to a career in climatetech. This will allow me to play a more direct role in catalysing earlier-stage innovation in order to avert the worst effects of the climate crisis.”

Juliet Powell cites the diverse nature of Cambridge MBA students Juliet Powell (MBA 2023)

Juliet, who was born and raised in Cambridge, worked for communications and strategy consultancy Hudson Sandler in London before beginning her Cambridge MBA. She is a co-founder of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Special Interest Group at Cambridge Judge and is a mentor at the group Cambridge University Women in Business Society.

“Looking at the Cambridge MBA specifically, I was really drawn to the collaborative and practical nature of the course, especially the many consulting projects,” Juliet says in the article. “The diversity of the cohort was also a huge draw – it’s been such a joy to learn from people who have a completely different background to my own. I also wanted to get exposure to the Silicon Fen tech ecosystem and the entrepreneurial hub that is thriving in Cambridge.”

The Cambridge MBA

A one-year MBA degree from Cambridge Judge Business School, at the heart of the University of Cambridge.

Explore the Cambridge MBA Related content

“The 100 best and brightest MBAs: class of 2024.” Poets & Quants

Meet us

Our admissions events both in person and online are a great way to learn more about the Cambridge MBA.

Join an event Related articles

Programme news

Our Cambridge MBA consulting projects making a global impact

From Porsche Consulting and Amazon to IBM and Coca Cola, we look at the global brands supporting our students to gain experience during their MBA.

Read more

Programme news

Jumpstart your journey – financing your MBA studies

An MBA is a significant commitment of time and your resources, alongside the fees for any MBA programme, there are also expenses associated with an MBA, from general living expenses to visa costs and travel and accommodation costs. Here we share some tips and insights to support your learning journey and help make financing your studies that little bit easier.

Read more

Student and alumni news

Forging global alliances: the 2024 Cambridge Africa Business Conference

The 18 May conference focused this year on forging global alliances for sustainable growth marks the return of the conference to Cambridge Judge Business School for the first time since 2019.

Read more

The post Two Cambridge MBA students in Poets & Quants’ Best and Brightest list appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Dr Allègre Hadida

A study on temporary marketing organisations co-authored by Allègre Hadida of Cambridge Judge Business School has been named winner of the prestigious 2024 Louis W. Stern Award of the American Marketing Association for research in the field of marketing channels and distribution.

The research by Allègre focuses on how marketing activity is often conducted within temporary organisations set up to handle specific tasks within a given timeframe – and this can help improve organisational agility and lead to more rapid commercialisation of new products.

Examples of such temporary arrangements include outside laboratories and research centres that handle product development for pharmaceutical firms, temporary entities to handle new client projects for advertising agencies, and product development in the commercial aviation industry that require specific expertise.

Why challenges of temporary organisations need careful attention

The paper also highlights how temporary arrangements pose their own challenges. Described by some as the “organisational analog of a one-night stand”, the paper says, these temporary organisations are known for a high variance in outcome that pose risks if not managed properly.

“Some temporary organisations create products, services, or experiences that impress industry experts and delight customers. Others, in contrast, exceed their budgets, fall short of expectations, and are soon forgotten”, the winning paper says. “Such organisations are uniquely suited to promoting various marketing outcomes but are not well understood. From a practical standpoint, their inherent characteristics create organisational challenges that, if not appropriately managed, can compromise performance”.

The paper published in the Journal of Marketing in March 2019 – entitled ‘The temporary marketing organization’ – was co-authored by Allègre Hadida, Associate Professor in Strategy at Cambridge Judge, Jan Heide of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who is a Research Fellow in Marketing at Cambridge Judge, and Simon Bell of the University of Melbourne in Australia. The award will be formally presented at the American Marketing Association’s annual summer luncheon in Boston, Massachusetts, in August.

Award aims to encourage more research on channel distribution

The Louis W. Stern Award, established in 1999, is named after Louis W. Stern, an expert on marketing channels who is the John D. Gray Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University. His career has included teaching at several other leading US business schools as well as serving as a principal economist for the National Commission on Food Marketing in Washington.

The award recognises “the outstanding article in a widely recognised and highly respected refereed journal that has made a significant contribution to the literature on marketing and channels of distribution”, and is “intended to encourage the academic community to continue to produce high quality academic research” in this field. Articles published between 3 and 8 years ago are eligible for the award.

The Louis W. Stern award is decided by a 3-judge panel drawn from experts in the field and members of the American Marketing Association’s Interorganizational Special Interest Group (IOSIG). Criteria include:

• quality of the article’s contribution to theory and practice
• originality of the article
• technical competence in the execution of the research
• impact on the field of channels of distribution

“We are delighted to have won the Louis W. Stern Award, and immensely grateful to the 2024 Stern Award committee and the members of the IOSIG for recognising our work in such a meaningful, generous, and encouraging way”, said Allègre, who is also a Fellow and Director of Studies at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge.

“Our article offers a novel theoretical framework to better understand the temporary organisation, research propositions to expand future research, and practical suggestions for managers. We are thrilled that our research contributes to the marketing, strategy, and general management conversation on this important and growing organisational form”.

Research identifies 3 types of temporary marketing setups

The paper identifies 3 types of temporary marketing organisations

1. stand-alone (often used in the advertising industry)
2. hybrid (involving people who have previously worked together on some projects, which is common in the film industry)
3. fully embedded (sitting within the permanent organisation).

The research provides a conceptual operational framework that links those 3 temporary types to the novelty of the task, duration of the project, and diversity of the team involved. For example, a standalone structure is more likely to fit a novel task, while time-limited projects may benefit from a hybrid approach because decisions can be made faster.

Yet these benefits contain drawbacks as well, including the lack of built-in enforcement mechanisms that exist when critical tasks are handled in-house. “A temporary organisation poses unique challenges in this regard, because of the need to provide incentives in the presence of novel tasks and ambiguity with regard to individual agent contributions”, the study says. “For instance, temporary organisations developing new products in the commercial aircraft industry often use explicit revenue-sharing contracts which are designed to align the parties’ interests”.

Award winning study offers practical guidelines to companies

There are numerous practical applications of the winning paper in this age of shrinking marketing departments and a trend toward shorter average tenure of chief marketing officers.

“We consider the development of guidelines to help firms determine the most appropriate selection and enforcement mechanisms depending on the form of temporary marketing organisation to be the single most important managerial implication deriving from our framework”, the authors say.

“Taken together, these diagnostics of embeddedness and task novelty, duration, and team heterogeneity can guide the design of temporary marketing organisations with the explicit goal of ensuring matches that promote sought-after marketing outcomes, including output creativity and decision-making speed.

“We suggest building a playbook to assist marketers in using temporary organisations to best effect,” the paper says, although “some degree of managerial judgement will be necessary to determine which project feature will dominate the choice of temporary organisation form.”

Other awards and nominations for Allègre Hadida

Allègre’s research often focuses on film, music and other creative industries, and in 2022 Allegre won the Mallen Award for Published Scholarly Contributions to Motion Picture Industry Studies.

She is a recipient of the 2018 University of Cambridge Pilkington Prize for Excellence in Teaching and of the 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award at Cambridge Judge, and was cited in the award announcement as “an engaging, inspiring and energetic teacher” who “dedicates great attention to connecting to individual contexts”.

‘The Temporary Marketing Organization’ paper had previously been a finalist for 2 other top awards, the 2019 Shelby D. Hunt/Harold H. Maynard Award for the best Journal of Marketing article on marketing theory, and the Sheth Foundation/Journal of Marketing Award for the best article published in the Journal of Marketing that has made long-term contributions to the field of marketing.

Featured faculty Allègre Hadida

Associate Professor in Strategy

View Allègre's profile

Featured research

Hadida, A.L., Heide, J.B. and Bell, S. (2019) “The temporary marketing organization.” Journal of Marketing, 83(2): 1-18 (DOI: 10.1177/0022242918813119)

Related content

The Louis W. Stern Award will be presented at the American Marketing Association’s annual summer luncheon in Boston, Massachusetts, in August 2024.

Related articles

Leadership and organisational behaviour

Managing change: lessons in agility and improvisation

The interplay between agility and improvisation is crucial to how organisations adapt to changing circumstances and uncertainty, says new book chapter by 2 Cambridge Judge Business School academics.

Read more

 

Academic’s lifetime contribution to the film industry recognised

Allègre Hadida of Cambridge Judge is awarded Lifetime Achievement award at the 24th Mallen Film Conference for research in the motion picture industry. 

Read more

News

Cambridge Judge teaches post-pandemic leadership skills to World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders

Cambridge Judge Business School welcomed the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum to prepare them for the post-pandemic world. 

Read more

The post Marketing award win for Cambridge Judge co-authored paper appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

This year our MBA students embarked on 49 projects across 48 different companies, within 15 industry sectors worldwide. Live consulting projects are a key part of the one-year MBA programme at Cambridge Judge, an experiential curriculum that allows our students to not only build up their CV during their MBA year, but also develop and build relationships with global brands that Cambridge Judge has a longstanding professional relationship with. 

Looking at business challenges from AI to investment strategies, from sustainability strategies to global expansion, brands like the World Health Organisation, the World Economic Forum and financial giant, Black Rock, have been working with our MBA Projects team for over a decade, in many cases. 

A 4-week consulting project with an international organisation, where the knowledge and skills acquired through the previous 6 months’ study is applied and put to the test. The GCP is a unique opportunity to work under pressure, with a small team of up to 5 MBA classmates. 

From energy and battery storage solutions in the US to copper mining in Chile and even ice-cream in Croatia – the learning was broad and impactful on this year’s Global Consulting Project (GCP) for Cambridge MBAs. 

The health sector

The project with Novartis Global Health involved taking a deep dive into global health NGOs. For example, a project to identify what Novartis could do apart from just supplying drugs to patients.  

“How could they create value in the supply chain and how could they be a shared partner in the patient journey?” explains team member and Nehru Trust for Cambridge University Scholarship recipient, Mansa Shroff.  

“I am grateful to my team members and the Novartis Global Health client, for the opportunity to contribute to addressing major, unresolved global health challenges,” continues team member Lavanya Dalasari.

“Novartis supervised and supported us at each step of the research. What an experience, working with such dedicated leaders who are committed to changing the landscape of global health” Mansa Shroff concludes. 

Lavania Dalasari Mansa Shroff

am grateful to my team members and the Novartis Global Health client, for the opportunity to contribute to addressing major, unresolved global health challenges.

Lavanya Dalasari, MBA 2023 The global food sector Yuka Irei

“Together, we presented the ice cream market trends of our respective home countries and conducted interviews with LEDO employees during our trip to Croatia,” describes MBA team member Yuka Irei.  

A project for Nomad Foods saw the team of four students travel to Croatia, as part of their 4-week consulting project.  

Participation in the Global Consulting project was a first for Ledo, the Zagreb-based frozen food and ice cream maker, and part of the Nomad Group. They hosted four MBA students from Japan, Iran, the US and Indonesia, together working on the ‘Future of Ice Cream’ project.  

“The team worked remotely most of their time, based in the UK and during their visit to Croatia they held meetings with key stakeholders from our sales, supply chain, marketing, finance, human resources and other departments, and of course, visited our factory,” a Ledo spokesperson said.

Together, we presented the ice cream market trends of our respective home countries and conducted interviews with LEDO employees during our trip to Croatia.

Yuka Irei, MBA 2023 The finance sector

For Visa Europe it had been great spending time with the MBA team, “Seeing ideas develop and evolve over the weeks into actionable insights and recommendations.”  For Yohana Betania from the MBA team, it really was an “Incredible experience”. 

As well as working closely with our MBA Projects team, MBA students can also choose to self-source a project to support and maximise their career aims across their MBA year.  

One team working for the Dubai Future District Fund did exactly that, reaching out and connecting to an MFin alumnus from Cambridge Judge. Locating themselves in Dubai for the project, the MBA team working for Dubai Future District Fund, developed a project that looked at 3 pivotal investment areas. The future of finance, the future of work and the future of healthcare – all targeting the MENA region. 

Team member Romit Kapoor explains,  “These 3 sectors, ripe for innovation and growth, provided a fertile ground for us to integrate our rigorous Cambridge training with real-world financial complexities.” 

He continues, “The client feedback at our final presentation was overwhelmingly positive. The client praised the insightful analysis and strategic overview in our team’s findings, and they are looking forward to maintaining the partnership with Cambridge Judge and hosting further MBA project teams in the future.” 

He concludes, “This endorsement not only signifies a seal of approval from a key financial player in the MENA region but also paves the way for future cohorts to explore similar impactful opportunities.” 

Yohana Betania Romit Kapoor

The client feedback at our final presentation was overwhelmingly positive. The client praised the insightful analysis and strategic overview in our team's findings, and they are looking forward to maintaining the partnership with Cambridge Judge and hosting further MBA project teams in the future.

Romit Kapoor, MBA 2023 The airline industry Calvin Liew

Air India gave the team from Cambridge a rare insight into Air India’s ongoing transformation, “A journey that is both inspiring and rich in learning” said MBA student Calvin Liew.  

Calvin went onto explain,  “Beyond the project, what truly made this experience unforgettable was the vibrant tapestry of India itself. From the bustling streets to the serene landscapes, every moment was an adventure filled with the rich culture, history, and diversity that India is so proud of.” 

The MBA team thanked Air India for its warm hospitality, invaluable guidance and most importantly, its friendship. Calvin continued, “Your presence and support made our project experience all the more memorable. And thank you, India itself, for opening your arms and embracing us.” 

Beyond the project, what truly made this experience unforgettable was the vibrant tapestry of India itself. From the bustling streets to the serene landscapes, every moment was an adventure filled with the rich culture, history, and diversity that India is so proud of.

Calvin Liew, MBA 2023 Sustainability and the ESG sector  

While travel overseas is not always possible for our GCP teams, one team received a warm invitation from the client to visit their copper mines in Chile.  

Minera Los Pelambres, part of the Antofagasta group of companies, gave a warm welcome to our team of 5 students, who visited the region and their factory holdings, across Chile,  “Collaborating alongside one of the world’s foremost copper companies was both a privilege and a remarkable experience for our team,” says Rocio Acosta Andrade. 

Thanking the client contacts, the MBA team again reiterated the “Invaluable guidance and unwavering support throughout our time in Chile”. 

Moving into the energy sector, Team Terralayr focused on providing a market analysis of energy flexibility and storage solutions in the US. Working with mentor and Cambridge Judge Business School faculty member Michael Pollitt, they meticulously covered select de-regulated states, analysing their energy markets, flexibility potential, revenue drivers, and policy landscapes. 

Abhishek Ramnath explains, “Throughout the project, we challenged conventional flexibility norms, delved into state-specific energy challenges, and devised innovative solutions leveraging battery technology.” 

Concluding the project the team said,  “As we wrap up, we’re intrigued by the potential of utility-scale batteries and eager to explore their broader significance beyond our project scope. Our team is eager to connect and delve deeper into this dynamic space.” 

Rocio Acosta Andrade Abhishek Ramnath

Collaborating alongside one of the world’s foremost copper companies was both a privilege and a remarkable experience for our team.

Rocio Acosta Andrade, MBA 2023

Sadia Cuthbert, Head of Careers at Cambridge Judge says:  “We have offered fantastic project opportunities to our students again this year. The GCP is such an important leaning milestone for students, allowing them to apply their knowledge, their softer skills and to gain experience in new sectors. Teams are always tested in these high-time pressured situations of real consulting work. We look forward to great results again and a fantastic range of experiences.” 

We have offered fantastic project opportunities to our students again this year. The GCP is such an important leaning milestone for students, allowing them to apply their knowledge, their ‘softer skills’ and to gain experience in new sectors. Teams are always tested in these high-time pressured situations of real consulting work. We look forward to great results again and a fantastic range of experiences.

Sadia Cuthbert, Head of Careers at Cambridge Judge Projects on the Cambridge MBA

Find out more about projects undertaken as part of the Cambridge MBA degree.

Explore projects The Cambridge MBA

A one-year MBA degree from Cambridge Judge Business School, at the heart of the University of Cambridge.

Explore the Cambridge MBA Interested to find out more?

To hear about admissions events and news from the MBA, register your interest with us.

Introduce yourself Related articles

Programme news

Jumpstart your journey – financing your MBA studies

An MBA is a significant commitment of time and your resources, alongside the fees for any MBA programme, there are also expenses associated with an MBA, from general living expenses to visa costs and travel and accommodation costs. Here we share some tips and insights to support your learning journey and help make financing your studies that little bit easier.

Read more

Student and alumni news

Forging global alliances: the 2024 Cambridge Africa Business Conference

The 18 May conference focused this year on forging global alliances for sustainable growth marks the return of the conference to Cambridge Judge Business School for the first time since 2019.

Read more

Faculty news

Questions MBAs should ask employers on sustainability

Business school students should quiz prospective employers on how their policies advance sustainability goals, Professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville of Cambridge Judge writes in the Financial Times.

Read more Meet us

Our admissions events both in person and online are a great way to learn more about the Cambridge MBA.

Join an event

The post Our Cambridge MBA consulting projects making a global impact appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Professor Dissanaike, Minister Shindo and Dr Seabright

Mr Yoshitaka Shindo, Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy at the Cabinet Office of Japan, was welcomed to Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, for discussions on strategies for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship as part of Japan’s initiative to promote its startup community.

The meetings at Cambridge Judge included sessions with the Interim Dean, Gishan Dissanaike, the Deputy Director of Cambridge Enterprise, Paul Seabright, and other Business School faculty involved in entrepreneurship, social innovation, Executive Education and other areas.

Fostering research and innovation through Japan’s Global Startup Campus Initiative

The Japanese government has announced a Global Startup Campus Initiative, including establishment of a research and innovation centre in central Tokyo to promote more startups in areas such as health, climate change and technology.

“This research and innovation centre will also work with local ecosystems in each region to promote the formation of an ecosystem that will generate world-class standard businesses throughout Japan,” the Japanese government said in unveiling the initiative.

The success of Silicon Fen, Cambridge’s startup ecosystem

The Cambridge ecosystem has produced many dynamic companies in technology, health sciences and other areas, so we were glad to share our expertise and in return to learn from the Japanese delegation.

Professor Gishan Disssanaike

“We are honoured by the visit of Mr Shindo and other officials from Japan, which produced very interesting discussion on entrepreneurship and innovation strategy,” said Gishan Dissanaike, Interim Dean and Adam Smith Professor of Corporate Governance and Finance at the Business School. “The Cambridge ecosystem has produced many dynamic companies in technology, health sciences and other areas, so we were glad to share our expertise and in return to learn from the Japanese delegation.

“Mr Shindo and his delegation met representatives of Cambridge Enterprise, which supports the University of Cambridge community in knowledge transfer, the Entrepreneurship Centre at Cambridge Judge, the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation at the Business School, the Executive Education division of Cambridge Judge, and myself. We are grateful for the valuable insights shared and look forward to meaningful collaborations in the future.

“Cambridge Judge has for many years melded entrepreneurship into its core activities. The Business School has benefited from the outstanding work of Cambridge Judge faculty, staff and external mentors in helping promising startups refine their ideas, attract funding, and scale up their businesses. While the situation in every country and region is distinct, we hope the experience of the Cambridge ecosystem will be useful to the distinguished delegation from Japan.”

Visiting delegation included officials from Japan and the UK

The meeting on 29 April included, from the Government of Japan:

• Mr Yoshitaka Shindo, Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy, Cabinet Office
• Mr Satoshi Koyanagi, Secretary to the Minister, Cabinet Office; Mr Shuichi Matsuta, Director-General, Office of International Economic Affairs
• Mr Koyu Izumi, Councillor, Cabinet Secretariat, Director General and Head of Global Business Investment Support Office
• Mr Takumi Sano, Deputy Director, Secretariat of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy
• Mr Shintaro Nakamura, Researcher, Secretariat of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy
• Mr Kyoichiro Kawakami, Minister, Embassy of Japan in the UK
• Mr Hiroki Aoki, Counsellor, Embassy of Japan in the UK
• Mr Hideo Yura, Director General, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), London Office

From Cambridge, participants included:

• Professor Gishan Dissanaike, Interim Dean and Adam Smith Professor of Corporate Governance and Finance at Cambridge Judge
• Dr Paul Seabright, Deputy Director, Cambridge Enterprise
• Professor Matthew Grimes, Co-Director, Entrepreneurship Centre, and Professor of Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Futures at Cambridge Judge
• Ann Davidson, Head of Practice, Entrepreneurship Centre at Cambridge Judge
• Professor Neil Stott, Co-Director, Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, and Management Practice Professor of Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge
• Steven Grundy, (Interim) Director of Open Programmes, Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education

Related articles

Research centre news

Competition to identify Ukraine startups for VC investment

A competition and conference designed to promote post-war venture capital investment in Ukraine startups is organised by the Centre for Business Research at Cambridge Judge Business School.

Read more

Programme news

Jumpstart your journey – financing your MBA studies

An MBA is a significant commitment of time and your resources, alongside the fees for any MBA programme, there are also expenses associated with an MBA, from general living expenses to visa costs and travel and accommodation costs. Here we share some tips and insights to support your learning journey and help make financing your studies that little bit easier.

Read more

Faculty news

Why company boards should act now on sustainability reporting

Boards of directors must address sustainability as a key factor in their firms’ financial risks and opportunities, says World Economic Forum article co-authored by Dr Simon Learmount.

Read more

The post Japan’s Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy visits Cambridge Judge appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Venture capital could play a key role in the rebuilding of Ukraine, so the Centre for Business Research at Cambridge Judge Business School has organised a competition designed to match promising Ukrainian startups with VC investors.

The competition seeks to identify 12 Ukraine startups that will be invited to a ‘speed dating’ event on 1 July at Clare College, University of Cambridge, to meet with VCs interested in investing in Ukraine. The deadline for applications from startups is 31 May.

The 1 July event to match startups with VCs will be followed on 2 July by an academic conference, also at Clare College, focused on the legal changes needed in Ukraine to promote more VC investment.

Why post-war Ukraine offers opportunity for startups and VCs

“The thinking behind the competition and speed dating event on 1 July is that there will be a golden opportunity in the near future for rebuilding Ukraine, and this will in turn create a hotspot for economic opportunity,” says Chris Coleridge, Management Practice Associate Professor at Cambridge Judge, who is organising the competition.

The 2 July conference on The Legal Framework for Venture Capital in Ukraine stems from a research project (funded by the Cambridge Endowment for Research in Finance) run by Simon Deakin, Professor of Law at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Centre for Business Research (CBR), and Hanna Sitchenko, an expert in Ukrainian venture capital law, who is a Research Fellow at the CBR.

Laws and institutions have a vital role to play in supporting venture capital, by providing the right environment for innovation to flourish, and building trust. Our research studies how this has been done in other countries and what lessons can be learned for Ukraine.

Professor Simon Deakin Dr Chris Coleridge Professor Simon Deakin Hanna Sitchenko Pre-war Ukraine’s thriving innovation ecosystem

“Prior to the conflict with Russia, Ukraine had already established a thriving innovation ‘eco-system’, with a significant number of university-industry collaborations, and a high rate of VC funding by comparison to other countries in central and eastern Europe,” says the project’s website page.

“Since the summer of 2022 a number of VC partnerships based in London and New York have announced new funds to support early-stage investment in Ukrainian companies, and the Ukrainian government has prioritised VC in its plans for post-war reconstruction.”

How can Ukraine better attract VC investment?

The 2 July conference will examine 3 areas:

• what is the optimal legal and transactional framework for venture capital?
• what are the current legal obstacles to venture capital in Ukraine?
• what changes are needed to the law and transactional structures to promote venture capital in Ukraine?

Centre for Business Research

The Centre for Business Research (CBR) aims to better understand how to achieve a sustainable economy and society. We are pioneering new methods of data collection and analysis of enterprise and innovation. We are developing novel approaches to macroeconomic modelling, and datasets that uniquely track legal and regulatory changes and their economic impact.

Explore the Centre for Business Research

Learn more about CBR's research project on venture capital in Ukraine

Enter the competition

Are you a Ukraine startup that would like to meet VC investors in Cambridge on 1 July? Submit your competition entry via our online form.

Apply by 31 May Related articles

Research centre news

Supervision award won by CBR director Professor Simon Deakin

Professor Simon Deakin, Director of the Centre for Business Research (CBR), awarded the 2023 Cambridge SU (students' union) prize for Postgraduate Research Supervision.

Read more

Research centre news

Humanising the migration crisis

The ongoing refugee and asylum seeker crisis in Europe and the UK is an opportunity to strengthen public health, the economy, labour markets and social cohesion. In the media and political hubbub surrounding the crisis, the personal stories, mental health and wellbeing of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are absent. How can we design front-line mental health services for refugees, asylum seekers and local populations at risk in the UK?

Read more

 

Honorary CBR Research Associate awarded CBE

Congratulations to Graham Gudgin, Honorary Research Associate at the Centre for Business Research (CBR) at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, for receiving a Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours list.

Read more

The post Competition to identify Ukraine startups for VC investment appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

6 things to consider to make financing your studies easier

So, what funding is available and how can you access it? 

1 Research scholarships and grants

Many organisations, institutions, and even companies offer scholarships and grants specifically for MBA students.  

Explore external scholarship opportunities from government agencies, non-profit organisations, corporations, and foundations that support graduate education. These scholarships may be specific to your country of origin, field of study, or career goals. Conduct thorough research and apply to as many relevant scholarships as possible. 

At Cambridge Judge Business School there are a range of scholarships including merit-based, need-based or designated for students from specific regions or backgrounds. Updated information on all our Cambridge Judge scholarships and grants can be found on our fees and funding pages.  

In addition, there are further funding sources across the wider University of Cambridge, including the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship and the Cambridge Trust Scholarships. Eligibility criteria and application processes are available on the respective websites. The 31 Colleges that together make up the University of Cambridge, also offer some grants and funding support, for example, St Catharine’s Benavitch Scholarship and the Sidney Sussex Joyce Coutu scholarship both offer support for MBA candidates studying at Cambridge. Individual colleges also award discretionary bursaries for postgraduate studies.  

2 Student loans and financial aid

Investigate loan options and financial aid programmes available to graduate students. This may include government-backed loans, private loans, and other forms of financial assistance. Be sure to understand the terms and conditions associated with any loans you consider and be mindful of interest rates and repayment terms. 

The University of Cambridge is an authorised educational provider and is therefore recognised by most funding bodies. For example, Prodigy Finance is a loan provider that specialises in loans for postgraduate students at leading business schools, including Cambridge Judge. A list of loan providers is available on our fees and funding pages, but there may be others that are specific to your own country or even your sector. Early research and preparation is always recommended as you prepare your MBA application.  

3 Employer sponsorship

If you feel happy at your current company but perhaps want to progress further by taking an MBA, consider if your company would be open to sponsoring you. Many companies have policies on sponsorship, but even if they don’t, it’s worth approaching them. 

Some companies offer tuition reimbursement or sponsorship for employees pursuing higher education, especially if they believe it will benefit the company in the long run. Explore this option with your current employer. 

If you are currently employed, enquire with your employer about sponsorship or financial assistance for your MBA studies. Make a compelling case for how your MBA will contribute to your professional development and how it will add value to the company. 

Full sponsorship from your company often comes with a 3-or 5-year post-MBA contract, so you might want to negotiate some flexibility with regards to a desired role or department change.

4 Crowdfunding and online platforms

Consider launching a crowdfunding campaign or seeking support from family, friends, and professional networks to help cover the costs of your MBA. Share your story, goals, and aspirations to attract support from those who believe in your potential. 

You could gain financial support for your MBA in the form of investment, offering incentives for those that part-fund your studies. However, you need to ensure you have thoroughly laid out your strategy if you want people to invest. 

As you expand your network and reach out to MBA alumni from your chosen school, ask them about their funding support, or grants in their sector/country, they may be able to signpost you to sources that you hadn’t already considered.  

5 Start saving and planning your funds early

Many students fund themselves through private savings and prepare for this by building up personal capital before they start the programme. In the year or more before entry to the MBA programme think about the personal savings you can make and start building up a pot to support the costs of an MBA. Develop a comprehensive financial plan that includes tuition fees, living expenses, and any additional costs associated with studying at Cambridge. Create a budget to manage your finances effectively during your MBA programme and look for ways to reduce expenses where possible. 

6 Early application and preparation

Start researching and applying for funding opportunities well before starting your MBA program. Some scholarships and grants have early application deadlines, so be proactive in gathering necessary documents and submitting your applications on time. Some Cambridge Colleges close their applications for places and any funding as early as March, before our annual application rounds often close.  

By combining multiple funding sources and being proactive in your search, you can maximise your chances of securing financial support for your Cambridge MBA. 

Join our next event

Join the next event in our MBA event series ‘Jumpstart your MBA journey’ to explore more funding tips and insights

Find out more and register MBA fees and funding

Learn more about funding your MBA on our Fees and funding page.

Explore MBA fees and funding Introduce yourself

Introduce yourself to us for more information about the Cambridge MBA including event invitations, deadline reminders and a regular newsletter.

Introduce yourself Related articles

Student and alumni news

Forging global alliances: the 2024 Cambridge Africa Business Conference

The 18 May conference focused this year on forging global alliances for sustainable growth marks the return of the conference to Cambridge Judge Business School for the first time since 2019.

Read more

Faculty news

Questions MBAs should ask employers on sustainability

Business school students should quiz prospective employers on how their policies advance sustainability goals, Professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville of Cambridge Judge writes in the Financial Times.

Read more

Student and alumni news

Cambridge MBA candidates launch climate legacy commitment

Climate Legacy Commitment, launched by 2 Cambridge MBA candidates at Cambridge Judge, mobilises leading business school students to pledge meaningful action on the climate challenge.

Read more Meet us in North America

Our in person events running during the month of March in North America are a great way to learn more about the Cambridge MBA.

Join an event

The post Jumpstart your journey – financing your MBA studies appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Boards of Directors need to act now to meet regulatory requirements for clear financial reporting of sustainability-related information, says a World Economic Forum (WEF) article co-authored by Dr Simon Learmount of Cambridge Judge Business School.

“Sustainability – including, critically, climate change – has rapidly evolved from an ‘environmental, non-financial’ consideration to a set of issues that often present material financial risks and opportunities for business”, says the article. 

The article is co-authored by Sarah Barker, Managing Director of climate change investment and advisory firm Pollination, and Simon Learmount, Associate Professor in Corporate Governance at Cambridge Judge, who are co-chairs of the WEF’s Community of Climate Governance Experts. 

Why information on sustainability should be considered mandatory 

The article says there are 3 key reasons why acting on new frameworks on sustainability reporting should be considered as effectively mandatory for companies: 

1. the speed and scale of regulatory change
2. directors’ duties and liability exposure
3. a firm’s competitive position in light of stakeholders’ increasing expectation of more information about climate-related risks and opportunities

As a result, boards need to assess their firms’ capacity and governance to meet these obligations, the gap between the firm’s current reporting and fast-emerging reporting requirements, and the implications of these requirements on company strategy. 

Featured faculty Simon Learmount

Associate Professor in Corporate Governance

View Simon's profile

Related content

Barker, S. and Learmount, S. (2024) “Sustainability reporting: what directors need to know and do.” WEF.org

Related articles

Faculty news

Cambridge professor named to World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders

Thomas Roulet, Professor of Organisational Sociology and Leadership at Cambridge Judge Business School, is named to the Young Global Leaders Class of 2024 by the World Economic Forum as part of the next generation of changemakers.

Read more

Faculty news

Questions MBAs should ask employers on sustainability

Business school students should quiz prospective employers on how their policies advance sustainability goals, Professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville of Cambridge Judge writes in the Financial Times.

Read more

Faculty news

Transforming Global South philanthropy post-COVID

New Cambridge University Press book, edited by 3 academics at Cambridge Judge Business School, showcases innovation in Global South philanthropy.

Read more

The post Why company boards should act now on sustainability reporting appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

At Cambridge Judge Business School our community of faculty and researchers are actively engaged with cutting-edge research across a wide range of interdisciplinary research centres and initiatives. These centres and initiatives – many of which are based at the Business School – play a key role in linking Cambridge research expertise with industry practitioners, business leaders and policy stakeholders.

As part of the MFin degree programme, students have the opportunity to work with these research centres, which span a wide range of business and finance related subject areas, including the Centre for Risk Studies, the Circular Economy Centre, the Centre for Endowment Asset Management and the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, to name a few.

Close ties with the research centres

Marwa Hammam, Co-Director of the MFin degree programme, shares some insights on how the programme’s close ties with the research centres can enrich the students’ learning journey. “MFin students can actively engage with the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) via project work and participation in their global internship programme. Some students have also made valuable contributions to benchmarking studies and the groundbreaking Regulatory Genome Project (RGP) sponsored by the wider University.”

Marwa explains that the programme’s links with the research centres offers students the chance to collaborate with faculty and researchers in their chosen field or area of interest. “Such practical experiences showcase the MFin programme’s commitment to fostering the industry–academic partnerships that drive innovation and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field of finance, providing students with hands on experience and the chance to contribute to cutting edge research initiatives. Our students and alumni particularly value the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution in their field via these collaborations with the research centres.”

We spoke to 3 MFin students as they were about to complete their MFin degree, to find out about their own experience of working with the research centres during the programme.

Hassan Aslam (MFin 2022/23) Hassan Aslam (MFin 2022/23) 

Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF)

Q. How did you first get involved with the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF)? 

A. My journey with CCAF began when I recognised the incredible scope of their work in studying alternative finance and its tangible real-world implications. The CCAF focuses on researching financial channels and instruments that operate outside the conventional financial system. The centre’s interdisciplinary and rigorous research piqued my interest and I saw an opportunity to contribute meaningfully.  

Q. Can you share a bit about the project or research that you have been doing with the centre? 

A. The project I have been engaged in pertains to the growth and strategy of the CCAF itself. Specifically, my team and I were tasked with identifying, researching and prioritising approaches to expand the CCAF’s research programs globally and engage with key stakeholders in crucial jurisdictions. This project aimed to scale the CCAF’s Digital Assets Programme while ensuring its continuity to serve the financial and regulatory sector. I was able to collaborate with CJBS finance faculty and external practitioners who are experts in the field of alternative finance, such as Blockchain, DeFi, CeFi and emerging payment channels. 

Q. Is this a new field of research for you and has the project you have been working on helped you with your next career move?

This exposure greatly enriched my understanding of the subject and is far from ephemeral, resulting in an indelible learning experience. The work I have done at the CCAF taught me innovative research methods, application of data-driven approaches while focusing on real-world impact of alternative finance solutions. As I look into the future after the MFin programme, the project I’ve been involved in with CCAF will play a pivotal role in shaping my career path. 

Tom Mosher (MFin 2022/23) Tom Mosher (MFin 2022/23) 

Cambridge Circular Economy Centre (CEC)

Q. How did you first get involved with the centre and can you tell us about the research that you have been working on? 

A. I became familiar with the work of Cambridge’s Circular Economy Centre (CEC) in Easter term and affiliated with them for the purpose of contributing to the research they are conducting at the intersection of circular economy and the internet of things (IoT). In this connection, I spent a month on secondment in the summer in Cyprus, collaborating with a partner technology firm who is developing technologies that will help to make digital communications networks more sustainable.

Q. Is this a new field of research for you, or an area that you are interested in pursuing after your MFin?

A. A principal focus of my inquiry, therefore, was the telecoms industry — a sector that stands to gain considerably from the trends in the IoT and AI. As a postgraduate in finance, I found it compelling to look at strategies that make sound commercial sense whilst also using resources more intelligently: to do well in a business sense and do good at the same time. This was an entirely new area for me, and one that I likely would not have been able to delve into so deeply, except with the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School and CEC calling cards.  

Q. What are your plans after completing the MFin, and has your work with the Circular Economy Centre helped you with your next career move? 

 A. The work provides an excellent bridge between my past career (practicing financial law for sovereign and corporate clients, including TMTs) and my future as an investor who wants to work for a more purposeful financial sector. And the most wonderful thing about the secondment was that it granted me an opportunity to meet other contacts from around Europe working on circular economy. I felt tangibly that my work was feeding into a larger collaborative project with coworkers from the local partner, from other universities around Europe, and from others in academia, private industry and government. 

Sherin Tan (MFin 2022/23) Sherin Tan (MFin 2022/23) 

Cambridge Circular Economy Centre (CEC)

Q. Which research centre have you been working with, and what does the centre do? 

A. I have been working with the Circular Economy Centre (CEC). The centre carries out cutting-edge research exploring the opportunities for reimagining sustainable business models. The CEC navigates the intricacies within industries to present solutions for the elimination of traditional linear business models. Essentially, it helps transform the business model from a linear structure to circular one, where wastes are reused or repurposed as inputs. 

Q. Can you tell us about the project or research that you have been working on? 

A. The EU-funded research project aims to explore the interplay between the Circular Economy-Internet of Things (CE-IoT) through an independent review on the current intersection at commercial entity level. I interviewed the stakeholders of the host company in Warsaw, Poland to identify and quantify the necessary resources, processes and structure that are required to accelerate the CE adoption in the mainstream business as usual (BAU). I observed cross-references that exist between the theory and practice, which can be extrapolated to multiple industries.

Q. Is this a new field of research for you, or an area that you are interested in pursuing after your MFin? 

A. Yes, it is a new field of research for me. The theoretical Circular Economy elective course piqued my curiosity on the CE implementation in relation to manufacturing industry. The level of granularity that this research project offers has allowed me to peek into the infrastructure to make CE sustainable. Relative to its peers, such as climate finance, circular economy is still in its nascent stage of emergence within the sustainability taxonomy. Having said that, its huge potentials seem to offer a glimpse of an antidote to the resource constraint and waste toxicity that linear economy is causing. 

Q. What are your plans after completing the MFin, and has the project you have been working on helped you with your next career move? 

A. From this research project, I drew the foundational knowledge and clarity that convince me of the urgent need to redesign existing linear business model into a circular one. Although I am realistic to know that the journey will not be a linear one (no pun intended), I cannot wait to see how the dots eventually connect. Currently, I am taking a few months to work in both software technology and climate research companies to deepen my credentials as an enabler of circular economy, especially from financial analysis angle.

The Master of Finance

A one-year masters degree from Cambridge Judge Business School, at the heart of the University of Cambridge. Open doors to exciting new career possibilities with a Cambridge Master of Finance (MFin).

Explore the Cambridge MFin Interested to find out more?

Introduce yourself to us and we can tailor the information we send you to meet your interests and situation.

Introduce yourself Related news and insights

Student and alumni news

Forging global alliances: the 2024 Cambridge Africa Business Conference

The 18 May conference focused this year on forging global alliances for sustainable growth marks the return of the conference to Cambridge Judge Business School for the first time since 2019.

Read more

Programme news

New: 2024 Master of Finance (MFin) employment report

The latest employment report highlights how our MFin graduates have successfully embarked upon exciting career transitions.

Read more

Programme news

New Venture Finance: elective for MBA and MFin career growth

We meet alumni from the MBA and Master of Finance (MFin) programmes and ask them how choosing the very popular elective, New Venture Finance, run by Robert Wardrop, Management Practice Professor of Finance, has helped them develop and grow their career in finance and the fintech sector.

Read more

The post How MFin students are contributing to real-world research appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

For the first time since 2019, the Cambridge Africa Business Conference will be hosted at Cambridge Judge Business School. The conference on 18 May is organised and led by the Cambridge Africa Business Network (CABN), a Cambridge Judge alumni- and student-led initiative to promote networking and dialogue about business in Africa. 

The mission of CABN is to stimulate a robust dialogue about business, investment and entrepreneurship in Africa, incorporating both practitioner and academic perspectives. 

This year’s conference theme – “Kujenga Africa – Forging Global Alliances” – focuses on the importance of collaboration in championing sustainable growth and development.  

Why overcoming challenges is key to maximising Africa’s economic potential 

Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a rapidly expanding consumer market. However, the continent still faces significant challenges related to poverty, infrastructure deficits, lack of access to healthcare and education, and more. Overcoming these hurdles will require mobilising resources, expertise, and coordinated action on a global scale. 

The organisers are bringing together some of the continent’s brightest minds in entrepreneurship, finance, technology, and the creative industries to dissect the opportunities that can emerge when we work together. From investors who were first movers in the continent’s industrial powerhouses and unicorns to the commercial minds taking Afrobeats to the world, they have convened an inspiring set of distinguished speakers who will provide thought-provoking insights on the African business ecosystem. 

Big growth opportunities to be explored at the conference 

At Cambridge Judge Business School, I am the Co-Chair of the Cambridge Africa Business Network, a role that I am extremely passionate about. This might be because it’s the continent that I call home or from a strictly professional angle. My experience as an investment professional analysing African markets for nearly a decade has opened my eyes to its massive growth opportunities, despite the challenges. Whatever the explanation is, I am glad to share this sentiment with a group of remarkable and driven classmates.

Toyosi Oni, Co-Chair of CABN and Class of 2023/24 MBA student Cambridge Africa Business Conference

The Cambridge Africa Business Conference, the 9th such conference to be held at Cambridge Judge, takes place at the Business School on Saturday 18 May, throughout the day and evening.

Find out more and get tickets

Related articles

Student and alumni news

How to find financial joy: new book outlines how to become debt-free

An Executive MBA graduate of Cambridge Judge Business School, Ken Okoroafor (EMBA 2014) and his wife Mary Okoroafor have co-authored a book to help people find financial freedom.

Read more

Faculty news

Questions MBAs should ask employers on sustainability

Business school students should quiz prospective employers on how their policies advance sustainability goals, Professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville of Cambridge Judge writes in the Financial Times.

Read more

Student and alumni news

Cambridge MBA candidates launch climate legacy commitment

Climate Legacy Commitment, launched by 2 Cambridge MBA candidates at Cambridge Judge, mobilises leading business school students to pledge meaningful action on the climate challenge.

Read more

The post Forging global alliances: the 2024 Cambridge Africa Business Conference appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Dr Mark Kotter, Founder and CEO at bit.bio, and Dr Patrick Short, co-founder and CEO at Sano Genetics are named in the CEO of the Year category, sponsored by Bidwells. Both are alums of our Accelerate Cambridge programme. bit.bio has also been listed in the Biotech Company of the Year category, sponsored by Chesterford Research Park, and the Award for Innovation category, sponsored by Railpen. 

Supersense Technologies, a startup currently participating in our Accelerate Cambridge Plus is a finalist in the One to Watch category sponsored by PR company Cofinitive. As is Vector Bioscience Cambridge, another Accelerate Plus startup, and Cambridge Nucleomics whose co-founder, Dr Hendrik Runge, participated in EnterpriseTECH and the follow up EnterpriseTECH STAR. Supersense Technologies has also been nominated for the Tech for Good Award, sponsored by Allia Future Business Centre, along with fellow Accelerate Cambridge alum Orca Scan. 

Vuala and Cambridge Ethicronics, currently participating in Accelerate Cambridge Plus, are also finalists in the Tech for Good category. Ethicronics was founded by Dr Franck Courbon, an alumnus of EnterpriseTECH. Vuala has also been nominated for the Cleantech Company of the Year, sponsored by Woodfines Solicitors.

We would like to congratulate all the alumni and businesses named in this shortlist for the awards. It is a testament to their passion, commitment and innovation to make it this far. We are pleased to have played our part in supporting them with their entrepreneurial ambitions.

Professor Stelios Kavadias, Academic Director of Cambridge Judge Entrepreneurship Centre

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday 16 May at Hinxton Hall Conference Centre, on the Wellcome Genome Campus.

The Entrepreneurship Centre

The Entrepreneurship Centre supports the University of Cambridge’s entrepreneurial talent development and commercialisation of new ideas, and enhances the development of management capacity within the Cambridge entrepreneurial ecosystem and beyond.

Explore the Entrepreneurship Centre

Related content

Visit the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology website to see the 2024 Science and Technology Awards shortlist.

Learn more about Accelerate Cambridge

Learn more about EnterpriseTECH

Related articles

Student and alumni news

MBA alumna Divya’s career triple jump: following her passion

Cambridge Judge alumna, Divya Dewan (MBA 2021), Forté fellow and female founder, finds her perfect role in human resources consulting in London, UK, and makes the career triple jump across country, sector and role.

Read more

Student and alumni news

#21TOWATCH 2024 Awards: Cambridge Judge Entrepreneurship Centre ventures and founders make the shortlist

Founders and ventures supported by Cambridge Judge Entrepreneurship Centre have made the shortlist for the #21TOWATCH 2024 Awards.

Read more

News

Cambridge Judge Entrepreneurship Centre alums win 2024 Trinity Bradfield Prizes

3 biotech businesses founded by alumni of Cambridge Judge Entrepreneurship Centre programmes have been awarded the top three spots at the prestigious Trinity Bradfield Prize competition run by the Bradfield Centre and Trinity College, University of Cambridge.

Read more

The post Entrepreneurship Centre startups finalists in 2024 Science & Tech awards appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

The annual Cambridge MFin employment report details the outcomes of the graduating class. In the latest report, we breakdown the destinations of our 2022/23 MFin class, 3 months after completing their degree.

MFin graduates show exceptional resilience in the face of economic uncertainty

The 2022/23 class data shows that even in a challenging job market, Cambridge MFin graduates successfully secured a wide range of roles and navigated dynamic career transitions, despite the uncertain economic and financial conditions.

Last year (2022/23) was an all-round difficult year for recruitment. Rising inflation and the consequent interest rate increases dominated the news, followed by one crisis after another. This global uncertainty resulted in nervousness around recruitment, says Sadia Cuthbert, Head of Careers at Cambridge Judge Business School. 

We are proud of our students’ resilience to these very challenging times. 78% of job seekers had accepted full time jobs 3 months after completing the programme, and 84% had accepted jobs 4 months out. Our MFin students' success in securing employment and navigating career transitions reflects positively on their abilities and the quality of education and support they receive.

Sadia Cuthbert, Head of Careers at Cambridge Judge Business School 48% switched job function, industry and country all 3 (triple jump)

Our MFin 2022 graduating class – which represents 28 different nationalities – are now working in 13 countries around the globe, with 96% of the class achieving a switch of job function, industry or country, and many achieving all 3. Sadia Cuthbert, Head of Careers at Cambridge Judge Business School, analyses these figures.

Even in this tough recruitment environment, there was a high rate of career switching with 96% of the class achieving at least one switch. Function switching jumped to 87% (up from 74% last year) with 48% of the class making a switch in all three (function, industry and country).

Forty per cent chose to return to their pre-MFin country, with the rest switching to a new location. The UK remains the most popular destination for our graduates, with sixty-four percent securing jobs in the UK (with the majority based in London). Of those who switched countries, 77% have chosen to start their post-MFin careers in the UK.

Twenty-four per cent have accepted roles across Asia, 4% in North America and 4% in Europe (excluding the UK).   

Finance, consulting and industry are the most popular post-MFin sectors

After finishing their MFin degree, 64% went into roles within the finance sector, with 23% going into industry and 12% into consulting.

Across these sectors, investment banking, venture capital/private equity and professional services were the most popular sub-sector destinations. ESG investment and financial services consulting were also top choices.

The data also highlights the depth of knowledge and experience within the cohort, with students employed across 14 different sub-sectors of finance, including real estate, hedge funds, fintech, development banking, insurance and pensions services and ESG investment.

A total of 51 international employers recruited from our diverse MFin class of 2022/23. Of the students who accepted an offer within 3 months, 67% joined a new employer.

Entrepreneurs made up 5% of the class, with these students either starting their own company, being self-employed, or returning to their own existing business after completing the programme.

The career transitions that many of our MFin 2022/23 students managed to achieve, despite the very uncertain economic and financial environment, are particularly commendable. Our rigorous experiential MFin, with its very diverse, topical elective options, gives our graduates the tools, skills and confidence they need to manage their careers successfully for life, wherever it may take them. We are proud of all they have achieved, and we are looking forward to seeing how their careers develop.

Marwa Hammam, MFin Co-Director Access the full report

Request your copy of the 2024 MFin employment report.

var loc = "https://analytics-eu.clickdimensions.com/jbscamacuk-a1tdd/pages/"; Ad blocker detected We’ve detected that you’re using an adblocker. Unfortunately this is stopping our forms from being displayed. Please whitelist our sites (www.jbs.cam.ac.uk and insight.jbs.cam.ac.uk) if you would like to view these forms. Firefox & forms We’ve detected that you’re using Firefox, whose inbuilt ad-blocking system unfortunately stops many of our forms from displaying. Learn how to switch off blocking for our site >

The post New: 2024 Master of Finance (MFin) employment report appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Understanding finance from a different perspective Shruti Kumar (MBA 2019)

For Shruti Kumar (MBA 2019), an MBA had always been part of the career plan. After nearly 7 years working in Bangalore for Deloitte India, latterly in M&A Transaction Services, she was keen to find a route to pivot into working in a more international marketplace.

“I did most of my research online and chose to apply to Cambridge because the Business School seemed so firmly nestled within the network of the University of Cambridge. I saw it as the perfect way to branch out into different disciplines.”

Looking through the list of MBA electives on offer, Shruti wondered why New Venture Finance taught by Professor Bob Wardrop was so consistently popular.

“I had ruled out working sell side for my future career and wanted more active involvement driven by the growth of a company. I was keen to understand finance from a different perspective, so I signed up. As soon as I went to the first class it became clear why everyone enjoys the course. It is very challenging, but Bob Wardrop teaches with such spirit and enthusiasm. And he keeps it rooted in reality through his own experience as a founder and investor.”

Shruti is now Director of Finance & Commercial Operations at RegGenome, the spinout company established by Wardrop. A chance conversation by the coffee machine with Hunter Sims, Associate Director of Business & Operations at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), and a Cambridge MBA alumnus himself, led to Shruti informally working on the Regulatory Genome Project, which later developed into the commercial entity, RegGenome, by the end of her MBA year.

Shruti Kumar looks back on her MBA year as “one of the most brilliant and memorable of my life”. She remembers sitting in the New Venture Finance classes learning how to start seed financing a company and then growing it. “And now here I am right in that space as we look to grow RegGenome!”

I was able to convert the informal role into a formal internship and brought in one of my classmates. Then after the MBA I effectively created my own job. I could not have predicted this amazing career path in any way so the advice for any MBA student is to keep an open mind!

Shruti Kumar (MBA 2019) Seeking a job in venture capital, landing at a start-up Sarah Aulia Andriana (MFin 2021)

Sarah Aulia Andriana (MFin 2021) arrived in Cambridge after nearly five years working in finance for Unilever in Indonesia. “I wanted to learn about investments, so the New Venture Finance elective was a clear choice for me. My intention was to go on and get a job in venture capital.”

Then a friend from home who had recently co-founded a company got in touch. “The start-up was looking for a finance chief. I was not yet really looking for a job, but I did want to go back to South-east Asia for the next stage in my career.”

Sarah contacted Bob Wardrop for his advice. “He took the time to meet with me in person. And he told me the kind of experience I would get working in a small start-up would be quite different from that at a VC, but it would be good experience. As he put it, you can always get a job later at a venture capital company, but this is happening now!”

Since November 2022, Sarah has held the post of VP Finance at Biteship in Jakarta, Indonesia. A logistics aggregator with the aim of becoming the number 1 logistic solutions provider in the geographically fragmented Indonesian market, Biteship is currently in Series A funding talks.

The New Venture Finance course helped me to understand how financing works and gave me the bigger picture. And that helps me now as I present our company to potential investors.

Sarah Aulia Andriana (MFin 2021) Pivoting into the impact sector from investment banking Jobey Meacham (MFin 2021)

Jobey Meacham (MFin 2021) is full of praise for Bob Wardop’s gifts as a storyteller.

“It is a critical skill when it comes to fundraising. The company can have the best team and the best technology in the world, but it is no good unless you have a strong story for investors. I chose New Venture Finance because I wanted to learn about innovation. The teaching has the added benefit of Bob’s own experience of start-ups and alternative financing from the other side of the table.”

After several years post university in investment banking, Jobey describes the onset of COVID-19 as the wake-up call which led to him to apply for the MFin course.

“I realised investment banking wasn’t my passion and I wanted to pivot to more impact orientated work in the field of climate change. I was attracted to Cambridge by the strength of the university, as well as its reputation as a hub for innovation.”

While studying for his MFin Jobey got in touch with Cambridge Enterprise, which supports the university’s entrepreneurs, and attended one of their events. “I was the only MFin student there, the rest were from the cohort of MBAs. I remember being fascinated by some of the innovative financing coming out of the university, as well as the ideas.”

One of those ideas was Neutreeno, a deep tech spinout engineering value chain decarbonisation with science-based, data-driven intelligence.

“Most of my cohort were going on to jobs in asset management, investment banking or financial restructuring at the major consultancies. I had long conversations with Bob about the benefits and potential downsides of joining a start-up instead.”

Jobey is now deep in fundraising in his job at Neutreeno. “It is exciting but also very challenging. I have been given a lot of responsibility and am on the steepest learning curve of my life.” He remains in regular contact with Wardrop and recently introduced him to Neutreeno’s founder, Dr Spencer Brennan from the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge.

I came to study at Cambridge Judge Business School just as much for who I would meet as what I would learn. And through that move, I gained the opportunity to work in an impactful way alongside some of the world’s leading scientists and engineers to decarbonise complex value chains on rapid emissions and climate change. You just have to grab the chance.

Jobey Meacham (MFin 2021) The Cambridge MBA

The MBA curriculum combines academic rigour with a programme of core courses, electives, concentrations and project work.

Explore the MBA curriculum The Cambridge MFin

Enhance your professional practice and build your confidence in new finance areas with a Master of Finance curriculum designed to inspire.

Explore the MFin curriculum

The post New Venture Finance: elective for MBA and MFin career growth appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Cambridge Judge Business School Head of Careers, Sadia Cuthbert, says of the recently published Employment Report 2024, “Even in a tough recruitment environment, there was a high rate of career switching.

Overall, while the recruitment landscape may have been challenging, our class of 2022/23 MBA graduates’ success in securing employment and navigating career transitions reflects positively on their abilities and the quality of education and support they received.”

“Strategy consulting, technology, healthcare/pharma, venture capital (VC)/private equity (PE), were the key sectors of choice for the class. Twenty-seven per cent of Cambridge MBA 2022 job seekers chose to go into consulting.”

Making the leap from a career in finance Ananya Velamakanni, MBA 2022

For Ananya Velamakanni from the Netherlands, Cambridge was all about opportunity. Coming from a background in finance having worked for Deloitte Nederland as a consultant in their Amsterdam office, Ananya was looking to join a strategy consulting firm after the MBA.

“I chose to come to Cambridge to pursue my MBA, as I thought it would be the right career move for me. I wanted to pivot from finance technology consulting to more strategy consulting, and the consulting skill set or the strategic thinking skills that we develop as part of the MBA, made me choose Cambridge.”

She explains, “During the year, I was involved in the MBA Consulting Special Interest Group (SIG). I was part of some of the consulting case prep they conducted. It was a very rewarding experience, as I was also preparing for interviews at the MBB firms at the same time.”

Choosing to tailor the MBA programme at Cambridge Judge towards her career goals, Ananya selected a Concentration in Strategy.

“We had guest speakers from BCG and ARM and other industry leaders during our Concentration coach nights, which were some of the most exceptional lectures during the course.”

“The main Concentration project that we had to deliver was interviewing C-suite individuals at a company of your choice and understanding the strategy formulation within that company. This was great for me. I chose a company based in New York and interviewed the CEO and Chief Strategy Officer, among others. This gave me some wonderful insights into how strategies were formulated in that company.”

Ananya went on to do her Global Consulting Project (GCP) with Porsche Consulting.

Consulting on a live project of strategic value for 4 weeks, during the Cambridge MBA, allows you to build your career portfolio, as well as expand your network and skills, while still studying for your MBA degree.

Through this range of projects and experiences Ananya concludes, “The MBA has equipped me with the right strategic thinking skills and the critical thinking mindset for the next steps in my career. I feel it has equipped me with the transferable skills to support my growth in whichever role I plan to take after my MBA.”

Ananya now works for Siemens, based in Germany, switching locations after the MBA.

The MBA has equipped me with the right strategic thinking skills and the critical thinking mindset for the next steps in my career. I feel it has equipped me with the transferable skills to support my growth in whichever role I plan to take after my MBA.

Ananya Velamakanni, MBA 2022 The triple jump from country, role and sector Jordan Kho, MBA 2022

Jordan Kho from Malaysia had been working across the tech sector from digital transformation within startups to restructuring and special projects for AirAsia. But he was looking for something else in his career.

“Working across a wide variety of industries, I really enjoyed the whole experience of looking at the problems for each employer and solving them. This made me think about a career in consulting and I thought an MBA was a great way to pivot myself into consulting in a variety of ways.”

Jordan also benefited from the live project experience available during the MBA year itself. My Cambridge Venture Project (CVP) was with a very diverse team of individuals.

He explains, “I had never worked with people who are this strong minded before. And it made me think about the sort of leadership styles that I needed to develop in the future. It was very different from the experiences I had had before.”

Similarly, Jordan’s Global Consulting Project (GCP) team worked on a project doing market research about the capabilities of AI for the EV sector for Aurias in London.

“The GCP gave me the opportunity to explore the VC environment and what a VC does on a day-to-day basis, to find out what that industry was all about without actually committing myself to the sector.”

Jordan tailored his MBA learning towards leadership roles, selecting MBA electives that covered the hard skills such as Leadership in organisations.

“So, what I tried to do was to tailor my MBA in such a way that when I go into business in the future, I will be able to understand the drivers that a business has in terms of the costs and the profitability, for example. I’ve chosen courses that will help me to analyse and provide a framework to analyse these different businesses in the future.”

Jordan concludes, “I came into the MBA, knowing that I wanted to get into consulting. So, it was very good that I got the triple jump that I wanted.”

Jordan Kho is now based in London, working for Gobeyond Partners as a Senior Consultant.

What I tried to do was to tailor my MBA in such a way that when I go into business in the future, I will be able to understand the drivers that a business has in terms of the costs and the profitability, for example. I've chosen courses that will help me to analyse and provide a framework to analyse these different businesses in the future. I came into the MBA, knowing that I wanted to get into consulting. So, it was very good that I got the triple jump that I wanted.

Jordan Kho, MBA 2022 Stepping into consulting from a career in Government Taylor Golden, MBA 2022

Also landing a coveted role at Gobeyond Partners is MBA graduate from the USA, Taylor Golden. Taylor was a Senior Operations Manager in Washington, DC, before choosing to do an MBA.

Looking to make her own impact on a company and lead on decision making, Taylor chose the UK for her MBA to gain the credentials and the credibility in my career.

“I did a Case Competition in the first term at Cambridge Judge, and this really built my confidence up, in a subject I really didn’t know much about at the beginning.”

“I was lucky to be selected by the Careers team at Cambridge Judge to attend a special recruitment presentation during the MBA, where we heard everything about the company and what it had to offer.”

“I loved everything that I heard, it seemed like exactly the right fit for me. I stayed connected with the Operations Director after the visit and when I then applied, I had a relationship with the company to start with.”

“The Careers Team then worked with me on my CV, as well as my interview skills and really helped me find this thread in my career, and helped position the things that I had done and the experiences I had had in the correct way to be exactly what they were looking for.”

“I have secured a position as a senior consultant at Gobeyond partners London, doing operational excellence work. One of the best things about this position that I’m very fortunate about is that I get to stay in Cambridge.”

I was lucky to be selected by the Careers team at Cambridge Judge to attend a special recruitment presentation during the MBA, where we heard everything about the company and what it had to offer. I loved everything that I heard, it seemed like exactly the right fit for me. I stayed connected with the Operations Director after the visit and when I then applied, I had a relationship with the company to start with.

Taylor Golden, MBA 2022 Access the full report var loc = "https://analytics-eu.clickdimensions.com/jbscamacuk-a1tdd/pages/"; Ad blocker detected We’ve detected that you’re using an adblocker. Unfortunately this is stopping our forms from being displayed. Please whitelist our sites (www.jbs.cam.ac.uk and insight.jbs.cam.ac.uk) if you would like to view these forms. Firefox & forms We’ve detected that you’re using Firefox, whose inbuilt ad-blocking system unfortunately stops many of our forms from displaying. Learn how to switch off blocking for our site >

I was looking for international exposure, but I have never seen a more diverse environment than the diversity I experienced at Cambridge.

Cheryl Theixar, Standard Chartered Related articles

Programme news

Global mobility for our most recent MBA graduates

The recently released Cambridge MBA Employment Report 2024 celebrates how our graduates can adapt to change and pivot in a challenging employment landscape, seeking new sectors and new roles, in new countries, taking their MBA skills across the globe and driving their career forward.

Read more

Faculty news

Questions MBAs should ask employers on sustainability

Business school students should quiz prospective employers on how their policies advance sustainability goals, Professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville of Cambridge Judge writes in the Financial Times.

Read more

Student and alumni news

Cambridge MBA candidates launch climate legacy commitment

Climate Legacy Commitment, launched by 2 Cambridge MBA candidates at Cambridge Judge, mobilises leading business school students to pledge meaningful action on the climate challenge.

Read more Meet us

Our admissions events both in person and online are a great way to learn more about the Cambridge MBA.

Join an event

The post Our MBAs triple jump, career switching and global change appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Global mobility Cínthia Passos Maia (MBA 2022)

Ninety-seven per cent of our most recent graduates switched either country, function or role.

Our graduates, in choosing to study for an MBA, are looking at the career mobility it offers after graduation.

Alumni from across the Cambridge Judge community are to be found in 147 countries, with over 12,000 alumni from 140 nationalities.

For Brazilian graduate, Cínthia Passos Maia, it was exactly this network that was the attractive feature of the Cambridge MBA, “It was the diversity on the Cambridge MBA programme that attracted me – there were 46 different nationalities in my cohort.”

At the very start of her MBA year Cínthia said, “In these first weeks I have already learnt a lot from my colleagues. What most excites me is knowing I will always have different and global perspectives on business.”

Her MBA experience also opened up opportunities around the world for her career, “As part of the MBA Global Consulting Project we were working for a real company. It is wonderful to have the chance to try things out in a safe environment and still deliver value to our client. I could travel as part of my GCP to explore alternatives for the client to increase its visibility in the target region, which is an invaluable experience within the Cambridge MBA and a differential for my professional development as a global leader.”

After her MBA, Cínthia took a role in the UK, in London, consulting for the global firm Boston Consulting Group.

Cheryl Theixar (MBA 2022)

Cheryl Theixar, from Indonesia, who had been working for Shopee, in Jakarta, as Business Development Manager before choosing to do an MBA, was also looking for international diversity and the opportunity to learn from other global citizens.

“I was looking for an international exposure, even though I have lived abroad in Singapore as well as the United States before. But I have never seen a more diverse environment than the diversity I experienced in Cambridge. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to learn from and share my own knowledge with people from so many different countries.”

After the MBA, Cheryl took a role with Standard Chartered Bank, as Director, Treasury Risk, based in their London headquarters.

Switching location

Thirty-one is the number of countries where jobs have been taken, in our most recent Employment Report 2024. Sixty-one per cent of those reporting career outcomes switched country, with 63% of those who switched moving to the UK for their next role. While 39% returned to their pre-MBA country.

Taylor Golden (MBA 2022)

Cambridge Judge Head of Careers, Sadia Cuthbert says, “Our MBA 2022 class are now working in 31 countries around the globe, with 97% of the class achieving a switch of function, industry, or country, and 43% achieving all 3. Of the students who switched countries from pre-MBA roles, 63% are continuing their careers in the UK.”

For Taylor Golden, moving from the USA to the UK was all about the credibility and qualifications she would need for her next career move, “What attracted me to an MBA, what really drove me to make this jump across the pond, was a need for the credentials, I needed the credibility. During my MBA year I really honed in on what I love, which is process and flow and operations. After my MBA, I now have a greater sense of what value that brings in the business world and the value these skills have to a future employer.”

Now working for Gobeyond, as a Senior Consultant, Taylor divides her time between Cambridge and London.

Ing Shern (Dexter) Lee (MBA 2022)

Ing Shern (Dexter) Lee, prior to the MBA, was based in Malaysia, working across the Asia Pacific region as Business Development Manager for the CCPA Group.  

“I wanted more diversity and to experience various business topics across different industries. This MBA allowed me to reflect and draw from diverse perspectives from the very diverse Cambridge Judge cohort. He continues, “I also wanted to bridge the skill gaps required to achieve my career goals, for example with the unique consulting opportunities offered during the Cambridge MBA, such as the Global Consulting Project and Cambridge Venture Project.”

He concludes, “I wanted to enrich my life experience by leaving my comfort zone, living abroad, and contributing to the broader collegiate community at the University of Cambridge.”

Dexter is now Product Manager for a specialty ingredient company supplying agriculture and animal sectors, moving to Singapore for the role.

MBAs making the triple switch Jordan Kho (MBA 2022)

Forty-three per cent of our students made the famous ‘triple switch’. Jordan Kho, switched to the UK, also switching roles and sector, having worked in the telecoms industry in Malaysia previously, as Head of Business and Strategy. Now with his MBA, transitioning into a role as Senior Consultant at Gobeyond, in London.

“The Careers Team at Cambridge Judge has helped me secure a senior consultant role in London. I came into the MBA knowing that I wanted to get into consulting, and I got the triple jump that I wanted.”

Also making the triple jump is Chase la Rosa, from the USA, a former Naval Submarine Officer and Military Scholarship recipient for class of 2022,

“Starting my MBA, I was excited to get out there and begin a new career path, and the MBA at Cambridge Judge allowed me to do that sooner.

Chase la Rosa (MBA 2022)

“There was also an obvious international presence at Cambridge, and a huge diversity of different experiences and personal stories. I had seen that in American universities military veterans had their shared story and tended to stick together, but I wanted to avoid that.

“At Cambridge, where there is so clearly no common path to business school, I was excited to contribute to the list of individual experiences and be part of such a rich diverse cohort.”

Chase relocated to Dubai, UAE, after graduating to take up the position of Associate at the global consulting firm, Kearney; switching sector, role and location after his MBA.

Ye Min Oo, moved from Myanmar to the UK to study for his MBA. “Coming from an entrepreneurial background in the healthcare and agriculture sector in my home country of Myanmar, I had sustained my businesses through a turbulent period of both the COVID-19 pandemic and political crisis.

Ye Min Oo (MBA 2022)

He continues, “Having gone through these experiences, I realised that it was time to equip myself with further skills and build a greater network and expand internationally. The MBA presented the perfect fit for me at that point in my career.”

Now working for McKinsey and Company as an Associate, in their London office, Ye Min concludes, “I came into the MBA with an open mind about how this journey might pivot my career. I wanted to broaden my global perspective and improve my management skills, as well as expand my network.”

Global perspective on the Employment Report for 2024

Cambridge Judge Head of Careers, Sadia Cuthbert, concludes, “Overall, while the recruitment landscape may have been challenging, our MBA students’ success in securing employment and navigating career transitions, reflects positively on their abilities and the quality of education and support they receive at Cambridge Judge Business School.  

She continues, “We are delighted that the MBA class of 2022 have taken great strides in this difficult market towards fulfilling roles to launch their post-MBA careers. We are proud of their career transitions and all their achievements and hard work, and we look forward to following their careers in the future.”

We are delighted that the MBA class of 2022 have taken great strides in this difficult market towards fulfilling roles to launch their post-MBA careers. We are proud of their career transitions and all their achievements and hard work, and we look forward to following their careers in the future.

Sadia Cuthbert, Cambridge Judge Head of Careers Access the full report var loc = "https://analytics-eu.clickdimensions.com/jbscamacuk-a1tdd/pages/"; Ad blocker detected We’ve detected that you’re using an adblocker. Unfortunately this is stopping our forms from being displayed. Please whitelist our sites (www.jbs.cam.ac.uk and insight.jbs.cam.ac.uk) if you would like to view these forms. Firefox & forms We’ve detected that you’re using Firefox, whose inbuilt ad-blocking system unfortunately stops many of our forms from displaying. Learn how to switch off blocking for our site >

I was looking for international exposure, but I have never seen a more diverse environment than the diversity I experienced at Cambridge.

Cheryl Theixar, Standard Chartered Related articles

Faculty news

Questions MBAs should ask employers on sustainability

Business school students should quiz prospective employers on how their policies advance sustainability goals, Professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville of Cambridge Judge writes in the Financial Times.

Read more

Student and alumni news

Cambridge MBA candidates launch climate legacy commitment

Climate Legacy Commitment, launched by 2 Cambridge MBA candidates at Cambridge Judge, mobilises leading business school students to pledge meaningful action on the climate challenge.

Read more

Programme news

Women leading change: inspiring MBA alumnae share their story

We bring together two MBA alumnae to share insights on careers, their learning journey, empowerment in the workplace, diversity, being Black in Cambridge and so much more.

Read more Meet us

Our admissions events both in person and online are a great way to learn more about the Cambridge MBA.

Join an event

The post Global mobility for our most recent MBA graduates appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

The annual list by the World Economic Forum of “the world’s most promising leaders under 40” is comprised of a “community of individuals committed to deriving positive change and supporting them in tackling the world’s most pressing problems,” says the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Young leaders challenging global issues to make a difference

The list of Young Global Leaders comprises a “diverse group of leaders hailing from backgrounds ranging from Bollywood to the Paralympics. Each brings a wealth of unique perspectives and skills — while all sharing a common aspiration to make a difference in their respective domains,” adds the Geneva-based organisation. 

A focus on well-being and the future of work

The citation for Thomas says his work “revolves around stigma and contestation, mental health and the future of work.” 

“According to Roulet, leadership in 2024 will ‘need to be based on individualised consideration and adapted to the needs of their followers. For example, research shows that hybrid work policies must be adapted to individual requirements to maximise well-being and productivity instead of being applied rigidly.   “‘One related focus for leaders is mental health: we are going through geopolitical and technological turbulence. Individuals in organisations are asked to adapt permanently, giving them a sense of insecurity and pressure. Leaders who show compassion and understanding will help their organisations fare much better in this context.’”

Featured faculty Thomas Roulet

Professor of Organisational Sociology and Leadership

View Thomas' profile

Related content

“The catalysing collective: announcing the Class of 2024.” World Economic Forum, 8 April 2024

Related articles

Faculty news

How fossil fuel firms subtly shape the dialogue

Large energy companies ignore online discussion about extreme weather and focus instead on corporate sustainability, finds study co-authored at Cambridge Judge.

Read more

Faculty news

What’s coming in 2024?

From burnout to AI and the US elections, faculty at Cambridge Judge Business School offer their hopes and fears for the year to come.

Read more

Faculty news

How Jay-Z learned from failure inspires winning essay

An essay on how musician Jay-Z learned from failure wins inaugural King’s Entrepreneurship Lab Essay Competition for Sixth Form students, which has several connections to Cambridge Judge Business School.

Read more

The post Cambridge professor named to World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

My sector and role before I joined the Cambridge Master of Finance

Before pursuing the Cambridge MFin, I worked in commercial banking, specifically in the corporate banking unit. My experience includes roles at Grupo Bancolombia, a prominent financial group with a significant presence in Colombia and Latin America. Listed on the NYSE, the bank is recognised as an important player in the regional financial landscape.

In my most recent position, I was the Product Owner for the Debt Market Strategy, a multifaceted approach to Credit Portfolio Management involving structured finance and capital market initiatives.

Why I decided to apply for the MFin at Cambridge

I applied to the Cambridge MFin to deepen my financial knowledge and skills while seeking to broaden my professional network. The programme’s comprehensive curriculum offered a foundational and practical education approach with a detailed focus on areas of personal interest, such as corporate finance and private equity.

Furthermore, engaging with a diverse pool of top-quality professionals and academics was particularly appealing, promising the opportunity to build rewarding connections. Finally, becoming part of the University’s vibrant life and heritage offered a unique personal and professional growth setting.

The close-knit cohort of the MFin and the friendships I’ve established

The friendships I’ve established. Coming from various backgrounds, the cohort environment is the perfect place to nurture intellectual growth and personal development. How much we can learn from one another’s experiences and perspectives is incredible.

My favourite part of College life

I am a member of Downing College, and my favourite part has been blending traditional Cambridge experiences, such as formal dinners, with meeting people from diverse cultural and knowledge backgrounds. Cambridge’s tradition of fostering solid communities has allowed me to create strong relationships that have made the whole experience exceptionally rewarding.

The learning experience at Cambridge Judge

The exceptional quality of teaching and educational materials provided by the School. The way knowledge is imparted is distinctive and sets Cambridge apart. I had high expectations, but they’ve been pleasantly exceeded.

Furthermore, activities such as the Group Consulting Project highlight the programme’s commitment to practical learning, offering a unique opportunity to tackle real finance issues within an actual industry setting. This hands-on experience is invaluable, ensuring that students are theoretically knowledgeable and practically competent, and able to navigate and contribute to the finance industry effectively upon graduation.

The benefits of being a part of the Cambridge community

Being a part of the Cambridge community offers unique benefits, fostering a blend of tradition and entertainment.

For example, being a Cambridge University Yachting Club member has allowed me to experience the thrill of sailing while making new friends. This exemplifies how student societies allow for exploring diverse interests and passions, from academic and professional to cultural and recreational. This is simply a part of a robust environment that encourages exchanging ideas and building a global network.

How receiving a Master of Finance scholarship impacted me

Receiving the MFin Latin America Scholarship* is an honour and signifies trust, engagement, and support from the School. It places a level of responsibility on me to represent Cambridge to the Latin American community.

Furthermore, it underscores Cambridge’s commitment to cultural diversity and its reputation for welcoming students worldwide.

Advice I’d give to those considering the Master of Finance at Cambridge

My advice to prospective students would be to enjoy the journey. While we all have ambitions, and the MFin may be a step towards furthering academic and professional careers, it’s crucial not to lose sight of the joy in each step of the process, as it’s likely to be one of the most enriching experiences of your life.

*The MFin Latin America scholarship was relaunched in 2024 as the MFin Regional Scholarship.

About the blog author

Pablo joined the Cambridge MFin with extensive experience in the corporate and commercial banking sectors, having specialised in debt market management and credit portfolio management.

He holds a bachelors degree in International Business from Universidad EAFIT in Colombia and is the recipient of the MFin Latin America Scholarship.

Fees and funding

Find out more about the fees and funding opportunities available to MFin students.

Master of Finance fees and funding

Master of Finance

Engage with the world’s best financial minds and skilled professionals. Open doors to exciting new career possibilities with a Cambridge Master of Finance (MFin).

Download the MFin brochure

Related articles

Student and alumni news

Cambridge MFin team win first-place prize at the LBS Investor Insight Summit

A team of Cambridge MFin students scooped first place at London Business School's 2023 Investor Insight Summit. Here they tell us about the competition and their winning investment pitch.

Read more

Student and alumni news

Ana Gvalia: Ski trip to Georgia with my MFin classmates

In this blog post, current student Ana Gvalia highlights the importance of being part of a close-knit cohort on the Cambridge Master of Finance (MFin) programme. The programme’s diverse student body means that students experience different cultures first-hand. Ana recently travelled to her home country of Georgia with some of her MFin classmates and shares the special experience in this post.

Read more

Programme news

From Silicon Fen to Pakistan: Ali Alam Qamar’s startup journey

Student Ali Alam Qamar (MFin 2022) looks back on his MFin year and how his time in Cambridge has helped him expand his family business and start his entrepreneurial journey.

Read more

The post Colombia to Cambridge: my Master of Finance experience appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Ken Okoroafor, an Executive MBA graduate of Cambridge Judge Business School (EMBA 2014), has long focused on helping individuals and families become debt free while enjoying financial independence. With his wife Mary Okoroafor, he founded the Financial Joy Academy that offers an educational programme to make investments and savings work harder, and these goals are also reflected in their YouTube channel The Humble Penny.

We caught up with Ken as their new book, Financial Joy, is published by Quercus Books, to talk to him about the next phase in his career journey, what the book is about, and his on-going mission to help individuals and families achieve financial freedom.

What drives you on your career journey?

I’ve realised that the future is unclaimed land waiting for us to build on it. That means that everything is possible, and provided we approach this thing called a ‘career’ boldly and with the right intentions, we’ll succeed at anything if we remain fearlessly hungry but humble. The limitless possibilities, fun and the opportunity to change the world for the better through our work using limited resources drive me and my incredible wife, Mary.

Why did you write the book?

I co-wrote Financial Joy with my wife, Mary, because we believe that financial joy is for everybody and it’s accessible to them today, not later.

Building wealth can be complicated, especially with so much misinformation out there. Then you throw in everyday challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis. It can all feel overwhelming and isolating to try to live for today whilst also planning for a future lifestyle such as a comfortable retirement.

A step-by-step plan for financial freedom over 10 weeks

We wrote the book as a step-by-step 10-week plan to help people banish debt, grow their money and unlock financial freedom. We’ve also written it from our lived experience of living financial joy daily, having achieved financial independence aged 34 including mortgage-free in 7 years.

Choosing financial joy as a mindset and model has transformed our lives. We don’t wake up worried about money, we’re fulfilled doing work we love, we are in control of our time and have the availability to parent our children, enjoy our lives and travel whilst still working towards the future.

What is the book about?

Financial Joy brings together 2 worlds that are never usually associated together. The ‘financial’ world is about one’s money journey to financial freedom. It is what we ‘want’. Whereas the ‘joy’ is about the need to prioritise well-being and have fun on the journey. Joy is what we ‘need’. Without well-being, people cannot enjoy their wealth over time, so we wrote the book to help single people and couples design their balanced lives of financial joy; a journey to financial freedom enriched with the small experiences that bring people joy.

The book also includes 12 interviews of people on their wealth-building journey, their ups and downs and what they’ve done practically to navigate life’s challenges and create their lives of financial joy.

What do you hope the book will achieve?

I hope the book will help people find a situation where their financial situation no longer causes stress, anxiety or sleepless nights – a life where money becomes a tool for empowerment, enabling people to pursue their dreams, support their loved ones and make a positive impact on the world. This is the essence of a life of financial joy.

Helping parents help their children have a positive relationship with money

In addition, it’s our belief that this book will transform the financial destinies of millions of households such that parents, for example, can feel empowered and confident to teach their children how to develop a positive relationship with money and help them get involved in managing money well for their futures.

What’s next for you? Do you have any side hustles or new projects?

Our mission is to make financial joy a reality for every household in the country and beyond. We’re currently creating content @thehumblepenny on our various platforms (YouTube channel, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and our blog). In addition, we are also delivering tailored workshops to companies and their employees on subjects such as financial wellbeing. We also have a vision of becoming product owners of investment products one day and creating tailored events such as a Financial Joy Festival. We see a future of us writing more books including books for our children’s generation and even building out our dream of a sister brand, The Humble Penny Kids. The world is filled with possibilities, so we’re having fun impacting the world positively one day at a time.

Executive MBA programmes

The Cambridge Executive MBA and Global Executive MBA – 20-month programmes for senior executives who want to apply their knowledge and skills as they learn.

Explore our Executive MBA programmes Related content

Okoroafor, K. and Okoroafor, M. (2024) Financial joy: banish debt, grow your money and unlock financial freedom in 10 weeks.

Learn more about our alumni

Related articles

News

EMBA alumnus wins Marketeer of the Year for rare disease campaign

EMBA 2017 alumnus Stefano De Socio, Global Head of Marketing at Recordati Rare Diseases, is awarded ‘Best Patient-centric Campaign in Europe’. Additionally, as a result of this achievement he is awarded ‘Marketeer of the Year, Pharma Industry’ by prestigious UK media firm, Pharma Times.

Read more

Programme news

Global Executive MBA programme begins at Cambridge Judge

Cohort of 46 students joins first Global Executive MBA programme, representing 22 countries and with an average work experience of 14 years.

Read more

Student and alumni news

Three Cambridge EMBA alumni set to disrupt the talent recruitment industry

In September 2023, 3 Cambridge Judge Executive MBA alumni – Nofel Izz, Nasser Ahmed and Cristina Savian (all EMBA 2016) – joined forces on Resume Inc, a pioneer in the AI-driven resume building and CV marketplace. Resume has secured a landmark $2.6 million grant from the Bahrain Government. This achievement, coupled with the company’s active pursuit of an additional $1.5 million in investment, marks a pivotal moment in Resume Inc’s journey to redefine the job search experience with cutting-edge technology.

Read more

The post How to find financial joy: new book outlines how to become debt-free appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education is proud to announce its certification as a B Corporation, having completed the rigorous B Impact Assessment and signing the Declaration of Interdependence.

This formalises the ongoing commitment of the School’s Executive Education division to using business as a force for good, aligning with its mission to change leaders who change the world. B Corps are businesses that meet some of the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. 

Cambridge Judge Executive Education joins more than 4,000 B Corps worldwide

We are thrilled to announce our certification as a B Corporation. This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to integrating sustainability and social responsibility into our programmes and operations. As a B Corp, we are part of a global movement of businesses working together to redefine success in business, not only in terms of financial performance but also in terms of our impact on people and the planet.

Allison Wheeler-Héau, Director of Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education

To become certified, Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education underwent a rigorous assessment process conducted by B Lab, the nonprofit organisation behind the B Corp movement. This evaluation measured performance across various areas, including governance, workers’ rights, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. 

Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education is proud to join a growing community of more than 4,000 certified B Corps worldwide, representing diverse industries and regions united by a shared commitment to using business as a force for good.

Why B Corp status will be a springboard to achieving future social impact

This represents the first step on a very important journey for Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education, and we are delighted to join this growing community of organisations dedicated to improving our planet, and our impact on our people and society. It has been a real team effort, and we see this as a springboard to understand more about ourselves as an organisation and build on the areas of performance we can have the most impact.

Matthew Walkley, Head of B2B Marketing for Executive Education Executive Education

Experience an interdisciplinary, interactive learning environment that celebrates and creates real-world impact. At Cambridge Judge Business School, our Executive Education open and custom programmes will test, challenge, encourage and inspire you.

Learn more Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

Learn more about Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education and its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

View our ESG programmes

Related articles

News

EDI is about making our workplace a better place

Lionel Paolella, Associate Professor in Strategy & Organisation at Cambridge Judge Business School, shares his thoughts as the new Chairperson of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee at Cambridge Judge.

Read more

 

How can health care be delivered at lower cost?

Conference at Cambridge Judge Business School explores the development of Health Care Utilities that scale up innovations to reduce the cost of medicines and other health care products. 

Read more

 

Year two in review: growth and new opportunities for the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy

The Centre for Strategic Philanthropy (CSP) recently celebrated its second anniversary, solidifying its role as a hub for research and convening on philanthropy in global growth markets.

Read more

The post B Corp certification for Cambridge Judge Executive Education appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Business school students should inquire to prospective employers about decision-making, operations, innovation and other aspects related to sustainability, says an article in the Financial Times by Jennifer Howard-Grenville, Diageo Professor in Organisation Studies at Cambridge Judge Business School.

The article was co-authored with Joanne Tilley, a Cambridge MBA graduate of Cambridge Judge (MBA 2022) who is a strategy and sustainability consultant at Investec, and Priya Saikumar, a Cambridge MBA graduate (MBA 2022) who is a doctoral student and ESG (environment, social and governance) consultant.

Professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville Joanne Tilley Priya Saikumar How MBAs have the power to influence company’s green strategies

MBAs and other new starters have the opportunity to influence their employer’s sustainability strategies more than they may think. It begins with expressing their interest and showing that they are seeking to work for a company that aligns with their interests and goals. Once employed, MBAs can use their skills in fostering collaboration, breaking down silos, and driving change to boost their organisation’s sustainability ambitions.

Instead of just answering interview questions from employers, MBA graduates should quiz potential employers about their sustainability practices and plans, says the article.

Six areas where MBA students can challenge employers on sustainability

1. The company’s long-term strategic sustainability goals.
2. How sustainability is considered in the company’s operations and value chain.
3. How pay and HR policies are structured to further sustainability objectives.
4. How technology and innovation feed into sustainability goals.
5. How finance advances sustainability, including the use of funding mechanisms such as green bonds.
6. How communications and governance support sustainability strategies and actions.

Only by recognising that MBA graduates and employers alike must raise the bar will we collectively shape the resilient organisations needed to tackle the world’s challenges.

Jennifer Howard-Grenville Featured faculty Jennifer Howard-Grenville

Diageo Professor in Organisation Studies

View Jennifer's profile

Featured research

Howard-Grenville, J. (2024) “What to ask future employers about sustainability – and why.” Financial Times

The Cambridge MBA

A one-year MBA degree from Cambridge Judge Business School, at the heart of the University of Cambridge.

Explore the Cambridge MBA Related articles

Student and alumni news

Cambridge MBA candidates launch climate legacy commitment

Climate Legacy Commitment, launched by 2 Cambridge MBA candidates at Cambridge Judge, mobilises leading business school students to pledge meaningful action on the climate challenge.

Read more

Student and alumni news

How reinvention challenges midlife ageism

On International Women’s Day 2024, Daniela Florea (MPhil Management Studies 1994) talks about challenging the status quo and giving visibility to women in midlife.

Read more

Programme news

Women leading change: inspiring MBA alumnae share their story

We bring together two MBA alumnae to share insights on careers, their learning journey, empowerment in the workplace, diversity, being Black in Cambridge and so much more. This International Women’s Day we bring you a story to inspire inclusion.

Read more

The post Questions MBAs should ask employers on sustainability appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Two Cambridge MBA candidates at Cambridge Judge Business School have launched the Climate Legacy Commitment, an initiative to mobilise MBA students who pledge to be part of a global movement to encourage business to meaningfully confront the climate challenge.

The initiative founded by Cambridge MBA students Collin G Janich and Peter Golding (both MBA 2023) was kicked off on 11 March at an event at Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, that was attended by, among others, the Interim Dean of Cambridge Judge, Professor Gishan Dissanaike.

Collin G Janich Peter Golding Climate leadership demonstrated by initiative is core to Cambridge Judge values

“When we choose MBA students, we don’t only look at how much they will receive as a salary increase at the end of their studies; we are also looking at the positive impact they will make on the world and society,” Gishan said in remarks at the event. “And here we are, seeing 2 of our MBA students making an impact even before they graduate.”

Climate leadership is like playing chess with the weather. Except, the chess board is melting, the pieces are on fire, and no one is quite sure who is winning.

Professor Gishan Dissanike, Interim Dean of Cambridge Judge Business School

Other attendees included:

• Jennifer Howard-Grenville, Diageo Professor in Organisation Studies at Cambridge Judge
• Julian Metherell, Chair of the Advisory Board of Cambridge Judge
• Gillian Tett, Provost of King’s College, Cambridge
• Marc Kahn, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Investec

How call to action focuses on future business leaders as architects of change

“The climate crisis necessitates a fundamental transformation of the global economic framework, which will shape business strategies for decades to come,” Peter Golding said in opening remarks. “While existing climate pledges focus on governments, corporations, and NGOs, they neglect the critical role that future business leaders will play. As the architects of tomorrow’s economy, MBA candidates from top-tier institutions are not only well-positioned but also have the responsibility to enact meaningful change.”

“This initiative is more than a pledge,” said Collin Janich. “It is a call to action for future business leaders to engage in transformative learning, develop collaborative networks, and drive innovative climate solutions. We are building a coalition of like-minded peers, industry leaders, and partners that will shape corporate cultures and operational norms and deliver a sustainable, net-zero future.”

Candidates at 15 MBA programmes globally invited to take the pledge

Initially, MBA candidates from 15 MBA programmes are invited to take the free pledge, which has already been signed by more than 40% of the 2023/24 Cambridge MBA cohort at Cambridge Judge.

Those MBA programmes are the ‘Magic Seven’ (M7) in the US:

• Columbia Business School
• Harvard Business School
• MIT: Sloan
• Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management
• Stanford Graduate School of Business
• University of Chicago: Booth
• University of Pennsylvania: Wharton

In the UK and EU, the MBA programmes are the founding business schools of the organisation Business Schools for Climate Leadership:

• HEC Paris
• IE Business School
• IESE Business School
• IMD (International Institute for Management Development)
• INSEAD
• London Business School
• Cambridge Judge Business School
• Oxford Saïd Business School

The Cambridge MBA

A one-year MBA degree from Cambridge Judge Business School, at the heart of the University of Cambridge.

Explore the Cambridge MBA Related content

The Climate Legacy Commitment is a landmark initiative for leading MBA candidates, signifying a decisive shift in corporate leadership towards proactive climate accountability.

Related articles

Programme news

Women leading change: inspiring MBA alumnae share their story

We bring together two MBA alumnae to share insights on careers, their learning journey, empowerment in the workplace, diversity, being Black in Cambridge and so much more. This International Women’s Day we bring you a story to inspire inclusion.

Read more

Student and alumni news

How can mentorship help women advance their careers?

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 and Inspire Inclusion across our community of women leaders at Cambridge Judge Business School, we speak to 3 of our MBA graduates about mentoring in business and how women, and men, can support each other in their careers and personal development.

Read more

Programme news

Inspiring inclusion: women graduates reflect on their MBA

From fintech to digital consulting, from the family firm to a career in the social impact sector, we meet some of our most recent female Cambridge MBA graduates who are looking to make an impact in their careers and inspire inclusion.

Read more

The post Cambridge MBA candidates launch climate legacy commitment appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.