Chris Town

London Business School

“Submarine navigator, charting a new course towards the business world via an MBA.”

Hometown: Edinburgh, Scotland

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I learned to navigate using the stars on a banana boat!

Undergraduate School and Major: Britannia Royal Naval College

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Royal Navy, Specialist Navigator

What makes London such a great place to earn an MBA degree? London is a truly global city – a melting pot of cultures, ideas and perspectives. It is of course home to one of the world’s pre-eminent financial districts and to many of its largest corporations, but the city is also a global leader in technology, media, luxury, and healthcare – as well as supporting a thriving startup scene. MBA programs attract individuals with a myriad of ambitions, and in London, they find the resources, networks and opportunities to turn those ambitions into reality.

London Business School is one of the most culturally and professionally diverse MBA programs in the world. How do you see these global perspectives enhancing the value of your business education over the next two years? Growing up in Singapore and attending an international school there, I was immersed in a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds, with invaluable lessons that came from this exposure to diversity. This personal experience underscores why I value what the London Business School offers. On an MBA program, you learn as much, if not more, from your fellow students as you do from the faculty; therefore, the broader the spectrum of perspectives in the class is, the richer the learning experience will be. London Business School attracts the brightest talent from across the world, where no single cultural, personal, or professional background dominates. Such an environment guarantees exposure to varied perspectives on how to approach a problem, encourages innovative thinking, and challenges our own biases and assumptions. This ultimately enriches our overall educational journey. Other programs, where a single nationality or professional background dominate the student body, can’t compete with this experience.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of London Business School’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Flexibility is at the heart of the program, allowing students the ability to craft an experience that suits their backgrounds, needs and long-term aspirations. In my case, coming from a non-traditional background in the military, I needed an MBA journey that could be tailored to fill specific gaps in my business knowledge, while also leveraging my experiences in leadership and management. The flexible nature of LBS’s MBA curriculum means I can focus on areas that will best serve my transition to the world of business. This kind of adaptability ensures that I am not following a generic path, but instead embarking on a transformative educational journey that maximises the value of my past experiences and accelerates me towards my aspirations.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at London Business School? Ski Trek of course! Hundreds of MBA students left unsupervised for a week in the Alps – what could possibly go wrong? But beyond the obvious camaraderie and enjoyment on (and off!) the slopes, it is an opportunity to reflect on personal and professional goals away from the intensity of London and the pressures of the program. The trek isn’t just about the skiing, it’s about the connections, the challenges, and the memories that will be cherished long after graduation.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I had the honor of commanding a Royal Navy warship for 2 years as one of the most junior captains across the fleet. Leading the men and women onboard was a genuine privilege and a life-changing experience for me, one that I will always look back on fondly.  Furthermore, I am especially proud that through teamwork and absolute commitment – and despite some significant challenges like COVID-19 – we became the top-rated patrol ship in the fleet, winning an award for operational excellence in the process.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? After graduating, I aspire to a career in strategy consulting. I have a strong leadership background, a natural inclination towards analytical and strategic roles, a passion for continuous learning, and a growing body of business knowledge from this MBA. Consulting sits at the intersection of all these attributes, and so feels like a natural fit for me. In addition, I believe consulting will offer the dynamic environment I seek, where I can tackle diverse challenges across different industries and fields, allowing me to make an impact I can be proud of.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into London Business School’s MBA program? Be authentic!  Every applicant possesses unique experiences and insights that can enrich the London Business School community. However, trying to fit into a mold of what you believe the admissions team is looking for can diminish the genuine qualities and uniqueness that make you stand out; you will in fact do your application a disservice. We all have different strengths and weaknesses – I was open and honest about my weaknesses. In the process, I turned them into a strength. They mean I offer something different to the class. Therefore, stay true to your story and let your genuine self shine in your application.

DON’T MISS: MEET LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2025