Military at LBS

Experience

About me: After graduating from Imperial College, Ben joined the British Army, serving as an officer with the Parachute Regiment. During his service, Ben deployed on three operational tours, which were incredibly formative experiences. In 2018, he worked as an operations officer for a specialist unit conducting counterterrorism missions in Afghanistan. Returning in 2019, he was promoted to captain and deployed as a liaison officer to Eastern Europe for 10 months. In late 2020, Ben redeployed as an advisor to the Deputy Commander of NATO in Afghanistan.

These experiences gave Ben a unique insight into foreign policy and international diplomacy, about which he is very passionate. He subsequently completed a masters degree in Leadership, Strategy & International Relations to build on this passion.

After leaving the military in 2022, Ben worked with a consulting firm to build a recruitment and training programme for veterans and Afghan refugees entering the energy sector. Prior to starting at LBS, Ben completed an MBA internship in product strategy with Skydio, a San Francisco-based tech startup.

Ben is an LBS Military Scholarship recipient. He would like to transition into consulting or tech.

Three topics I can be approached about: Military candidates; non-traditional background; moving to London.

Email address: bens.mba2024@london.edu

Experience

About me: Originally from Los Angeles, California, Diego completed his undergraduate degree at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. After graduating, he served as a logistics officer in the United States Army within the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

During his military service, Diego led teams ranging from 40 to 160 soldiers in transporting cargo from ship to shore at degraded ports and bare beaches and in establishing freight reception/distribution nodes alongside railheads and ports. He led these teams within the US, Germany and Kuwait and received several military decorations for his contributions towards military logistics.

Diego chose to attend LBS for its incredibly diverse cohort, its emphasis on a global perspective and its location within the city of London. He plans to learn from his peers and the programme in order to assist him with his transition towards the technology sector.

In his free time, he enjoys planning weekend hikes and trips throughout Europe, working out at the LBS gym and exploring the pub culture within London.

Three topics I can be approached about: MBA for those with a non-business background; why LBS as an American.

Email address: dvazquez.mba2024@london.edu

Experience

About me: Kirsty is originally from Newcastle, England, and graduated from Edinburgh University with a degree in Mathematics. She also has a masters in Geospatial Intelligence from Cranfield University.

During her second round of maternity leave, Kirsty decided she was going to leave the Army and pursue a career change. She had served over 10 years as an Officer in the Royal Engineers but craved a new challenge. The MBA at LBS seemed to be the perfect way of doing this.

The MBA is great for offering experiential learning in a risk-free environment; this really appealed to Kirsty as she could put theory into practice without worrying about getting things wrong.

Alongside the academics, Kirsty is a keen member of the Military in Business Club and Women in Business Club and she is exploring careers in tech or consulting.

Outside of LBS, Kirsty is kept busy with her two young boys, aged three and one. She would welcome any other parents or those from less conventional and non-business backgrounds to get in touch if they are considering applying.

Three topics I can be approached about: Military; Women in Business Club; studying as a parent.

Email address: kclafton.mba2024@london.edu

Experience

Prior to enrolling at London Business School, Aaron served as a submarine officer in the United States Navy for five years. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 2016, he completed the Naval Nuclear Power Training Program and moved to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to serve on the USS GREENEVILLE. While there, he completed his first Western Pacific deployment earning various military decorations.

Following the deployment, he transferred to the USS JEFFERSON CITY to serve as the assistant weapons officer, responsible for three divisions and 45 sailors. He helped complete the longest weapon system overhaul in the Navy’s history, coordinate an urgent top secret mission, and complete a second Western Pacific deployment earning recognition as the Submarine Junior Officer of the Year.

Aaron chose to pursue his MBA at LBS due to the programme’s unparalleled diversity and global perspective. Together, he believed these would accelerate his career shift to consulting or corporate leadership by pushing him out of his comfort zone and facilitating meaningful personal and professional growth. Aaron serves his stream as the academic representative and is actively involved with volunteer projects and multiple clubs.

Contact: asims.mba2023@london.edu

Experience

Noam grew up in Israel and completed a BA in Political Science from the University of Haifa with honours. Prior to joining LBS, Noam spent eight years as a technical officer in the Israeli Submarine Fleet, in which he managed the technical submarine department, led a capabilities upgrade project, and represented the Israeli Navy in NATO's 2020 Submarine Conference, securing strategic partnerships to improve submarine rescue and escape capabilities.

Between his military service and the beginning of the academic year, Noam took on the role of product manager in an Israeli startup, in which he worked closely with the CEO to secure funding and launch a driving-safety product. Noam joined LBS to pivot into the technology sector, build a global network and become an impactful business leader.

In addition to being a student ambassador, Noam is an MBA stream career representative, Vice President of Structured Recruiting in the Tech & Media Club and an active member of the Military in Business, Israeli, and Men’s Rugby clubs. In his spare time, Noam enjoys reading classic literature, the cinema and group hiking. He is also deeply passionate about solving the problem of marine plastic pollution, and takes part in several environmental associations.

Contact: nkan.mba2023@london.edu

Experience

Having graduated from Oxford University with degrees in Medical Sciences and Medicine, Tom joined the British Army as a medical officer. He spent two years working across various specialities in the NHS in the UK and went on to complete officer training as a professionally qualified officer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Upon commissioning, Tom joined 16 Medical Regiment, part of the British Army's Air Assault Task Force, as a general duties medical officer. He has deployed on operations to Bosnia & Herzegovina, alongside deploying as the clinical lead of a pre-hospital treatment team in Kenya and delivering medical care with the US Airborne in Morocco.

Having developed interests in the interaction between healthcare and the financial industry, alongside the growing healthtech ecosystem in London, Tom undertook an MBA to build academic foundations in finance and business, accelerate his personal development and gain insights into the private sector. He was drawn to the LBS MBA due to its reputation, global outlook and high-quality faculty.

Outside of work, Tom enjoys cricket, football and running. Originally from North Wales, he also enjoys hiking and fly-fishing, and plans trips across the UK whenever he can.

Contact: thomaspj.mba2023@london.edu

Experience

David grew up not far from London in the cathedral city of Winchester and graduated from Bristol University with a degree in History.

Prior to beginning his MBA at LBS, David was a Captain in the British Army. In 2014, he commissioned into The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeths’ Own) as a reconnaissance Troop Leader. As well as the regular cycle of deployments, he has spent time in Canada as an exchange officer, the USA as a liaison officer and deployed around the globe on training exercises. In 2018, he worked for the United Nations, and was deputy commander of the UN’s Mobile Force Reserve in Cyprus, gaining strategic insight into international diplomacy and politics. In 2020–21, he deployed to Afghanistan where he worked as a Liaison Officer with the Afghanistan Security Forces in Kabul prior to the withdrawal of NATO troops in 2021.

At LBS, David is LBS Military Scholarship recipient and keen member of the Military in Business Club. He also enjoys sailing, cycling and running, and is rediscovering his singing voice with the LBS Music Club. Professionally, he is interested in transitioning from the military into consulting or tech – and would be delighted to talk with anyone considering those two options or to those from less conventional business school backgrounds.

Contact: dclarkson.mba2023@london.edu