Nina Briance

What kind of experience did you bring with you to London Business School?

I studied economics and politics at Stanford before moving into finance, but I had always had an entrepreneurial streak. When I arrived at Stanford, the sororities on campus were very defined — one was for athletes, etc. I didn’t feel I fit into any one mould. Having grown up between Mexico, Texas and Switzerland, I had a more international perspective, so I set up a more open and flexible sorority, Alpha Phi. I wanted to create a movement and build something from the ground up. This is also when I tried to get my first business off the ground, a food delivery service on campus, before Deliveroo or Uber Eats existed.

I loved the problem-solving aspect of running my own company, and working at UBS only solidified that interest. There, I worked with some of the most exciting consumer and tech companies, including Snapchat, Uber and Spotify, just before they went public, which gave me a front-row seat to how these businesses scaled and became fundamentally strong and resilient.

Along the way, I also spent time at the UN in a team called Women and Trade. I worked in a strategy role alongside micro-enterprises in some of the most remote and challenging parts of the world, looking at what resources and support they needed to grow.

What first sparked your interest in the programme and London Business School?

At Women and Trade, I had one of my first real business lightbulb moments. I realised there were millions of independent fashion designers and artisans around the world with incredible creativity, but without the commercial or operational know-how and resources needed to scale in a competitive industry like fashion. I saw a huge opportunity to support and elevate these designers.

I knew I needed to upskill if I was going to follow this entrepreneurial path, and I chose London Business School as the ideal place to round out my skillset and learn key areas like management and strategy. Over the course of the MBA, I developed the idea that would become CULT MIA, a platform built to help high-potential independent luxury brands scale internationally. Today, CULT MIA works with more than 400 brands across 90+ countries, giving customers access to some of the most exciting (otherwise inaccessible) fashion talent from around the world. I wanted to make it possible to find that amazing handmade pearl necklace you once came across on a beach in Spain, without having to return to that exact place.

Is there a particular skill, mindset, or opportunity from London Business School that you draw on today?

I took a concentration in entrepreneurship at the School, which shaped my whole approach to building a business through courses like Developing the Entrepreneurial Opportunity. I also took classes in areas such as Social Media Marketing, Managing Change and Negotiations, which have all been hugely helpful at different points over seven years and three funding rounds.

I was also fortunate to be taught by Stefano Turconi, who was a great sounding board. With his support, I turned my MBA internship at the luxury e-tailer Moda Operandi into a special project. That experience gave me a deep understanding of how online luxury platforms operate and how the luxury customer shops, and it was really where I fell in love with the space.

It also sparked a second lightbulb moment for CULT MIA. I could see how concentrated the market was, with a huge overlap in brands across platforms, and at the same time a growing sense of logo fatigue. Younger consumers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, don’t want to wear the same brands as everyone else. That really highlighted the opportunity to champion a new generation of designers and bring more innovation and individuality into the space.

How did the Incubator programme shape your experience?

As a sole founder, starting a business can feel daunting, but the Incubator made it feel like there was always someone there to guide me, along with practical support and shortcuts. It kept me accountable, introduced me to a network of other founders and experts, and gave me access to resources like marketing and finance specialists, and even office space! Having a programme where you check in regularly and share your learnings with a community goes a long way when you are navigating those early ups and downs, or even figuring out something as simple as registering a trademark for the first time.

What are your aspirations for the future, and how did London Business School help set you up for them?

I started my business while at London Business School, pitched it to a panel of venture capital judges through the Launchpad pre-accelerator programme, and then scaled it through the Incubator. The School was very much the springboard for the business. My ambition for the future is to build the largest independent luxury fashion destination in the world. We have had an incredible journey to date, including investment from Morgan Stanley and the H&M Group, but I still feel like we are only just getting started, and I am excited about what comes next.

London Business School continues to play an important role in our growth. It is an experience that keeps on giving, from the conferences and panels I attend to the investors I have met through the network. I have also hired many team members from the London Business School community, which has been invaluable as we continue to scale.

If you had to describe your overall London Business School experience in three words, what would they be?

Transformative. Clarifying. Defining.

It was transformative because I evolved from working in large corporations to becoming an entrepreneur in an industry I had always loved. Coming to London Business School felt like unlocking Nina 2.0, a full-circle foundation in management and entrepreneurship.

My second word would be clarifying, because I came in with big ideas and the School helped me hone what the business would be and how to get it off the ground. When I left, I had a clear path for the future.

Finally, I would say it was defining. When I look back at the experiences that have shaped who I am today, London Business School is right up there. It gave me the confidence to make that entrepreneurial leap, with a strong community around me, and to begin the most important chapter of my career. I also met my husband at the School and we now have two children, so both personally and professionally, it has been hugely significant in my life.