The Stereotype-Defying MBAs In The Class of 2018

Edward Adlard

London Business School

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I am a start-up enthusiast with an interest in fintech, payments, health, fitness and motorbikes.

Hometown: London, UK

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a pet python called Raphael!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Bristol, UK, Mathematics and Economics

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Patch William Drummer

Patch William was an indie rock band that was signed to Hubris Records and Sony-BMG/Chrysalis. In 2009 we were nominated for an Ivor Novello award, the UK equivalent of a Grammy.

Lloyds Banking Group Graduate Leadership Program

Lloyds Banking Group is the largest Retail and Commercial bank in the UK. This rotational program consisted of four 6-month placements around the business.

Qredo (Encryption Start-up) Marketing and BD Manager,

then Head of Growth

Qredo is an London based encryption start up that allows developers to easily and simply implement end-to-end encryption and key management.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Qredo initially had a very ambitious B2B model. However, the founders were struggling to get the partners in place to create the necessary ecosystem and development was behind schedule. A colleague and I came up with an idea for how the business could create a consumer/developer product, while simplifying the required technology.

After creating a business plan and presenting this to the founder and board, the company decided to fully pivot in this direction. We used the concept to raise a successful second angel round, and then I was asked to head up a new Growth function, responsible for customer acquisition.

The new product – the Qredo SDK – was a great success. We signed up 1200 customers within a month of launching and have built a powerful marketing machine with a large social following.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Apply early and give yourself plenty of time to study for the GMAT. Take many past papers, as familiarity with the questions will allow you to recognize the examiner’s tricks. Speak to as many people as possible regarding the schools you’re considering and your essays. Take the time to re-visit your essays over a period of weeks so that you can really reflect on the message you’re putting out.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? Last year, London Business School’s MBA class was made up of 92% international students, representing 68 nationalities. This broad student base adds a unique perspective to every aspect of business school, in addition to creating a truly global alumni network. As a top-ranked two-year program located in one of the greatest cities in the world, for me LBS ticked all the boxes.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? I am passionate about health and fitness, and this is the area in which I want to spend the next decade of my life working. I’ve seen how life-changing it can be for someone when they improve their health and I want to bring this feeling to the people who suffer daily, yet unnecessarily, due to lifestyle related illnesses. I don’t yet know the best way to approach this challenge, but hopefully at LBS I will be able to pull inspiration from my classmates and teachers.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? I would like them to know me as someone who makes the most of each day, who is passionate and energetic, and who they would like to invite to a dinner party!