“The choice of LBS was easy. The School offered the best and brightest in terms of students and the best-in-class faculty I was looking for.”

Seeking new knowledge

“I have long had a fascination for finance. My first degree was in industrial engineering from Mexico’s Universidad Ibericoamericana, which gave me the kind of intellectual challenge that I wanted. But there was also a breadth to the programme and it touched on a range of business subjects. Even then I knew that finance was the field for me and that I wanted to be a business owner."

“Straight after graduating I Iaunched an online pharmaceutical start-up. Then between 2010 and 2018 I worked as an equity trader for the likes of Citi and UBS in Mexico. In Mexico the market closes at 3.00pm so I had plenty of time each day to devote to my other interests. In 2015 I co-founded a four-member architectural company that now has a portfolio of nine high-quality projects. A year later I started CLUSCAP, an angel fund that invests in and gives financial advice to companies in fintech and the sharing economy."

“My ambition to launch a new venture in fintech is the principal factor that brought me to the Masters in Finance programme at London Business School (LBS). I knew I needed to expand my knowledge and understanding of business in finance. I also wanted to expand my network and make connections with people from different backgrounds to mine."

“The choice of LBS was easy. The School offered the best and brightest in terms of students and the best-in-class faculty that I was looking for. It also offered an entrepreneurship platform, and access to London itself - the most dynamic centre of fintech and for networking."

“The diversity and dynamism of my cohort has really impressed me. My classmates are very smart people and true leaders in their own right. Each person brings their unique experience and intelligence but there’s also a real fellow feeling and a sense of support for each other that has been there since day one."

“There are 34 nationalities in class and strong representation from Asia. It’s great to have a perspective from China, where a lot of innovative things are happening in the fintech space. Growing my network with Chinese friends and colleagues is a real bonus to the programme."

“Another bonus is the spread of electives, which means that I can sharpen my focus, matching the subjects I choose to my own specific needs. The sheer breadth of the offering and the chance to take electives with students from other LBS programmes like the MBA is really crucial to me.”

Beyond the classroom

“Learning happens all the time on the programme – not just in the lectures or the classroom, but also in the corridors, on the soccer field, talking to fellow students, networking in social and academic clubs. There’s a lot going on and it can be hard to juggle it all, but at the end of the day I’m here to create ties and bonds and a global network that can sustain me personally and professionally in my next venture and beyond."

“The plan is to bundle two financial services – asset management and payment – to offer better returns on investments. I see this as very much in line with the future for finance, leveraging AI and technology to predict cash flows and build better portfolios for investors. What I’m learning at LBS from faculty and my classmates – the kind of outside the box thinking, and a mindset that looks beyond the financial statement – is a bedrock for innovation. I’m learning to keep my mind wide open."

"My advice for anyone thinking of pursuing the Masters programme is to be good at time management. You’re exposed to so much when you get here, from classes and activities to clubs and gatherings. To get the most out of the experience, you need to manage your time. Be guided by your objectives and keep them clearly in your mind. Base your choices on what you expect to achieve from your time at London Business School.”