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We urge you to read the full transcript, but in the meantime, here’s an excerpt from the LBS Q&A:
Linda Abraham: Richard asks, “What makes LBS’s MiM programme different than other programmes around the world? In other words, what course functional area do you specialize in?”
Lisa Mortini: Obviously when you are looking to apply to a programme like this, it’s a big decision. It’s a big investment of your time and your money and you want to make sure you are choosing the right programme. And there are quite a few really good Masters in Management programmes around the world, especially in Europe because that is where they originated. What we have that might be a little different from other programmes is that we are a one-year programme so it is quite an intense experience, and we are very much focused on the practical aspects of the programme. There are lectures obviously, but it’s a lot of work around the topics that you are learning. It’s not just receiving information; it’s putting it into practice. And we very much focus on careers as well, so it’s really a great programme if you want to get your first corporate job at the end of year. We are probably less tailored if you would like to do a PhD at the end of year because it is not a research-based programme. There is a very practical focus. It is very focused on career services and developing our students’ softer skills as well as their knowledge of general management.
Saira Ansari: I look at this question in the perspective of why I chose this programme in this school, and there are a number of reasons for that. First of all, I thought it’s quite a healthy mix of academics and practicality. And second of all, this is a core business school and there are MBAs and executive MBAs, etc. on campus. It provides great networking opportunities, not just on-campus and off-campus; it makes you very comfortable in a corporate environment, especially when you are going in for interviews. You can get advice from these people — just have a chat with them over coffee. They are very helpful and you learn a lot. Thirdly, I think the location is a big plus. Being in London, it’s the core financial commercial area. You have access to a lot of opportunities, not just from a professional perspective but also from a personal perspective. And lastly, for me it was the fact that it is one-year long programme because I wanted to get into the work environment after a maximum of one year. Those are my reasons for choosing LBS and it’s been a great decision.
Lisa Mortini: I’d like to go back to another aspect of the question. The students here all take core courses together so there is no specialization at the moment. We are introducing a new course in entrepreneurship next year, but apart from that the students cannot specialize and they are all doing core courses together. What happens though is that we realize that the students tailor their experience at the MiM depending on their interests by joining the clubs. The student clubs on campus are extremely active. You learn a lot from them. You have the opportunity to network, to organize guest speakers, events, conferences, and forums. Our students have been able to look at areas of interest such as energy or pharmaceuticals or consulting, and really devote a lot of their energy through the clubs.
Linda Abraham: The clubs are open to all. So the MiM students would be with the MBA students and the E-MBA students?
Lisa Mortini: That is absolutely correct. Masters in Finance, Sloan, Executive MBA and MBA students all participate together. And the MiM students can also be reps on clubs, so they can be representatives of their class within the clubs, and they get very involved in the organization of the clubs.
Linda Abraham: So there they also have exposure to people with more levels of experience and a little bit of a greater perspective on the business and working world.
Saira Ansari: For example, I am on the Women in Business Club committee and we just had the recent Women in Business Club Conference, which is an annual flagship event. It was attended by over 200 people. And we were on the committee with the MBAs, their partners who can join in, the Executive MBAs, and the Masters in Finance students, and it was a really rich learning experience because when you are working with people that advanced in their careers and their fields, it provides you with a lot of perspective.
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