MiFFT2007 diary entry 5 - the final instalment

Name Malvika Agarwal MiFFT2007 Nationality Indian Job before London Business School Associate, JP Morgan Chase, Mumbai

One of the attractions of the MiF programme for me was - as I'm sure it is to prospective MiF students - its 10 month duration. It is an efficient use of your time, but don't blink, you may miss it! The programme is fast-paced, intense, and students are often juggling so many different aspects of being a MiF that it takes a few weeks after you've walked across the stage on graduation to realise that it's really over.

Two months back into the real world I realise how much I've learnt during the past year even though I may not have realised it at the time. This is not just the financial side, which by the way I'm using at work, but also time management, working in a fast-paced environment, being able to challenge myself.

I recently went back to school, but stood on the other side of the table during a networking session. Answering questions, meeting the new class, I know I've taken away a lot from the MiF programme and London Business School.

Name Ana Escobedo Conover MiF FT2007 Nationality  Mexican Job before London Business School  Project Finance, San Paolo Imi, London

It is now October (2007) and the MiF students are well submerged in the deep waters of the MiF program!  I wish I could tell them that it gets easier later on, but I cannot. I can, however, say that by the second term they will be used to the intensity of the days and by the third term they will be so worried about their project and job search that everyday classes will seem easy in comparison!

On my side, things have been happening really fast. When I wrote my last diary instalment, I was in frenetic search of a job - indeed an intense experience!

Then summer came around and although it was a great relief that the classes were over and exams passed, there was a feeling of nostalgia, knowing that all those moments spent intensively working with friends and classmates were coming to an end and soon there would be new challenges to deal with.

End of an era 
The official end of the programme was Congregation day; it was nice seeing everybody after two weeks of total relaxation. It was even better to share the result of our effort with family and friends.  Thousands of pictures were taken that day, as we were all dressed in our elegant black cap and gown, sharing the emotion of our long term achievement.   That's when it really hit home - I had finished an important stage in my life and was ready to start climbing the next mountain!  And for once, I had all the confidence and motivation to go out and look for what I really wanted to achieve in the next step of my life.

Finding the perfect job 
I am glad to say that things have gone well for me.  After the last term finished and farewell parties were over, I took all the advantages I could from Career Services; went to their workshops, navigated for hours through the career service website and had my CV and cover letter checked hundreds of times!  I used every single piece of advice given to me to find a job. Finally, I found an opportunity to work exactly in what I wanted.  Funnily, the opening came through a friend from the MBA who introduced me to someone who was working for the companies I wanted to be a part of. What can I say? At the end, networking gave me the answer to my search!

Proud to be a MiF
Looking back, remembering the uncertainties and difficult moments I had when making my decision to study the Master in Finance at London Business School, I can say that things happen for a reason.  The things I did not do, the moments I did not spend with my family, and the opportunities I lost are nothing compared to all the good experience and friends that I built during my year at London Business School. I am very proud to be a MiF and I am sure that all MiFs feel the same because we know that we can work harder than anyone, we can enjoy working as a team and we have high goals in life; most importantly, we care about other people and we respect and learn from their achievements.

As I close my diary, I wish the new class and generations of MiFs to come the very best of luck as they take this important step in their lives.

Name James Davidson MiFFT2007 Nationality British Job before London Business School Strategic Director, Continuity Planning, London

Since my last diary entry was a was a welcome distraction from my final project, this entry will by necessity be somewhat shorter! I've now started my new job at Barclays Capital and thought I would reflect on what the Masters in Finance course, and London Business School, have achieved for me:-

A great job
Regardless of talent, without a Masters degree from a top tier business school I, along with me new colleagues, would not have been recruited.

Confidence
The course has given me the ability to talk with confidence about financial markets – knowing that I now have a fundamental understanding of the factors driving their behaviour.

Knowledge
There is limited scope on the trading floor to actually learn about finance theory – it is all about practical implementation – and so it is fantastic to have received this training in the benign environment of a business school.

And finally my top tips for getting the most from the course:-

• Tailor your elective portfolio to your ultimate job – or failing that, choose a wide variety such that you have a little knowledge in lots of conceivable fields
• Concentrate on enjoying the whole business school experience – and don't get too bogged down with theory
• Be inventive in your choice of final project topic. It will be far more enjoyable, more interesting to the examiner and potentially useful to your job.

Good luck!

Name Steven Reid MiF FT2007 Nationality Canadian Job before London Business School Analyst, CIBC World Markets, Toronto

The knowledge and skills gained during the MIF have enabled me to confidently navigate my new role as an associate within an investment bank. I can continue to push my boundaries knowing that I have a solid foundation of financial understanding to rely on. At the same time the friends I made at LBS have also started work. It's a huge benefit to have classmates at other firms in order to get a feel for what is going on in the industry or just to grab a drink with after work.

Overall, the entire Masters in Finance was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it.

Name Ellen Zhu MiFFT2007 Nationality Chinese Job before London Business School Director, Structured Markets China Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank, Hong Kong

Time to say goodbye
It was quite hard to take in the fact that the entire program had already reached an end, and I got the feeling that many people like myself were trying to seize every opportunity they could to enjoy the last few weeks in London with MiF colleagues—be it exploring new restaurants in London, going to some more musicals, or just as simple as talking to colleagues that they were not yet familiar with (Yes, this does happen when there are 140 strong people within the program!). 

Soon there came the end-of-program river cruise party, congregation and we all parted ways to pursue new careers in our own areas.   Fortunately the Portal and advanced telecommunications techniques are going to keep us in touch from now on and you would be surprised at how helpful the LBS alumni network is in your professional and leisure life. 

Looking back at the past 10 months, I was amazed at how much we had achieved in so short a period of time and would never regret making the investment of time and effort into this program.