After building a career at Christie’s, Sotheby’s and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I came to the Cambridge MBA not to leave the art world behind, but to gain a broader perspective on how art, business and strategy intersect.
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Category: Women
From Dream to Reality: Living my Cambridge MBA Journey
The Cambridge MBA has been a journey of stretching, growing, and slowly finding my own rhythm. Between lectures, group projects, college formals, and conversations with an incredibly diverse cohort, I’ve gained not only new skills and perspectives, but also a deeper understanding of the kind of leader I want to become.
“Playing not to lose” vs “Playing to win”: From watching the world to standing in it
When I applied to Cambridge Judge Business School, I included a sentence in my applicationthat I had been carrying with me for almost a decade: “My dream is to build a career at theUnited Nations.” When I was 16 years old, I served as a youth ambassador at the United Nations. My dream ofworking for […]
More than an MBA: When discomfort becomes growth
Coming to Cambridge was the biggest leap outside her comfort zone, and the student discovers that discomfort becomes growth when met with support. The MBA exposed her to diverse perspectives, helped her connect fragmented experiences, and revealed the transferable strengths that allowed her to thrive across industries.
Top five “Pinch Me” moments in the Cambridge MBA
Since joining the Cambridge MBA in September, my journey has been filled with unforgettable “pinch me” moments — from receiving three scholarships that made this dream possible, to seeing my story featured in the Financial Times, attending an intimate performance by Ludovico Einaudi at the Cambridge Union, and representing both Cambridge and my country in conversations at the Embassy. Beyond the milestones, it’s the friendships, community, and everyday experiences in Cambridge that have made this year truly transformative.
Shaping the future of Healthcare: My journey organising the “Healthcare: What’s Next” conference
When I joined the Cambridge MBA, stepping into the role of Co-Chair for the Healthcare Special Interest Group (SIG) felt like a natural progression. I felt a strong responsibility to arrange impactful events for our community, which ultimately inspired me to take on the leadership role for our recent flagship conference, “Healthcare: What’s Next?”
Looking for one story, finding one instinct: From Finance to AI
I spent time looking for one defining moment, one clean narrative thread that captures everything about my journey. The difficult part is that different people know me for entirely different things. To some, I’m a finance professional, to others, a social entrepreneur, to others still, a tech and AI leader, but underneath all these layers […]
Closing the Term: Late nights, shared meals, and quiet wins
The past two weeks have been full.
The kind of full that leaves you tired, proud, and quietly challenged.
Charting my post-MBA path in renewable energy
I’m Irene Zhang from Cambridge MBA cohort of 2024–2025 and this year has been one of the most transformative chapters of my life. Before coming to Cambridge, I worked as a Sustainability and Energy Transition Consultant at EY, where I first became deeply engaged with the global shift toward low-carbon development.
Registration Day at Judge Business School and slowing down, exploring and punting in Cambridge
Melissa’s first days at Cambridge Judge were a whirlwind of calm beginnings, unexpected adventures and meaningful connections. From SIM card struggles to punting on the River Cam, she quickly discovered that Cambridge is as much about people and moments as it is about study. Dive into her journey of discovery and belonging.
My first day in Cambridge: New beginnings
Melissa’s first day in Cambridge was a mix of bittersweet farewells, awe-filled first impressions and cozy moments- from leaving Ghana after 30 years to exploring Wolfson College, the city’s bicycles and iconic landmarks, all under a quintessentially British rainy sky.
MBA and motherhood
Where do I start? That’s the daily voice in my head with mom’s brain and most possibly how I start this too. Motherhood is messy and most of the time confusing. But pursuing my MBA at Cambridge while navigating pregnancy and new motherhood has taught me that we’re capable of far more than we imagine. […]
My dual degree in growth: Earning an MBA while raising a baby at Cambridge
When I applied for my MBA as an expectant mother, I knew I was signing up for a unique challenge – balancing the demands of a new born with the intensity of a full-time academic programme. The idea of exploring Cambridge with my baby initially felt exciting, but as the start date approached, doubts began […]
Women & Gender Equality Special Interest Group at Cambridge Judge Business School
It is hard to limit our experiences with the Women & Gender Equality Student Interest Group (SIG) to a 400-word blog post. How do you convey the joy that even a mere 15-minute leadership meeting can bring to your day? Being a woman in business is still not balanced – pay parity is still 100+ […]
Falling in love with Cambridge
I have officially fallen in love with Cambridge! I have lived here for 4 months now and while there have been some personal lows and way too much corporate finance, I am finally starting to feel at home. The cobbled streets,The cyclists,The spires on every corner,The old doors that seem like they shouldn’t open,The music,The […]
Through the lens of motherhood
This year marks my 5th year as a mother. I embraced pregnancy in 2020, followed by four transformative years of motherhood. The experiences of the last four years have been profound, teaching me invaluable lessons in empathy, kindness, love, sacrifice, and the essence of life – far beyond what my pre-pregnancy years offered. As part […]
Women in Business scholarship from Zonta International awarded to two MBA students
Women have made great strides in the pursuit of education, careers and leadership roles they were once denied. However, they still comprise a minority of leaders in the business world. Women hold nearly 34% of committee chairs in the S&P 500 and hold 31% of director seats, as of March 2023. Only 8.2% of S&P 500 […]
The multi-tasking ‘Mom’ on the Cambridge MBA
The first time I thought I might be in over my head with this whole “Mom-and-MBA” combination, I was standing in front of the Avis car rental booth at Gatwick Airport. It was closed. I had been awake for around 18 hours, saying goodbye to my parents and siblings and “see you in a few […]
Venture capital and African women in business
I had the privilege moderating the Women in Business and Entrepreneurship Panel during the three-day 10th Africa Together Conference organised by the African Society of the University of Cambridge at Jesus College, Cambridge in May 2023. The motto for the conference was Forging Our Path, and it aimed to speak to the sense of agency […]
Cambridge Women Can – an alumna story
An introverted girl, who never lived away from her family her entire life, dreamed of doing an MBA in a new country. Naïve, she did not realise what she was up to! Carrying some past scares and preconceived notions, would she be able to break barriers as a woman? In the same class as some of the brightest minds, […]