London Career Safari: A Transformative Journey

The London Career Safari was an absolute revelation! It was an emotional, educational and transformational journey, which started with us meeting early morning at the Sheffield train station. As we gathered, the atmosphere was lively and excitement transcended among us, the MBA Cohort of 2024.

Day 1

Once we’d arrived at St Pancras and were guided to board the tube (the world’s oldest underground railway network) we reached our first destination, UCL School of Management. The 50th floor of One Canada Square overlooked the breathtaking view of ever-expanding beautiful architecture of London with the River Thames curving in between. Then after a short lunch break, we were ready to meet our first guest speaker. Andrew McNaught is a senior investment banker and strategic advisor who chaired the UK Advisory for BNP Paribas. He gave us an insider view on global finance, investment, capital and financial market participants with valuable insights on various roles and a promising career in finance. Andrew left us with a wealth of knowledge in the world’s foremost financial centre. After the session, we made our way to our hotel and checked into our rooms as we prepared for networking over dinner in the evening.

At 6pm, we gathered at the hotel reception and walked over the iconic London Bridge to a restaurant alongside the Thames. The cold breeze, stimulating conversations, delectable food and refreshing drinks filled our evening along with the fireworks of the bonfire night celebrations across the city. It was simply surreal!

Day 2

The second day began with our travel to Irwin Mitchell’s office, which is over a century old and a leading law firm. We were fortunate to have enriching sessions thoughtfully arranged for us today. Melanie Bancroft shared her journey of working as a Business Development Manager for over 16 years at Irwin Mitchell. Her perspective on networking and how it differs from selling was truly enlightening for us. Clemmie Burch, Pro Bono and Volunteering Programme Manager, talked on how essential it is for organizations to respond to  Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues by committing to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and prioritizing sustainable development goals. The session left us wondering how strategies should focus beyond profitability. Another intriguing session was taken by Senior Associates Ben Gale and Richard Collis on corporate mergers & acquisitions. They explored the key reasons along with the stages of a merger or acquisition, briefly touching on how laws support the parties involved followed by a curious round of questions and conversations before we broke for lunch.

Post lunch, we had an enriching session led by Chander Vashistha, founder of CK Consulting Services and a seasoned expert in procurement and supply chain management. The session highlighted key aspects of the consulting industry and his journey in it. Chander emphasized that sustainability has become a key pillar in corporate strategy. Companies are increasingly focused on 17 sustainable development goals established by the United Nations (UN). It inspired us to look forward to our careers and the impact of these goals in it. The session further delved into building a career in professional consulting and different paths people take. I quote, “Consulting companies and their consultants bring the right balance of expertise to meet client needs and deliver value” from his presentation - a statement that perfectly encapsulates the essence of the session and the invaluable role of consultants in driving business success and transformation.

The day wrapped up with some free time to discover the vibrant city of London, reflecting on the wealth of knowledge we had gained throughout the sessions.

Day 3

The final day of our London Career Safari was truly extraordinary, with the first half planned in HMS Belfast, an iconic warship turned museum. Marian Derbyshire, Careers and Employability Consultant, started the day for us, with insights on how organizations look for candidates through resumes. The tips and discussions from the session gave a practical approach for job search, before diving into the two upcoming powerful entrepreneurial sessions.

First was Nadia Nagamootoo, Founder and CEO of Avenir Consulting Services, who inspired us with her journey. She also shared about her recent book Beyond Discomfort: Why Inclusive Leadership Is So Hard (and What You Can Do About It), which offers practical guidance for leaders seeking to foster inclusive environments and the popular podcast "Why Care?", where she explores DEI issues through thought-provoking conversations. Nadia’s  experiences as a child motivated her to promote inclusive leadership but it did not come easy. We were engrossed with her reflecting back on her personal and professional challenges and the impact she has brought in. Another highlight of the day came with Will Read, Founder and CEO of Sideways 6, who shared his entrepreneurial journey in the tech space through an innovative platform for organizations to support employee ideas. His positive mindset and go-getter spirit resonated in the room. Both speakers were alumni of the Management School and as they shared their academic experiences, we felt proud and empowered as we looked forward to the closing event of the London Career Safari in the evening - London Alumni Network Event at Aviva Hoxton.

The event was an exceptional opportunity to build connections and engage into thought-provoking conversations with a panel discussion planned in between – Impact of AI in the workplace. This event delivered values on many levels and we were left wanting more.

Next morning was planned for our journey back as we reflected on the incredible experiences and knowledge gained, which transformed us, the MBA Cohort of 2024.

Key takeaways

• Empowering insights: Wisdom from seasoned professionals across different sectors will be a guiding differentiator on our understanding of the business world while we continue to gather the knowledge academically
• The power of N = Networking: Closing event provided an exceptional opportunity to build powerful connections with experienced professionals and alumni which can open doors for opportunities and collaborations
• Entrepreneurial inspiration: Embracing innovativeness and being creative to leverage the knowledge or technology (Eg. AI) will help us become the leaders we aspire to be
• Responsible business practices: Incorporating sustainability and ethical leadership into business is essential for all industries today and will play a vital role in our career decisions
• Self-reflection and personal growth: Speaker sessions and interactions was an opportunity to reflect back on personal goals and career aspirations, enabling us to identify the key skills and values to be developed along with academics

A wrap up

The MBA London Career Safari 2024 was a truly transformative experience, offering a perfect blend of professional development, cultural exploration, and personal growth. Over three days, we were immersed in insightful sessions led by industry leaders, gained valuable knowledge on topics ranging from finance to consulting, and drew inspiration from entrepreneurial journeys.

The opportunity to engage with alumni and seasoned professionals underscored the global relevance of the Sheffield MBA while fostering meaningful connections that extend beyond the classroom. The cultural vibrance of London added a unique dimension, creating memories that will resonate as we progress in our careers.

Written by Ankit Shivhare, November 2024