Earlier today, I found myself riding my bike through Cambridge, and I felt like I was flying. The wind rushing through my helmet and hair, ringing my bell to nudge tourists out of the street, and the caffeine from my morning coffee just starting to kick in – a beautiful moment of normalcy in what has been a marathon of a month. A month that will always be a highlight of my time in the UK.
In just the past few weeks:
• The classroom portion of my MBA concluded
• I survived Cambridge May Bumps and May Balls
• I wrapped up my final case competition by presenting at the Royal Institution with the Climate Investment Challenge finals
• I attended inspiring events during London Climate Action Week and MBA Future Forum
• I traveled to Nairobi to study the innovation ecosystem through the The Cambridge MBA — and even tacked on a safari
• And, after meeting through Carbon13’s cofounder matching programme and accelerator, my cofounder and I have officially started Auralytica (more on that soon!)
Once again – it’s been a marathon.
But in the chaos and exceptionality of the past month, I find myself nostalgic for the quieter moments:
• Making Queens’ College Boat Club colored bracelets for the boat club to de-stress the evenings before Bumps
• Train conversations with both strangers and friends
• Game nights and card games with people I admire, both professionally and personally
• Late nights talking absolute nonsense in the pub, my energy renewed just by being a bit goofy with good people
• Sitting in Judge Business School, getting lost in the ceiling tile patterns when my eyes needed a break from screens and essay writing It’s easy to get swept up in the intensity – deadlines, pitch decks, big decisions.
But it’s the quieter moments where so much of the real growth happens. That’s where friendships are built, ideas take root, and reflection turns into clarity. To any other students, founders, or professionals in a whirlwind season: don’t underestimate the value of slowing down now and then. The “in-between” moments might just be the ones you remember most. Here’s to the quiet, the chaotic, and everything in between.
As Anna completes her transformative MBA journey, it’s fascinating to look back at the enthusiasm that marked the beginning of her year. Her first blog post captures the excitement and anticipation that set the stage for this incredible experience.
Have a look at where it all began >