Fatema Salim Haveliwalla

London Business School

“A curious, ever-evolving adventurer, committed to leaving a positive mark on the world.”

Hometown: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I adore wildlife and recently got an incredible chance to swim with a majestic blue whale in the Indian Ocean!

Undergraduate School and Major: HR College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai University – Finance & Accounting

Chartered Accountant (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) – Finance, Accounting & Taxation

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:  Pure Harvest Smart Farms – Vice President, Strategic Finance

What makes London such a great place to earn an MBA degree? London is a high-octane hub where greatness is contagious. You are in the company of the best, which pushes you to be your best. The city’s a melting pot of cultures, connecting you to the world. And being at the heart of Europe’s finance and culture scene – it is a no-brainer!

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? Having navigated three distinct startups over seven years, I have gleaned a valuable insight: while innovation is key, it is often more effective to build upon existing knowledge than to start anew. At London Business School, the rich tapestry of cultural and professional backgrounds promises to broaden my horizon, offering varied lenses through which to view the world’s challenges. By merging these perspectives with my own experiences, I anticipate crafting more effective and impactful solutions for global issues.

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? My entrepreneurial aspirations drew me to London Business School. London Business School will equip me with tools for my startup’s validation and product-market fit. I am eager to delve into courses like New Venture Development, Pathways to Startup Success, and Managing Impactful and Responsible Business, learning from thought-leaders like Gary Dushnitsky and Rupert Merson. I intend to use the Entrepreneurship Summer School to crystallise my ideas and soft launch my startup. I will amplify my learning through the Entrepreneurship Club and Private Equity & Venture Capital Club, joining a collaborative environment of peers eager to shape the future. I am certain the strong and supportive network I develop at London Business School will be invaluable for my future success.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at London Business School? I am particularly drawn to the Women in Business club and the Women’s Rugby club at London Business School. These platforms not only offer invaluable insights from global women leaders, but also a space where I can reciprocate with lessons from my journey. As a BK Birla scholar, I’m fully committed to upholding the scholarship’s ideals of integrity, dedication and service to humanity, and both these clubs aim to empower women, championing their presence in business and fostering a more inclusive and diverse landscape.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been to raise c.USD 250M capital as a core leadership team member of Pure Harvest Smart Farms over a 3-year period, together with a fantastic team of motivated people. We exponentially scaled our business enabling us to make a true impact by localizing food production and addressing food security in the Middle East while simultaneously reducing our carbon footprint.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? Post-MBA, I am fueled by an ambitious goal: launching a transformative startup that marries profit with a purpose – making a positive impact on people and the environment. My journey in strategic finance across three startups and the notable success in scaling Pure Harvest equips me with first-hand knowledge of the ecosystem. London Business School will be instrumental, providing a global lens and fortifying my business fundamentals while I rigorously validate my startup concepts.

Should my entrepreneurial ambitions pivot, I am drawn towards venture capital (VC) or private equity (PE). With my firsthand experience in raising capital from various PE, VC, and debt funds, I am poised to transition smoothly. Here, I envision a rewarding role in catalyzing other entrepreneurs, guiding them in shaping their ventures.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into London Business School’s MBA program? The one bit of overarching advice for the MBA application (as with life), is to be authentic and true to yourself – you want to let the admissions committee really get to know you and the person you are. For a more tactical approach to the application:

1. Complete Tests: Complete your GRE or GMAT well in advance. This ensures you can direct full attention to crafting a standout application when the time comes.

2. Network: Engage with London Business School alumni and current students. Student ambassadors are especially insightful. This not only offers a window into the school’s culture, community, and opportunities but also helps you gauge your fit and potential contributions to the institution.

3. Research: Dive into the offered courses and scrutinize the employment reports. This aids in clearly discerning how London Business School can be instrumental in shaping your career trajectory.

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