Jessica Roberts

IMD Business School

“I’m dependable, passionate, and driven with the motivation and grit to achieve.”

Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am an Aerial Arts Instructor and Kitten Fosterer.

Undergraduate School and Major:

Masters: University of Cape Town, Master in Philosophy in Mathematical Finance

Undergraduate: University of Cape Town, Bachelor of Business Science in Actuarial Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Nedbank Limited, Quantitative Analyst, South Africa

IMD classes have been dubbed the “Mighty 90” for their talent and versatility. What has been the best part of being in a small class with this group of classmates? It was the ability to bond and connect on a deeper level with each of my classmates. In a bigger class you get connections; at IMD, you get long lasting friendships.

Aside from classmates, what part of IMD’s MBA programming led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? It was the leadership stream and the International Consulting Project (ICP). The leadership stream offered the development I was looking for in an MBA program. And the ICP will give me the chance to practice my learnings in a real and complex environment.

What has been favorite tradition or event at IMD? The IMD MBAT. Due to COVID, the MBA sports committee organized a local MBAT where we got to exercise, compete, and have fun.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Designing and implementing the data strategy for the trading floor at Nedbank just before joining IMD.

Describe your biggest accomplishment at IMD so far: Being able to balance out academics and a social life – although it has come at the expense of sleep!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I had reached a point in my career where I felt that my learning was stagnating. I wanted to have an opportunity to work on my softer skills and discover what I was truly passionate about in life. Up to this point, I felt I had been living more of a “deferred life plan” – doing what I had to do in the present to be able to do what I wanted to do later. I am hoping to make a triple change in my career – location, sector and function – and I believe the best way to do this is via an MBA.

What has been your best memory at IMD thus far? 1st Skydive: Jumping off a plane in Spain with some of my favorite classmates.

DON’T MISS: MEET IMD’S MBA CLASS OF 2021