Zarina Kassen (she/her)

Education: Bachelors in Financial Services, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; graduated in 2020

Pre-MBA industry: Investment Banking

Pre-MBA role: Senior Associate, Macquarie Group

Clubs: Entrepreneurship (Executive Committee), Student Impact Investment Fund (Executive Committee), Private Equity and Venture Capital, Women in Business, Investment Management, Real Estate

About me: I was born and raised in Kazakhstan and have spent the past nine years in Hong Kong, where I built my foundation in finance and data analytics. Before joining LBS, I worked at Macquarie Group, advising senior stakeholders on real estate portfolio strategy across Asia and leading data-driven initiatives that delivered measurable impact. Before that, I managed digital transformation projects across the luxury retail and tech consulting sectors, where I learned how to bridge business insight with technology.

I am a proud recipient of the Laidlaw Foundation Scholarship, awarded for leadership and academic excellence.

Beyond my professional roles, I founded Wings of Women, a platform that promotes financial literacy and funding access for women in Central Asia, and Scholastic, a mentorship programme that has helped over 200 students secure scholarships abroad. I aspire to drive sustainable change in Kazakhstan’s education system by making finance more accessible to all.

I chose the MBA programme at LBS to deepen my investment expertise and explore how capital can serve as a catalyst for inclusion and innovation. My interests lie at the intersection of finance, impact and technology, with a long-term goal of connecting Central Asia with global investors.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking and long walks around Regent’s Park, reading about economics and investing, and exploring small towns across England to experience new cultures and perspectives.

Three topics I can be approached about: Impact and social entrepreneurship; business in Kazakhstan; venture capital.

Email: zkassen.mba2027@london.edu