Anca Velicu

What led you from a successful legal career into an MBA at London Business School?

I studied law in my native Romania, as well as in Belgium, before spending a decade as an M&A lawyer in the energy sector based in Bucharest, working on transactions and projects across Europe. I genuinely enjoyed the intellectual challenge of law and the opportunity to work in the renewables sector, but over time I realised I wanted to broaden my scope beyond purely legal advisory work. Inspired by a senior colleague who had completed an MBA, I decided to invest in building stronger business, finance, and strategic capabilities. At the time, I thought it would simply make me a more rounded lawyer. I did not expect it would ultimately lead me into entirely new careers!

How did London Business School shape your career after graduation?

With the support of the Career Centre, London Business School helped me pivot into consulting, where I spent three years post-graduation in Sydney, Australia. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I could have made. Consulting accelerated my development significantly and gave me exposure to strategy, problem-solving, stakeholder management and leadership in a way that would have been difficult to replicate elsewhere. Building on the foundations from the MBA, I later moved into in-house roles at the Swedish energy company Vattenfall, initially within strategy and now in a broader finance and leadership role.

My current position involves leading a team across multiple countries, with a broad scope of responsibility and a strong focus on people management. I continue to draw heavily on the foundations from London Business School, particularly in accounting, corporate finance, strategy, and structured problem-solving, but also in how to navigate complex organisations and lead diverse teams.

What aspects of London Business School had the biggest impact on you?

One of the reasons I have always been drawn to the energy sector is that it naturally transcends borders and cultures, and London Business School reflected that in many ways. The School is global not only in terms of the people, but also in the opportunities it provides. During my MBA, I spent a semester on exchange at Wharton in the US and also completed an internship in India with a natural resources company, both of which added entirely new perspectives.

What stood out most to me at London Business School, however, was how genuinely collaborative and supportive the community is. During the programme, the peer support was exceptional, from both my own cohort and the class above us. People reviewed each other’s CVs, practised interviews together, and supported one another throughout recruiting. Despite everyone competing for similar opportunities, the atmosphere remained collaborative. That sense of community is something you feel strongly during the programme, but it also continues long after graduation.

There is also a particularly strong ecosystem around energy at the School. I was co-president of the Energy Club during my MBA and today I co-lead the Alumni Energy Club. It is a highly engaged community, with events, initiatives such as the Cleantech Challenge, and strong connections across both students and alumni. It continues to be an important part of my professional and personal network.

Looking back at your Orientation photos, how do you feel you’ve grown since then? Do you feel like a different person from day one?

I definitely have a far more global mindset and a broader understanding of both business and people today. I always wanted to expand my perspective beyond Romania, and London Business School made that happen very naturally through the experiences within and outside the classroom and the diversity of the people around me. When I look back at who I was during Orientation, I was still in my first career. Since then, I have moved through consulting, strategy, and leadership roles across multiple countries and cultures. London Business School gave me not only technical knowledge, but also the confidence and adaptability to reinvent myself professionally. It opened far more doors than I initially imagined, including the possibility of entrepreneurship in the future.

What’s one word that sums up your experience—and why?

Transformational.

A great deal of where I am today would not have been possible without London Business School. On a personal level, it shaped my life in very tangible ways. Many of my closest friendships in London came from the School, and I still stay closely connected with classmates today — travelling together, supporting each other professionally, and continuing to rely on that sense of community.

I also continue to engage actively with the School through alumni activities, recruitment support, panels, and events. I regularly draw on its research and thought leadership, particularly in areas such as organisational behaviour and leadership. I have attended talks by faculty including Sir Andrew Likierman on judgement and followed work such as Lynda Gratton’s The 100-Year Life. Having continued access to this kind of thinking and research is incredibly valuable, both professionally and personally. It keeps me learning, reflecting, and evolving long after graduation.