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Meet Your Classmates | LSE MBA Essentials
The MBA Essentials online certificate course, from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), enhances your managerial and leadership competencies at a fraction of the cost and commitment of a traditional MBA.
This 10-week course focuses on three core pillars of business management and leadership: the Strategic Environment, the Financial Toolkit, and the Human Element. Lead by global experts, it balances the knowledge and theory which will enable you to think differently and make better decisions with the practical skills and techniques required to achieve a greater impact within your organisation. You’ll also nurture an international network as you rub shoulders with a cohort of fellow students from around the globe.
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:
November 2018 Presentation
Gonzalo Sarmiento 
Executive Chairman, For Innovation Technology SA, Peru
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
I’m at the top of a highly competitive Fintech organization that has partnered Goldman Sachs for Peru.
Why did you choose to take this course?
As it’s been a short time in my position, I need to get the essentials to acquire the best knowledge I can. LSE quality is all I need now.
What excites you most about the course?
To test myself and make sure I’m skilful, with great information and technique for new challenges.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Let’s bring the best of us in this journey.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
To help Peruvian people get better access to financial opportunities.
Szuyin Yeh 
Project Manager and International Sale Manager, LG International Electronics Company
Why did you choose to take this course?
I am eager to enter your business school because it is designed for students who want to emphasize on their cross-field study. And the inter-core modules of marketing management, strategy, planning and customer behavior will provide me with the comprehensive grounding knowledge to pursue a successful career.
What excites you most about the course?
The fascinating elective course of project and innovation management, strategic brand management, and B2B relationships deeply arouses my interest. Especially the strategic environmental sustainability course, which I rarely see in other schools. It caught my eye instantly due to the importance of this subject, since we have to compete in this resource-constrained world which has a long-standing reputation for being managed by one of the biggest business departments in Europe. This, with the multinational student body, will help me to develop an understanding of cross-cultural marketing issues, which I plan to apply in the future.
May 2018 Presentation
Lionel Mullin
Director of Lionel Mullin LTD, United Kingdom
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
My most interesting or noteworthy professional achievements have been leading teams working on high profile projects across global luxury, technology, and media brands.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I chose to take this course in order to enhance my skills now that I’m a consultant.
What excites you most about the course?
What I’m looking forward to most about the course is being exposed to the MBA level framework for strategy and business operations.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
The message I would you like to give to my future classmates and support network is that we each chose to spend money on the course but we also owe it to each other to support each other over the course.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
At the very top of my bucket list is to live life to fullest and prosper!!!
Grace Sorrell
Project Analyst, American Express, United Kingdom
Why did you choose to take this course?
I would like to gain a more holistic view of how things operate within a business (as my academic background is non-business related) and gain a solid foundation to propel my career as a leader within my company.
What excites you most about the course?
I am most looking forward to the ‘Human Element’ section, specifically how to influence using nudging techniques.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
At the top of my current bucket list is to work abroad, as I would love to experience living and working in a different culture/environment.
Elaine Rachael James
Chief Executive, The Disablement Association of Barking & Dagenham, United Kingdom
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
My most noteworthy achievement is serving my community in a way that enriches lives and encourages people to aspire to achieve more in their lives.
Why did you choose to take this course?
This course is an opportunity for me to be more effective and to enhance my current skills.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I would encourage my future classmates and support network to lead with purpose and to really value learning.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
At the top of my bucket list is to broaden my horizons and to share my learning in my organisation and beyond.
Heather Caven
V&A Collections Centre Director, Victoria and Albert Museum, United Kingdom
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
I’ve worked in the cultural heritage sector for 18 years, working for three fantastic national museums, the Royal Collection, and a contemporary art gallery. I have helped deliver award-winning museum galleries and exhibitions. I’m most proud of leading the National Museum’s Scotland team of conservators and collections managers to deliver three amazing capital projects (award-winning galleries, new aircraft displays, and new Collections Centre) in the last four years.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I’d like to develop my business skills in order to improve the performance of my organisation, and ensure my skills continue to be relevant.
What excites you most about the course?
Learning practical skills that I can apply in my day to day work.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I’m excited about the potential to connect with colleagues who may work outside of the cultural heritage sector but share many of the same challenges. I look forward to sharing my perspectives and to get a fresh take on issues.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
To flourish in my new role – I’ve just been appointed as the V&A Collections Centre Director, part of the team charged with creating an amazing new cultural experience in East London.
Leonardo da Costa Cremonezi
Senior Statistical Scientist & Director, Ipsos MOR, United Kingdom
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
Being able to lead a Data Science Team and “organise the house” in Ipsos Connect in different countries.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I was searching for a good MBA since 2014 but I really do not have time to go to the Uni, I was about to give up when I found out about this course. Perfect!
What excites you most about the course?
Learning, recycling, and networking.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Make time to learn and familiarise yourself with the changes in the market! MBAs can help!
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Being a good line manager and decorate the flat that I just bought.
Martin James Norbury
Director, Advocate Business Services Ltd, United Kingdom
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
Started my own business and sold it twice. Moved with the new company. Attained board level role. Headhunted by plc to rescue ailing division. Promoted to Group Exec.
Why did you choose to take this course?
Further knowledge and insight.
What excites you most about the course?
Structure, current thinking, platform.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I run my own business, now helping other businesses scale to exit.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Expansion to 50 cities across the globe.
Alexandra Marcu (Badea)
Sn Director/Marketing, Advocate Business Services Ltd, Romania
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
Avangate/2Checkout. I have been part of the founding team and drove international success for Avangate (Now 2Checkout) and GECAD ePayment (now PayU) 2 leaders in the Payments and eCommerce space.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I want to develop my strategic knowledge/skills and have a 360 view of the entire business. Also, I wanted for some time to enroll in an MBA course and this one seemed to have the best curriculum.
What excites you most about the course?
Better understand the financial accounting side.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Let’s stay connected and learn from each other’s experiences.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
To do each year something I have never done before (This year: rafting training).
Michael Colley
Operations Fixer, Monzo, United Kingdom
Why did you choose to take this course?
I’m looking for a basis on which to work on my basic business skills.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
I want to level up so I can run my own business
Do you want to join the May 2018 Presentation of this MBA course?
Register now for the LSE MBA Essentials online certificate course.
October 2017 Presentation
Lee Heng Hau
APAC Regional Controller, Global Blue, Singapore
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
I had the opportunity of leading a cross functional project to drive strategy execution in all aspects of the business activities. This was necessitated by the need to transform the business during a period of volatile changes facing the industry.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I want to deepen my business expertise in management as I progress in my career path. In addition I think this is a good window for me to explore the possibility of doing a full time MBA. Last but not least, I am attracted to LSE, being the leading institution in the study of social science and economy, the key elements of any MBA course.
What excites you most about the course?
The opportunity to network with like-minded professionals who can share their experience and expertise.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
For now its completing the full time marathon in December for the Standard Chartered Marathon run in Singapore!
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
I believe it will broaden my horizon in my thinking and outlook by tapping into the LSE network and expertise.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
This is the second time I am doing a Getsmarter course, and I look forward to the same structured and supported learning environment that allowed me to stay focused in the midst of my busy work schedule.
What will you do with your LSE certificate?
I hope to be able to join the LSE network and stay connected to the alumni and industry expertise whom I will encounter throughout the course, so I can tap into their expertise as and when the need arises.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Enjoy the 3 months – it will be over sooner than you think!
Dr Catherine Nyuthe
Psychiatrist, Eastern Health, Australia
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
That I completed two Fellowships earlier than the allocated training time, became the most junior consultant to have headed up a unit at my hospital in Cape Town, won the best consultant awards from the junior doctors as well as the consultant body in 2014, and that I have managed to work fulltime with two small children in a foreign country with no family support to assist, other than my partner.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I have wanted to undertake an MBA for the longest time so this will hopefully provide a taster of what I might expect when I eventually make space in my life for an MBA.
What excites you most about the course?
The opportunity to learn new concepts and share with others, and to generalise that learning to my professional and personal life.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
The course will Help prepare me for a senior management role and leadership position, and assist me in obtaining a broad business understanding.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Let’s have fun learning and sharing together.
Paul Mwebaze
Economist, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
I would say my PhD research, which examined the risks to UK plant health from imports originating from new supply sources outside the EU. I presented key research findings from my PhD work at the 2008 International Congress of the European Association of Agricultural Economists, August 26-29, Ghent, Belgium. This work was published in the Journal of Agricultural Economics (Mwebaze et al., 2010). My econometric modelling exercise and predictions about future risks to UK crops from exotic pest organisms has been helpful to advise government (UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) policy makers.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I chose this course because of the growing demand for business skills within my organisation. Increasingly, I am dealing with large and complex projects involving international collaborators and stakeholders. I am also leading components of these projects and have had to learn quickly how to manage relationships with funders and stakeholders. I believe this course will help improve my business skills so that I can have greater impact and influence within my organisation and with external stakeholders.
What excites you most about the course?
It’s a relatively short course and that fits well with my current project workload. I like the fact that it’s flexible and delivered online—meaning that I can learn from the comfort of my home. I like the structure of the course around the key themes of the business environment, including strategy, finance and human behaviour. Obviously, the LSE tag is also great, if I’m being honest!
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
I think it will help improve my understanding of the business environment and provide me with the tools to prepare me for leadership within my organisation. In the next few years, I would like to be in a senior economist role or a consultant within the industry.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
I’m looking forward to virtual interactions with the course instructors and participants in the online class. I’m eager to see how the course will be delivered. I hope the Q&A and related discussion that follow will be great
What will you do with your LSE certificate?
I will use the associated skills to increase my influence and impact within my organisation and industry. I have been contemplating doing a full MBA program for a while now and this certificate is the first step.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I hope you are as excited as me to do this course. I have always wanted to study at the LSE and this course looks great. So I encourage you to register for the course ASAP, enjoy it and develop networks for future collaboration.
Russell Knevitt
Executive Vice President of Retail Risk, Greater China and North Asia, Standard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong
Why did you choose to take this course?
I’ve taken this course to refresh my business skills, create networks with a global cohort, and broaden my global experience outside of Asia. Also, the reputation of LSE and the broad scope of the essentials of an MBA are very attractive.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
This course will help me refresh my skills, give me a global perspective and expand and grow my business networks.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
I’m looking forward to the experience of learning online and from LSE. I haven’t done this in the past, so this will be a new and interesting experience.
What will you do with your LSE certificate?
My certificate will go on the wall at my parents house, and I will definitely place a copy in my résumé.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
Reach out. We all have unique perceptions and experience, and it will be very interesting to interact via online learning. I’m looking forward to learning from all my classmates and instructors.
Antoine Dailly
Business Intelligence Manager, Safran Landing Systems, France
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
I have implemented a Business Intelligence application in Safran Landing Systems with a worldwide perimeter of several business domains, including finance, accounting, commerce, and supply chain.
Why did you choose to take this course?
The LSE MBA Essentials course gives me the opportunity to increase my skills in business strategy, finance and the human element at LSE, an international top-tier university, with a flexible schedule that allows me to continue my professional activity.
What excites you most about the course?
What excites me most is to share up-to-date knowledge with a large and diverse group of professionals, and get insights from top-notch teachers and researchers at LSE.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
I’m looking forward to accessing the most up-to-date knowledge and resources on finance, strategy and the human element, and being able to communicate with the LSE community in order to generate value for my career and for the LSE network.
Yavuz Dilmac
Digital Strategy Director, Red Brick Road, United Kingdom
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
I was involved in a global marketing strategy and campaign planning consultancy for Nokia and Microsoft Mobile Devices, which helped them to launch more focused products and gain significant market share.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I am at a stage in my career where I have a fair amount of technical expertise and experience in marketing/advertising, and now need to step up my managerial and business skills to be able to deliver a strategic vision and growth guidance in leadership roles.
What excites you most about the course?
Being able to access to the academics and learning materials of one of the world’s most prestigious business schools, LSE.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Shaping the way we live in the future through a senior leadership role at one (or many) of the pioneering innovative companies.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
Although I have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, spending 12 years in a rather focused area of expertise requires a refreshment of knowledge and better understanding of the strategic business management tools and methods. I believe this course will help me to have a better business acumen especially with financial and competitive performance.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
Being able to study from the comfort of my home at a time that is suitable for me, yet also having the option of reaching out to the support staff when I need.
What will you do with your LSE certificate?
I will proudly feature it on my resume and LinkedIn profile.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I’m very excited for this course and looking forward to virtually meeting you all!
Jasmine Zhu
Former Assistant Boutique Manager, Chopard, Hong Kong
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
I managed a career evolution with the world’s most prestigious fashion brand, Christian Dior, from Australia to HK, and have held three different roles at regional and local levels within five years. The journey has shaped my 360 degree perspectives on luxury fashion business operations from sales and training to CRM and retail management.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I’m looking to gain essential managerial principles, knowledge and skills to enhance my general management competency, as my career has progressed me towards leadership positions. I’m also looking to complement my Master’s studies in Marketing by gaining multiple perspectives about all the other essential components that impact the running of a successful organisation.
What excites you most about the course?
Gaining LSE insights and perspectives, building global MBA connections, and of course the learning experience itself.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
The course content bears both academic gravity and realistic practicality which will provide real implications that reflect business and management challenges in our times. I’m confident the learning journey will bring real impact to our professional life.
Scott Goatham
Director, A. C. Goatham and Son, United Kingdom
Why did you choose to take this course?
Right back to the days of helping my mother count cash on the kitchen table over twenty years ago, business has always been part of my life due to coming from a family business. However, while a lot of things may have always felt instinctive to me, the older I’ve got, the more I have become aware of the gaps in what I know, and I hope the MBA Essentials programme will help fill those gaps.
What excites you most about the course?
If I could wind the clock back, I would probably have done an MBA straight out of school rather than have pursued my lofty dreams of astrophysics, but things are always easier with the benefit of hindsight. It would be impossible to commit full-time to an MBA course today; however, having read very good things about mini-MBA programmes in places like the Financial Times and Forbes, when I saw MBA Essentials at LSE it immediately jumped out as exactly the programme I was looking for to gain a better understanding of business.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Professionally, it’s always growth, with us aiming to break £100 million next. Personally, to go into space one day.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
When people ask what people in my career are, we usually answer “farmers”, but the reality is it’s actually more true to call ourselves businessmen. Farming is such a big industry these days and far removed from the clichés that the word calls to mind for most people. Consequently, what I most hope to gain from the course is the ability to look at industry from the other side of the fence and to acquire the vocabulary needed to navigate the wider world of business that agriculture must today engage with directly.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
Being able to study at a world-leading institution like the LSE without needing to give up work.
What will you do with your LSE certificate?
Most likely display it and tell people about the benefits that are possible today with technology to continue learning later in life.
Tom Fels
CEO, Nurun, South Africa
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
Starting my career in Dubai off a zero base and building the brand consultancy I worked for by 6x over 4 years – we worked on everything from the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab hotel to launching the Dubai International Film Festival, and from luxury retail to ambitious government master-planned developments. Then locally having left a now two-time Specialist Agency of the Year, working to grow Machine Agency to become the Breakthrough Agency of the Year 2013, and Agency of the Year finalist 2014 in the same year it was acquired by the French communication group, Publicis. And then launching Nurun into South Africa in 2016.
Why did you choose to take this course?
I’m taking on a new opportunity and shifting into a different sector, which will bring with it commercial challenges that I have not been familiar with. I want to give myself a mental boost before I jump into this new role.
What excites you most about the course?
I think the structure of the modules is highly aligned with the strategic requirements of leading a business. You have to be strong in areas of business strategy, commercial and soft skills – it’s a balanced body of learning.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
It’s a competitive world out there, furthering your education evidences your appetite to learn and grow. The world is changing fast and you need to have strong fundamentals from which to explore new opportunities effectively.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
It’s a new experience, I am hoping to be stimulated and to have the interaction with facilitators and colleagues support this learning.
Ian Lyons
Commercial Director, Vigilance Properties, United Kingdom
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
Being the founder and lead key commercial development of UK leading company formations company from start-up phase. I’ve restructured 64 social enterprises for leading UK charities.
Why did you choose to take this course?
To have a soft landing into making a decision on doing the full MBA.
What excites you most about the course?
I’m looking forward to gaining a greater understanding of the business valuation process.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
It will help with an overall understanding of each component of a business and allow me to assess in greater detail the linkage between all the business systems.
What message would you like to give to your future classmates and support network?
I am happy to help and discuss anything on the course in order to help the learning process, and also discuss possible networking opportunities.
Purnomo Kristanto
Country Lead Global Customer Care for Indonesia and Thailand, Google, Indonesia
What would you say are your most interesting or noteworthy achievements, professionally?
When I single-handedly covered the market and interacted with thousand of advertisers for one quarter and still hit the business targets. I got the title “Superman of Indonesia”.
Why did you choose to take this course?
To strengthen my business acumen and enhance my leadership and managerial competencies.
In what ways do you believe this course will aid in your career objectives?
Learning the fundamentals and applying it into your job.
What are you most looking forward to about supported online learning?
The journey and experience of doing online learning.
What will you do with your LSE certificate?
I would put all the learning into practice and update my LinkedIn profile with LSE certificate.
Ready to join these and other global professionals as you grow you network as well as your business expertise?
Register now for the LSE MBA Essentials online certificate course.