Read time: 4 mins
Meet Your Classmates | LSE Business, International Relations and the Political Economy
The Business, International Relations and the Political Economy online certificate course enhances your understanding of the relationship between international relations and business, and how this impacts global and local markets, and your organisation.
Guided by LSE thought leaders, with expert analyses of historical events, you’ll develop a lens with which to critically analyse global events and plan accordingly. Over the eight weeks of the course, you’ll also hear from world-renowned economists, thought leaders and professionals, as you rub shoulders with an international cohort of like-minded professionals to develop multiple perspectives and strategic frameworks.
Click the icons below to learn more about some of the members of the globally diverse group you’ll learn, collaborate and network with throughout this course:
May 2019 Presentation
November 2018 Presentation
May 2019 Presentation
Robbie Sommerville
Head of Corporate Affairs, Commodities and Global Markets, Macquarie Group
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
I am a senior corporate communications and brand professional with experience across both the financial services and natural resources sectors.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I’m a passionate advocate of citizenship awareness and political involvement for young people, particularly in our current climate.
What are you looking forward to most about this course?
I’m interested in deepening my knowledge, building new insight and meeting people with different perspectives, especially if they are divergent thinkers. I also aim to be a useful sounding board to my future classmates.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
This year I’d like to finally submit my application to become a Magistrate.
Teri Grossheim
MBA Candidate and Solutions Engineer
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
I worked full-time while completing my MBA part-time at DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. I worked in consulting and channel sales, mainly with part of the team that built the Apple supply chain under Tim Cook.
Why did you choose to take this course?
To learn more about power and politics in business.
What are you looking forward to most about this course?
To increase my skills in power and politics.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I look forward to working and collaborating with them.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Top of my bucket list is to be a successful businesswoman in the technology industry and live a happy, healthy life.
Why did you choose to take this course?
By taking this course, I hope to better understand the political-economic system on an international scale.
Abhijit Das
Chief Strategy Officer, Publicis Group
Why did you choose to take this course?
I chose to take this course to bring the understanding of international affairs within my perspective, as I analyse, develop and recommend marketing strategies for my local and global clients.
Marina Tundo
English Teacher, Ministry of Education in Italy
Why did you choose to take this course?
I have decided to take this course as my target is teaching abroad in the coming years. I am, moreover, interested in international policy and I took a similar course in Italian a few months ago. I have the relevant Certification in Italian recognised by MIUR, the Italian Ministry of Education.
Ahmad Khan
Business Analyst, Global Affairs Canada
Why did you choose to take this course?
Working with foreign affairs, this course will help me learn more about how the world works. I am looking forward to networking and adding value to my skill set.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
It’s nice to meet you all. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours and hope we run into each other one day.
November 2018 Presentation
Manu Mittal
Entrepreneur
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
Resolving the legal and management disputes in an educational social enterprise run by a trust, and taking a lead role in that.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Always be open to new learnings.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
To be a TED speaker.
Tando Bikitsha 
Portfolio Manager, Sygnia Asset Manager
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
Building the ESG (incorporating environmental, social and governance factors in investment decision-making) initiatives at Sygnia.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I have an interest in understanding the ideas and events that shape history.
What are you looking forward to most about this course?
Learning about global power shifts.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Looking forward to a robust and healthy exchange of ideas.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
To finish the Paris Marathon.
Luca Collina
International Change and Transformational Consultant,
Transforage TCA Ltd.
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
Recently, I successfully achieved two change and transformation supply chain projects overseas, working with different national and business cultures (North Africa and China).
Why did you choose to take this course?
It was a subject I have found to completely and utterly grab my attention, considering the international experience background and my interest in international relations and the future of globalisation.
What are you looking forward to most about this course?
To learn how to get an ability to analyse international events from different perspectives, and connect with other professionals.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I hope this course is going to be a starting point for the opportunity to work and collaborate in the future.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
To be one of the best international consultants in supply chain at strategic level.
Yuwei Chen
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
In 2013, I joined a startup Chinese financial company, which was owned by one of the top five Chinese security companies, to set up their UK company. We started with no telephones, no computers, and choosing office plants and furniture were among my first few tasks.
When I left in December 2017 due to personal reasons, the company was achieving its earning target and meeting its goal to bridge Western and Eastern financial markets. I consider this as my most interesting work experience, as not only did I face the challenges of any startup company – chaos, unexpected problems – but I also learnt that cultural differences is a huge obstacle in any international company. If handled properly, diversity can inspire people, but quite often it’s difficult to communicate across cultures. I am interested to explore a way to bridge this gap.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I have always enjoyed learning international relations and politics, given my law background. I feel in the current world it is more important to understand the big picture between nations, political regions and as a world citizen, we all have a duty to find the common path to bring peace and harmony to the world, even just a tiny bit. Every little helps!
What are you looking forward to most about this course?
I am looking forward to learning from the experts in LSE and share views with my fellow classmates, and just to enjoy it!
Antonio Jose Martínez López
Diplomat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
Being part of the Venezuelan Embassy in Tehran has been a very demanding experience. As head of the political section since 2014, I have had the chance of studying and analysing the transition between the JCPOA subscription and the current status under the Trump Administration.
Why did you choose to take this course?
As a Fletcher’s graduate (GMAP-2016), I want to update and improve my academic background.
What are you looking forward to most about this course?
I am open to any inquire and willing to help my classmates in this journey.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
The top of my priorities is to strengthen my professional and academic background for future leadership responsibilities.
May 2018 Presentation
Xinran Wei
Accountant, Richter LLP
Why did you choose to take this course?
As a Master of Accountancy and CPA, CMA, I have been focusing on microbusiness. I am taking this course because the changes in the world will have significant impact on all participants.
What are you looking forward to most about this course?
I look forward to the international environment analytical models that could be applied in the future.
Joost Wellens
Rural Infrastructure Engineer, University of Liège
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
I crafted myself a solid field experience abroad (over 15 years in Africa) of project management in the domains of agriculture and water management. A couple of years ago, my basis shifted from Africa to Belgium, where I head the Integrated Water Management & Food Security Workgroup at the University of Liège. I managed to keep a foot in developing countries through the monitoring of our overseas projects and as a freelance consultant.
Why did you choose to take this course?
Presently, I’d like to bring my work environment to a higher/newer level and continue expanding my experiences and know-how.
Dr Ng Ronald Paul
Consultant Haematologist
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
I am a 72-year-old consultant physician specialising in haematology in private practice. I was senior lecturer in Clinical Haematology at University College Hospital Medical School in the 1970s, and later senior lecturer in Medicine at Hong Kong University. I am also a principal mediator of the Singapore Mediation Center, having been accredited by them, which is a government body under the Ministry of Law in Singapore, as well as the Regent University, London.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I moved from Hong Kong to Singapore in the 1980s, and because of that background, I write op-ed pieces for newspapers in Hong Kong from the viewpoint of an ex-Hong Kong, now Singaporean writing about Hong Kong after its handover from Britain back to China. For this reason, I think it would enhance the quality of my writings by having a broader view of political and economic affairs.
What are you looking forward to most about this course?
I look forward to deepening my ability to analyse world events in general, and events in SE Asia in particular, so as to give more depth to my writings.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Let’s learn together and make a better world.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Another subject I am fascinated with is the discipline known as Complexity and Emergent Phenomenon. I have done a course on agent-based programming from Complexity Explorer, and am writing programmes to analyse social events using agent-based programming to create models to study those phenomena. At the moment, I am cooperating with a professor in psychology and hope to have a paper published on studying evolution of morality using agent-based modelling.
David Calvet Canut
Madrid, Spain
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
I’ve worked in several industries, from chemicals to banking or pharmaceuticals, reaching top management responsibilities in all of them and setting up operations in Spain and Portugal.
Why did you choose to take this course?
From this course, I would like to get an academic while practical view on business and political relations and how they affect our day-to-day lives and professional careers.
What are you looking forward to most about this course?
I expect to meet people from around the globe that would enrich my personal background from their different and diverse point of views about the same key facts happening today.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
I would like to at the end of this course, become a better professional, with a wider view on reality and with clear insights of our societies’ future development.
Aziza Mowzer
Risk Officer, Coronation Fund Managers
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
Working for PwC Global Office.
Why did you choose to take this course?
To help me think differently and understand how macro events can have an impact.
What are you looking forward to most about this course?
It is different to the content I’ve studied previously.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I love interacting with people and learning new things.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Taking a helicopter ride over the glaciers in Alaska.
Ara Hampar Fernezian
United Arab Emirates
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
- Delivering 60% revenue growth since 2012 during the most volatile business environment in the Middle East
- Led the digital transformation of my BU
- Led the strategy and development of the world’s largest gathering in sustainability and fostered a relationship between my company and government partner
- I became the Group Managing Director in the Middle East for the World’s largest event organizer and helped in building group of business leaders
Why did you choose to take this course?
I want to expand my knowledge in political economy to help me in better understanding the drivers of global economy and influence change and curate conference agendas.
Prisca Valentino
Basel, Switzerland
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
I am looking for a holistic understanding and view of geopolitician topics, which are influencing international business, and how this impact global and local markets, and international organisations.
Do you want to join the May 2018 Presentation of this course?
Register now for the LSE Business, International Relations and the Political Economy online certificate course.
October 2017 Presentation
Julian Voynov
Head of Department, Municipal Bank PLC, Bulgaria
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
I’m a very active participant in the public debate in Bulgaria, especially on the subjects of economic issues and financial analysis, and I’m often invited to participate in various TV debates and discussions. I support a personal blog on economic, public management and political issues, materials from which are often republished in national newspapers and digital media. My professional expertise is appreciated by the Bulgarian public and experts.
Why did you choose to take this course?
Globalisation and international relations is a field I’m especially interested in. It’s the foundation for understanding all the processes which unfold in the world – from income inequality and the problems with the growth rates to rebound nationalism and separatism. I expect to further sharpen my expertise on the issue with knowledge from highly-valued academic experts.
What excites you most about the course?
What excites me the most from the course is the possibility to communicate with world renowned academic experts, the ability to understand a new point of view and, of course, the possibility to meet new highly-motivated people and experts with similar interests.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
Online learning is a very practical way to expand your knowledge at reasonable price, saving time and simultaneously providing opportunity to contact and communicate with the highest authorities in the field of interest.
Mari O Mamre
Senior Economist, NyAnalyse AS, Norway
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
I’m proud to be head of the section for housing market analysis in our company. We contribute to the ongoing debate here in Norway regarding housing price developments, likely housing market policy responses, housing supply and financial stability. I’m consulting many important stakeholders in the Norwegian housing sector, such as residential builders, large organisations and local government. We are often asked by national media about the likely developments in the housing market, and I’m a regular contributor to the Housing Advisory in Dagens Næringsliv, the country’s largest newspaper for business news.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I’m taking this course because I want to expand my scope a bit from the national view. Particularly, trying to predict movements in important macro variables following huge geopolitical shocks are relevant for me. Also LSE are recommended by many, and the online course provided an opportunity to get experience from one of the world’s best universities without actually living abroad.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
At the top of my bucket list is taking a PHD and develop models that are useful for the private sector aiming to predict important macro movements. Also I want to write a book!
What will you do with your LSE certificate?
My LSE certificate will be a good reference for me in later applications and in my career aspirations.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
My message is to never stop learning. I’m a firm believer in lifelong education. It will most likely become even more important in a world facing fast techonological disruption and changing demand for skills.
Gerald Wu
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources, Foresters Financial, Canada
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
I would say the diversity of experiences I have during my career so far. In terms of industry, I had experience in hospitality, higher education, and financial services. In terms of positions, I had experience in sales, technology, instructors, and human resources. In terms of geography, I have been in Hong Kong, UK, and Toronto.
Why did you choose to take this course?
There are a number of reasons why I have decided to take this course, first it’s from an university that I know will deliver excellent quality of education. Second, it’s a rare combination of subjects in terms of business, international relations and political economy. Third, is the format, which allows me to develop professionally without interrupting my career, and finally, I think it is important for any business leaders to have an appreciation of how international relations and the political economy context impacts the business world.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
I think this program will enable me to be a better business leader by enabling me to provide insights on impacts of the external contexts to organisations.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
I’m most excited for the knowledge I’ll gain from the experts.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I think we all need a better appreciation of how international relations and the political economy impacts how we do business.
Kyle Mota
Head of Finance & Operations, Financial Access, Netherlands
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
My biggest achievements were to bring economic integrity into practice, by establishing proper political economic regulations on private enterprises as well to the public sector, and various others institutions.
Why did you choose to take this course?
This course provides a proper insight of our current global economic and political issues based on academic views. I believe today we need more a scientific opinion, instead of the polarised view created by social media. Due to the fast social communication channels of today, it’s become extremely difficult to establish a proper coherent solution to continue a successful path on economical and political stability.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
On this course I’m mostly excited about the sharing of knowledge with other professors, professionals and students. Since we spend most of our time these days selecting what we want to read, to do, or to practice on our day by day, we have unconsciously limited our view based in our own sole life or professional experience. Therefore I believe this new learning method may bring together a wider global view.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Let’s be influential – let’s make the difference. The world and future generations need these. I’m definitely looking forward to learning from you all, and as well sharing with you all.
Victor Fook Ai Ng
Chairman, Next Revolution Now LLP, Singapore
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
I have seed funded, advised and successfully launched multiple social enterprises.
Why did you choose to take this course?
My primary objectives are to get up-to-date thinking by learning from thought leaders, and to engage and share with fellow professionals and business leaders.
What excites you most about the course?
I’m most excited about the range and diversity of students I’ll be learning with from across the globe. I hope to one day build and work with a network of friends and business partners across over 1,000 touch points.
Scott Newton
Managing Partner, Thinking Dimensions, Italy
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
- Business Unit Strategy formulation and identification of acquisition pipeline and plan in Europe, Asia, and North America for a NYSE traded industrials group.
- North America entry strategy for a European equipment manufacturing corporation.
- Global strategy for the expansion of a packaging company into adjacent technologies, products, and services.
- Group Strategy and Country-Level Strategy formulation and implementation for Latin America for a multinational (USA based) NYSE traded pharma-co.
- Acquisition and Integration of two European Manufacturing companies for a private equity group and subsequent integration of operations in Western and Central Europe.
- Development and Deployment of a Strategy for a European automotive group to enter Asia for both manufacturing (China) and sales (ASEAN) including acquiring funding necessary for CAPEX.
- Implementation of a global pricing strategy and program for a multinational B2B group with roll out including at salesperson level in multiple countries/languages simultaneously.
- Joint Venture formation between an American and European group for expansion in the Americas in sales and service with a target to be #1 in terms of market position within 4 years.
- Acquisition of a majority position in a strategic supplier in China by a European manufacturing group.
- Plan formulation and implementation for selecting a North America manufacturing base, managing negotiations including project financing, and following plan through implementation stages to physical presence launch.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I want to learn more about macro risks, how to quantify them, and how to assist boards in taking decisions relative to the risks most relevant to their businesses.
What excites you most about the course?
I am very interested to take a course like this online: normally I choose to do such courses in person, and in this case I think the global audience of participants will be diverse and great to converse with and learn from.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Creating a venture in Africa.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
This course will assist me in better preparing our clients for risk management, which is a very hot topic at the moment.
What will you do with your LSE certificate?
I plan to display it on LinkedIn, to demonstrate my experience to to colleagues and clients.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
This is a new way of learning for professionals. As we often do not have the time to take a course in person, or the ability to schedule to be in a specific place on the required dates, this is the future! Let’s all contribute to making it highly successful.
Suraj Kumar Sumitran
Manager, Oil & Gas Division, Safety Marine Services, UAE
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements?
As a start up, the Oil & Gas division enhanced the group’s profile and annual earnings by over 20% within the first 2 years. I had additional responsibilities for four years as Head of Procurement and achieved additional 12% net savings through strategic negotiations.
What excites you most about the course?
I’ve always been in awe of LSE, and I’ve wanted to study there for years, but circumstances have lead me elsewhere. This course represents my chance to finally become an LSE student.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
Will enhance my perspective and intuition while taking gut feeling business related decisions.
What will you do with your LSE certificate?
I’m going to proudly display it in my office.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Knowledge is power. Let’s work together to help each other stand out from the rest.
Andrei Pop
Member of Parliament, Romania
Why did you choose to take this course?
To grow and also update my knowledge, with my main focus being on the political economy, which I am very keen to learn in order to further future projects in my career.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
I want to eventually develop a more simplified public policy.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
I think it’s most important to update your information and educational background constantly to stay relevant. Challenges are always there and the business environment is changing every day, and this course will help me adapt in the face of that change.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I’m more than happy to share my information and knowledge with the classmates, taking into consideration the common orientation for the LSE course, and if required I’m at their disposal for any support I can offer on my area of expertise.
Ready to join these and other global professionals as you grow you network as well as your business expertise?
Register now for the LSE Business, International Relations and the Political Economy online certificate course.