Meet London Business School’s MBA Class Of 2026

London, United Kingdom. iStock photo

“IF YOU’RE TIRED OF LONDON, YOU’RE TIRED OF LIFE”

This global perspective is further fueled by the school’s location. In London, more than a third of the population has been born outside the United Kingdom. In fact, the city is home to nearly 300 different nationalities and languages, exposing students to “various ways of life and culture,” writes Elizabeth Njenga. Even more, most of the world is accessible through Heathrow Airport, ranked as the world’s most-connected airport according to OAG, the leading repository for flight data.

Thanks to business hubs like the Square Mile and Canary Wharf, London is considered Europe’s business capital. There are 44 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the city, which is also listed alongside New York City and Hong Kong as the world’s great financial hubs. Better still, London ranks as the #2 city for entrepreneurship according to Startup Genome, which reports that the city attracted $16 billion dollars in early-stage funding and spun out 52 unicorns from 2021-2023.

“London is also becoming a true tech hub that attracts talent from all around the world,” writes Susan Ren, “thanks to its strong investment ecosystem, the best-in-class research nous of UK universities and innovation-friendly governance – and both the Silicon Roundabout and Silicon Fen are a short hop, skip or train ride away.”

Beyond business, London is listed among the world’s cultural capitals, be it fashion or the arts. And the culinary scene is far more diverse and vibrant than its ‘bland as the weather’ reputation. In fact, Ren points to a well-worn phrase to describe the city: “If you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life.” For Shavan Pethe, a 2024 LBS grad, this zeitgeist is reflected in London’s neighborhoods.

“One of the most apt ways I’ve heard the city being described, is as a collection of villages. Each borough or neighbourhood brings a unique flavour into London’s melting pot. London Business School is in Marylebone – a manicured locality in the heart of the city. Jumping on the tube (or the ‘subway’ as it’s known across the Atlantic) will take you to diverse neighbourhoods with a plethora of authentic food and culture. Check out Wembley for fantastic Indian food, Hampstead Heath for a beautiful park and view of the city, or Greenwich for a slower-paced vibe on the banks of the Thames. Even these suburbs are just the tip of the iceberg. Regardless of where your interests might lie, there are places and communities for you in London!”

In London Business School’s case, the campus is close to the action – but just far enough away from the beaten path for students to take a breather, says ’24 alum Alistair Adams. “It’s right next to Regent’s Park, which is a great place to visit for a walk with a friend or a break between classes. The Sussex campus gardens are also gorgeous, I have had many a reflective stroll on the lawns.”

London Business School MBA Class of 2026 Orientation Photo

#1 MBA PROGRAM ACCORDING TO CEOS

As a whole, the Class of 2026 features 431 students, with women comprising a 45% share of the class. The class also averaged a 702 GMAT, as scores ranged from 600-770. Professionally, 34.1% of the class last worked in consulting, followed by Finance and Accounting (20.9%), Public Sector and Non-Profits (8.6%), Technology (7%), and Healthcare (4.6%). Demographically, Asia represents the largest segment of the class at 25%. North Americans represent 18% of the class. Another 17% hails from Latin and South America, followed by Europe (14%), United Kingdom (10%), Middle East (8%), Africa (4%), and Oceania (4%).

In February, the London Business School was paid the ultimate compliment. CEOWorld ranked it as the world’s top business school, based on survey data collected from c-suite executives. Historically, LBS has consistently ranked among the top full-time MBA programs in the world (and a Top 10 business research institution according to The Financial Times as well). The latter was hardly surprising considering the presence of globally-recognized thought leaders like Lynda Gratton, Herminia Ibarra, and Michael G Jacobides. Thus far, Susan Ren describes the teaching quality and curriculum range as “second-to-none.” Her classmate, Andrew Young, seconds her opinion.

“The key part of the LBS curriculum is the knowledge and expertise brought by the professors,” Young adds. “Alex Edmans is a great example. He has injected a refreshing level of sophistication into the discourse on diversity in business, reframing it from a narrow conception that focuses on how it might redound to profits, and towards an expansive conception that broadens the definition of diversity as well as the reasons for its importance.”

Another differentiator is flexibility. The LBS MBA program offers exit points at 15, 18, and 21 months. In January, the school even tacked on an 11-month option. This flexibility, coupled with other wrinkles in the program, made the London Business School the perfect fit for Susan Ren.

“LBS understands that many students want to maximize opportunities for practical experiences and international exposure, so whilst the education is first-class, the methods and schedule to which it is delivered is incredibly customizable. It really feels like you can create your own, bespoke MBA. This is particularly important to me as I’m planning to continue working within the start-up ecosystem post-MBA (where recruiting doesn’t necessarily follow a defined timeline). By utilizing block weeks and in-term internships I can access further recruitment opportunities. LBS gives you both the freedom and platform to pursue your career goals and really carve out your own path.”

A TATTOO FOR YOU

Make no mistake: entrepreneurship has become an increasingly popular path for LBS MBAs. During the 2023-2024 school year, over 50% of MBA students had taken an entrepreneurship course and another 75% were involved in a startup according to research conducted by P&Q. More striking: 9.2% of LBS MBAs entered venture capital and private equity from 2019-2023, the largest percentage of any business school worldwide. What’s more, LBS startups are making an impact. Tamara, a fintech, raised over $955.6 million dollars form 2019-2023, the 2nd-highest amount among any MBA startup during that time period.

2024 grad Shavan Pethe, a founder himself, rates the LBS entrepreneurial experience very rewarding. “My first year was spent working hard on a personal entrepreneurial venture: Sapia. Through the Launchpad accelerator, I was able to validate my idea, pitch it to a wide audience, and build the foundations that will be important for it to grow into the future. I hosted a podcast on entrepreneurship, facilitated executive education courses with participants from around the world, and have thoroughly enjoyed the chance to write [a Poets&Quants] column. I learned great new skills during my internships within the Strategy team at American Express and the Innovation team at Worley.”

Beyond academics, you’ll also find alumni like Pethe raving about some of the London Business School’s elaborate events. The favorite is Tattoo, a diversity festival that draws roughly 1,400 students and staff. According to Priyal Keni, Tattoo even set a Guinness World Record in 2016 for the number of nationalities participating in a sing-along. At its heart, Tattoo is one big party: international dances, musical performances, cuisines, and games that bring students together by immersing them in the best of their classmates’ lives back home.

“Tattoo is a festival organized by the Student Association annually where students can experience all the diversity that characterizes LBS,” adds ’24 alum Daniella Lozada Gobelli. “At this event, there is food and drink from the different countries students come from, a talent show from the regional clubs, LBS bands and musical competitions, and several activities that allow students to showcase their culture and learn from others.”

London Business School Marylebone campus view from Sammy Ofer Centre bridge

AN INTERVIEW WITH HELEN FOLEY

This fall, P&Q reached out to Helen Foley, MBA Programme Director, to learn about new developments, faculty, and courses at the London Business School. Along with these topics, Foley also shared her insights on global business education, career services, and soft skill development at LBS.

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in your MBA program over the past year? What type of impact will they have on current and future MBAs?

Foley: “One of the key focus areas has been on developing the ways in which we can support students in navigating the MBA, and promoting the importance of skills development as part of this. Taking the time to invest in a 2-year MBA is an amazing opportunity for our students, but it can also be overwhelming. There are many jokes about FOMO from the very beginning and this can quickly become a student’s reality if the start of the journey goes unchecked. From a couple of weeks into the programme, we run a workshop on Navigating your MBA, confronting head-on the challenges that go along with the MBA experience. The workshop asks students to address what their values really are for their own MBA experience – and not the experience of their flatmate, or study group member. We bring in research from LBS faculty including Professor Herminia Ibarra, and input from our experts in professional development, as we introduce our Skills for the Future portfolio. This includes small workshops, masterclasses, and online resources for students to identify their individual needs. These opportunities run throughout year 1 of the programme, culminating in an end of year “bookend” session – “Reflecting on Year 1; Preparing for Year 2 to Revisit Their Year One Journey and Prepare for Year 2.”

This framework is really important to help students stay focussed on their priorities and values, to prepare themselves for the challenging times, and to have the skills available to manage both the ups and the downs. We know that this has a positive impact on how much they really get out of the programme.

Over the last year, we have also invested time and resource in further supporting the LBS Student Association (SA) and student club eco-system. The SA and the student clubs are as important an element of the MBA as academics and careers. Their existence genuinely enhances the academic and career opportunities open to our students. We know peer-to-peer support adds huge value to the MBA, and with the SA and clubs spanning not only both years of the MBA, but also crossing over all degree programmes at LBS, the networking and growth opportunities this affords is unrivalled.”

Helen Foley, London Business School

P&Q: Every January, P&Q publishes a “10 Business Schools to Watch” feature that highlights how schools are raising the bar and enhancing the student experience through innovation or expansion in programming or resources. What is one innovation that sets your school apart from your peer programs and makes you a business school to watch? Why is it so groundbreaking?

Foley: “We are very excited to be putting the final touches on our new MBA product, with the launch of our One-year MBA with its first cohort arriving at LBS in August 2025. Our existing MBA, with its length and breadth, remains a world class opportunity for students looking to invest in an MBA where having the space, time and opportunity to explore is their priority. We know the value this brings, and we continue to invest in expanding and innovating our flagship programme.

Alongside this, we know that there are new demands from the market and our streamlined version of our flagship programme is meeting these demands. Our One-year MBA targets experienced graduates with a management degree from an accredited institution. As an innovative stackable product, the One-year MBA is unique in bridging the gap between the Masters in Management and the MBA.

The One-year MBA allows ambitious management masters graduates to accelerate their career growth, building on both their previous masters and work experience to build their leadership skillset, deepening their understanding of modern business issues and impact while connecting in a network of like-minded, ambitious peers. Based on our London campus, benefitting from studying alongside other London Business School degree programme students, the London Business School One-year MBA is a unique and pioneering programme delivered as part of our ever-ambitious degree programme portfolio.”

Next Page: Profiles of 13 Members of the Class of 2026