Matt Gascoigne

“I’m a family man, always reaching higher, never content with sitting idle!”

Hometown: Nuneaton, just outside Coventry in the UK

Fun Fact About Yourself: I find it very difficult to reverse park (ask my wife)!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Liverpool, BA (Hons) Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Co-Founder, Thrive Consulting

What has been the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

I’ve had many career highs and successes, but leaving the security of the corporate world to set up my own consultancy focusing on people strategy tops them all. Since Sept 2023, we’ve been helping organizations improve their employee engagement and it’s going really well! This move, roughly 6 months into my MBA, was no coincidence.

The practical tools, inspiration, advice, and support from UCL School of Management, MBA colleagues, and lecturers gave me the confidence to make the leap—a decision I’ll never regret!

When you think of your school, what is the first word that comes to mind?

“Welcoming” – Ever since my first interactions with the UCL School of Management I have been so thoroughly impressed with their welcoming attitude. This is more than just rolling out a great induction. Every class, every module, every immersion, every event is designed to welcome all thoughts, perspectives, and ideas. As a result, your personal journey is deep and wide and your perspectives far broader (yet inclusive) as result.

What are one or two key aspects of this program that led you to choose the program, and why were they so important to you?

The UCL Executive MBA appealed to me for 2 main reasons. Firstly, I wanted a programme that prioritised the impact of Data on leadership behaviors and critical decision making. In a world that is increasingly dominated by data, I felt any program that didn’t embrace this front and centre would be obsolete, and quickly.

Secondly, I needed a program that would fit appropriately with work and family commitments (both in terms of the practical but also the theoretical side). The agility, and pace, baked into the learning journey was important from a family perspective. However, the relevance of the content and the quality of the faculty leaders and lecturers was a key compliment to work drivers.

What course, club, activity, or experience excites you the most and why?

The immersion events (I have fortunately been able to attend three) are amazing. Meeting colleagues from around the world and engaging in brilliant debates is so rewarding. For someone heavily involved in people strategies, getting to meet the guy who developed the research behind “The Great Resignation” theory was enlightening.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to other prospective MBAs?

I recently had the opportunity to listen to a podcast which showcased the achievements of Don Smith on his journey from Marketing Expert to Inventor harnessing the power of “emergent mindset”. He set his mind towards revolutionizing asthma inhaler technology (amongst other things) but the context is open to any direction and just shows what can be achieved when the right mindset is deployed.

What are two things you have learned that have surprised you so far – one academic and one non-academic?

From an academic aspect, I learnt how to code in Python in my view first module, Data Analytics Advantage. Given this was my first foray back into formal academia in almost 30 years, I was thrilled to pick it up and run with it! Away from the academic, I have realized that the MBA journey is more than just the learning experience. In just 14 months, I have made friends from around the world, where I know we will be part of each other’s personal and professional journey for a long time to come.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into your MBA program?

You must think about what you want to get out of the MBA experience, beyond the learning, as the MBA opportunity is way more than that. I knew I wanted to commit to my MBA not just because of the opportunities it would open in my career but, perhaps most importantly, because it provided an inspiration to my children that no matter how old or established you are, you never stop learning!

CLICK HERE TO MEET THE MBA CLASS OF 2025 FROM THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT