Limitless possibility

“I had flirted with the decision to go to business school before I was appointed a company commander in the US Army in 2015. I was stationed in Seoul, South Korea leading a unit of 105 American and 25 Korean soldiers."

“The leadership skills and experience I acquired as a company commander and others while serving the US - including as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot flying soldiers to and from mission landing zones – also apply to business."

“The drive, team goals and metrics you get in both fields are very similar. In the military, you have different cultures working together and, as a leader, you must identify what’s important to those you serve. You need to tap into that to make sure everyone’s going in the same direction."

“Leadership is about service above self, being humble and listening to others – that’s true for both the military and business. When LBS recruiters visited Seoul in 2017, I decided to go for it and apply for their MBA programme. They were so engaging and friendly. I was instantly attracted by the seemingly boundless international opportunities and possibilities in education and experience on offer.”

The importance of relationship building

“Relocating to London from South Korea and starting the MBA programme while acclimatising to civilian life was initially challenging. The first term was a roller coaster and finding my feet on the programme was very intense, and sometimes difficult, but also lots of fun."

“I really appreciated the close bonds I made with my study group: a richly diverse and cosmopolitan cohort comprising an Indian, Brazilian, Canadian, Icelander and a Brit. I’ve become good friends with each member and they were a great source of support during the programme. It’s one of the things I love most about LBS - the global aspect."

“I’ve lived in Germany and Bermuda and served in Afghanistan and South Korea. I’m drawn to international business and learning from other cultures."

“Most people on the MBA come from different cultures or industry backgrounds, and they all bring something of value. You quickly learn to listen to understand what people are saying, rather than just hearing their words. We may disagree when working on a project or debating something in a lecture, but you always find a way to learn and move forward together."

“I also forged strong relationships with the faculty, inspired by the views and talks from Professors Dan Cable and Alex Edmans on successful leadership. From Professors Raina Brands and Gary Dushnitsky, I gained invaluable insights on managing change and start-up success."

“Cyber security has been an area of interest for me for a long time – during the MBA I was one of the vice presidents of the LBS Tech and Media Club. Now I’ve finished I’m in Washington DC at Lockheed Martin as a cybersecurity analyst, a role that came off the back of completing a summer internship there. I’m excited about what the future holds.”