Samantha Streicher
- Programme: MBA
- Nationality: South African
- Job Pre-programme: Special Projects Manager at NHS Tower Hamlets and Management Consultant at McKinsey & Company
- Job Post-programme: Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company
“Given that I wanted an international MBA programme with a diverse student body, London Business School was the natural choice. Exposure to new people, knowledge and opportunities was crucial, as was the time to figure out where my career was heading. The two year MBA path also allowed me time to reflect, to challenge myself, and to broaden my thinking.”
“The London Business School classroom is unique, and, along with the superbly central location, is part of what makes the School such an exciting place to study. My study group alone represented Lebanon, Germany, the USA, Hong Kong, Italy and South Africa. Whilst this seemed quite amazing initially, learning to work in this kind of environment is a fundamental requirement for success in an increasingly global business world. The number of countries that most students have lived and worked in adds greatly to cultural understanding and exposure.”
“The MBA gave me ample opportunity to better understand and develop myself as a leader. Many of the second year elective courses I took were rooted in individual and organisational leadership. This had a huge impact on my leadership skills, and the way in which I intended to navigate my future career path evolved considerably. However, it was student clubs that enabled me to connect with a really broad range of people on campus, and to enjoy leading in the experiential environment the School offers. During my first year I co-led the Swiss Healthcare trek and was an outreach representative for the Global Social Venture Competition. In my second year, I was copresident of the Women in Business club, one of the largest and most active groups on campus. The professional and personal opportunities are incredible. As part of the Women Without Borders programme, I travelled to Sierra Leone to help Planting Promise - a Freetown-based social enterprise using agricultural revenues to fund education - to commercialise a new revenue stream. I was able to apply what I had learned to a challenging, real-world problem; taking time to understand the local context helped me balance the application of western solutions and the MBA mentality within an environmental reality.”
“It is a rare and unique privilege to have the time and space to reflect, grow and think about the future in new ways. I have no doubt that my MBA will continue to open new and exciting doors for me, but it is the friendships I have built and the community that I am now part of that I value most. The School alumni population is enormously responsive, and I look forward to staying connected as my career progresses.”
