Divya Chaurasia

• Programme: MBA
• Nationality: Indian
• Job Pre-programme: Senior Insights Analyst, Google

Divya (MBA2025) had to overcome several challenges to pursue an education. But her drive and talent allowed her to secure a role at Google where she excelled at working with teams across diverse industries on a worldwide scale. The MBA programme at London Business school (LBS) was the perfect next step. Thanks to a Laidlaw scholarship, she’s now evolving her leadership skills as the President of the First-Generation, Low or Intermediate-Income (FLII) Club, with the aim of returning to the tech industry to make impactful change for minority communities.

After my father suddenly passed away, my mother faced significant social and financial challenges. Overnight, she became a single parent, and her identity completely changed. Where I grew up in India, being a single mother is frowned upon by the community. I watched my mother face societal stigma and the associated hardships. From a young age, my mission has been to change her life. That’s what inspired me to pursue academia—to transform her identity from being a young widow, to the mother of two successful kids.

There were often hours long power cuts in the village where I grew up. Fuelled by the idea that nuclear power could change the entire ecosystem around electricity, I decided to take a leap and study mechanical engineering, with a specialisation in nuclear engineering. This decision made me the first engineer in my extended family. That makes me really proud.

There was no roadmap for me to follow, so it was up to me to carve out my career path. I started by doing various internships at some of the top nuclear power plants in India, and at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. It was there that I learnt data is a powerful agent of change. I was also involved in a project that identified the school dropout rate for women, and I discovered a real passion for using data to help marginalised communities. I decided to pursue a career in data, and I secured a role at Mu Sigma.

Then Google happened — I always say Google ‘happened’, because I never thought a company like that would choose somebody like me. Coming from a small village, I had imagined those kinds of opportunities weren’t open to me. But I thrived at Google. In my second month in the Hyderabad office, I won the sustainability challenge, and I went on to deliver intricate analytical solutions with some of the most talented people. When I visited London for the first time on a work trip, many of the people I met there were LBS Alumni. Their expertise across a range of business functions made me realise that the infrastructure that supports data is so much more complex than I’d ever imagined. Previously, I hadn’t considered going back into education, but talking to them opened my eyes, and my desire to fill the gaps in my knowledge inspired me to pursue an MBA.

Exposure to a wider range of perspectives was key for me, so I was looking for a school with true diversity. The only question was where to find it. I didn’t want to jump into an MBA programme that didn’t feel like the right fit, so I took some time to look into all the different schools and programmes on offer. As part of my research, I spoke to a colleague who had attended LBS, and they told me they’d had around 40 different nationalities in their class. That excited me. As did London. It felt like a city with the perfect convergence of innovation, cultural heritage, and international outlook.

Coming to LBS wouldn’t have been possible without the Laidlaw Scholarship. My family has limited resources so, without the scholarship, I couldn’t have afforded to finance an MBA. After joining LBS, I spoke to Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay, Founder and Chairman of the Laidlaw Foundation, and was able to tell him my story, and the impact that the scholarship has had on me and my family. So many people from backgrounds like mine think world-class education isn’t an option for them. But if you have the talent and the passion, these courses are as much for you as they are for any other student at LBS.

The First-Generation, Low or Intermediate-Income Club (FLII) has been a huge part of my journey at LBS. I became the President of the FLII club because I don’t ever want to forget where I come from, and it gives me the opportunity to help people from similar backgrounds to mine. I was limited by my financial means, but that didn’t stop me from reaching for what I wanted to achieve. The FLII club has a mission that’s really close to my heart, and it does so much good. From subsidising tickets to the EurOut Conference, Europe's largest Pride conference, to organising events with the socio-economic diversity focused ERGs of big tech companies and consulting firms, we’re able to offer equitable opportunities to students from all financial backgrounds. It feels amazing to be part of.

My mum has never been to the UK, and no one in my family has lived abroad. Through LBS, I’m going to change that. As part of my course, I’m going on an exchange to Paris for two months. When I invited my mum to come and visit me, she was so emotional. She told me that after my father died, she never imagined she would leave the house, let alone the city. Now, through my MBA, she has the opportunity to go to Paris. That’s what feels different about LBS to me. The opportunities are more than just academic. I’ve been able to experience cultures and perspectives I never would have been exposed to.

One of my favourite classes so far is ‘The Science of People in Organisations’. It was one of the first classes I took at LBS, and it was so different to anything I’d experienced in my career. The expertise of the faculty really challenged my thinking and gave me such deep insight into why humans behave the way they do. Everything was backed by science, and I could relate it to situations I’ve experienced in my career, personal, and social life. The experimental approach of the class has taught me to think intentionally about how to stand out by identifying and challenging common patterns in human thinking and behaviour.

I’ve made friends beyond my cultural boundaries, who’ve challenged my perspectives, and shown me such kindness. The people I’ve met at LBS are more than a network. There’s a real mindset of innovation here, and I’m surrounded by people working towards incredible things. That feeling pushes you to grow and develop, both professionally and personally, and I know these experiences will stay with me way beyond my MBA.

The exposure to different business functions at LBS has strengthened my future in tech. I’m constantly interacting with students from other disciplines including sales, marketing and product. This exposure is important for my future aspirations to build and manage products that help diverse groups get their voices heard—whether that’s increasing financial independence, widening access to technology or elevating the role of women in society. Achieving this will require understanding the interactions of various horizontals and verticals that exist within the business in depth. This learning is available by design in LBS classrooms.

Being a woman is my strength—in every room, I make sure that my voice is heard. It’s important to me to be a mentor to other women. When I go back to my hometown, I make sure to visit the girls’ school and to tell them my story. If I’m able to inspire even one girl—to leave them with the feeling that they can achieve anything they set their mind to, that they can get a world class education, just like I did—I’ll know everything I’ve worked towards has been worth it.

My MBA at LBS has helped me shift from a follower to a leader. An MBA here is not just about academics. My personality has fundamentally changed. I’m more confident, more disciplined. I’ve learned negotiation and time management skills, and been exposed to different cultures, perspectives and knowledge. I know I’ll be re-entering the tech field with renewed passion and expertise. Before I would have waited for someone to show me the path. Now, I make the path.