Ishan Kapur

London Business School

“Masters in business, minor in being the unofficial GOAT of one minute chess – name your stakes and play me!”

Hometown: London, UK

Fun Fact About Yourself: I won a £20 bet against my favorite teacher that I would get into Oxford for my undergrad … and yes, the cheque is framed on my wall!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Oxford, UK; Economics & Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: HSBC, Equity Research Associate

What makes London such a great place to earn an MBA degree? For me, there are three key reasons. Firstly, London is this amazing melting pot of diverse people, culture and opportunities given its status as a global business hub. Studying in such a multicultural city facilitates access to a whole range of industries, as well as invaluable networking opportunities with leaders of their respective fields. I also believe these benefits of the city’s cosmopolitan nature are reflected in LBS’ own ecosystem by creating a global cohort, as well as its ethos in developing global business minds.

Secondly, London has long established itself as one of the fashion capitals of the world. In line with my future aspirations to break into the industry, this creates an invaluable opportunity to apply classroom learnings in a city that hosts key fashion calendar events and is home to iconic retail and luxury markets. An inspiring example of this comes from an LBS alumnus who, via the school’s LondonCAP programme, completed a project for the British Fashion Institute (BFI), which served as a stepping stone for her future career in the industry. Further, London is in close proximity to core European markets in the global fashion industry, such as Paris and Milan, as well as facilitating easy access to the MENA region and Asia.

Finally, and somewhat sentimentally, London is my home! It’s where I grew up, where my friends, family and network exist. The chance to augment my London circle with the wide-ranging class from the MBA is a really exciting opportunity.

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? I would love to work in the fashion industry, and I am really keen to improve representation of South Asian culture in the mainstream western fashion scene.  A way of celebrating our rich heritage is through cultural exchange – a facet I believe is core to LBS’ identity. As such, the global focus of the syllabus, as well as projects abroad such as the Global Experiences, align perfectly with my future career aspirations.

Furthermore, I recognize that a lot of effort goes into creating a cohort of 65+ nationalities, providing benefits such as diversity of thought and unique peer-to-peer learning opportunities. I also believe being part of this international network opens up avenues in terms of working in different markets – an invaluable asset given the globalized nature of business today. Whilst London will always be home to me, I am by no means resolutely tied to here. The chance to learn to think like a global business leader was a no-brainer to me!

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of London Business School’s MBA curriculum and programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Early on in my research I realized the breadth of the school’s program would allow me to tailor it to my key areas of interest, thereby providing me with the skillset I wanted for my post-MBA aspirations. Given these aspirations are to work in fashion, I was immediately interested by The Walpole Luxury Management Programme. I believe this LBS-specific program will offer a deeper understanding of the luxury sector through specialist workshops, industry projects and mentoring from seasoned executives. In turn, I hope this will provide the springboard to build my knowledge, leadership skills and presence as I transition into the industry.

I was also impressed by the fact that the Walpole program was created by an alumnus and LBS professors. Fashioning a dedicated luxury management program at LBS from scratch showed me that the school is entrepreneurial in spirit, as well as providing a flexible and encouraging environment.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at London Business School? Whilst there are a number of electives, experiential learning opportunities and clubs on offer at LBS, the Global Experiences program really stuck out for me. The opportunity to step into a new market and learn about the local business ecosystem, whilst making a tangible impact for clients, is exactly the type of experience I hoped to encounter during my MBA. LBS truly prides itself on being a global school and this program offering projects across multiple countries, a range of industries, and external partners reiterates that. Further, given this experience may include members from the EMBA and Sloan programs, it serves as an exciting, practical way to connect with the wider LBS community.

I already have my eye on the ‘Lessons from the Luxury Sector’ Global Experience in Paris. Paris is at the forefront of the luxury market, and home to some of the most iconic brands and their flagship stores; a key route to market in the sector. As such, I believe this experience will offer me a deeper understanding of the luxury sector and relevant themes, including customer experience, brand values and identities, and sustainability.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Whilst I am at a fairly early stage in my career, one of my biggest accomplishments has been working in New York, London, and Dubai. Working in these three different markets has shaped my global mindset, and ability to forge genuine relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.

Notably, I started working as a global research analyst in London during lockdown. This means for the first year of my career, I never met my team, went to the office, or experienced real-life work as I had imagined. Somewhat fatigued of working out of my living room, and eager to explore my opportunities, I requested the possibility of working on a short-term assignment (STAs) at one of our global offices. Fast forward a few months, I found myself in Dubai as the first member of the graduate scheme program to undertake a rotation abroad. It was a truly amazing experience learning about emerging vs. developed markets, connecting with new analysts in MENA and Asia, and adjusting to business culture differences … despite the number of times I got lost! Looking back, there were many experiences I felt somewhat unqualified for, but I believe stepping out of my comfort zone and moving by myself to Dubai accelerated my progress both on a personal and professional level, as well as allowing me to appreciate the globality of business. Following my return to London, I am proud to say the division initiated a formal scheme for junior analysts to apply for similar STAs across the world.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? Throughout my formative years, university and the early stages of my career, I have enjoyed being in decision-making roles of responsibility to deliver results that positively impact communities around me. For instance, in my final year at school, I co-organized a musical theatre festival celebrating South-East Asian culture, ultimately raising £10,000 for United World Schools Charity. Meanwhile at university, as an executive committee member of the Oxford University Amateur Boxing Club (OUABC), our leadership team organized the inaugural ‘Women’s Fight Night’ aiming to improve representation in the sport, amid coverage from the BBC. Finally, whilst working in finance, I mentored students from underprivileged backgrounds, demystifying various roles in finance, teaching core skills, and providing application / interview support.

Given my personal experiences, improving representation and levelling the playing field are very important to me. As such, the motivation to push beyond academic rigors, and conduct myself as an ambassador of each institution I am fortunate enough to be a part of is a trait I endeavor to pursue at LBS, via the extracurricular clubs, global events, and external programmes on offer.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into London Business School’s MBA program? I would advise potential candidates to really think about what they want from the program. There is so much on offer across the syllabus via electives, clubs, events and more, that I think it can be very easy to fall into the trap of trying everything and spreading oneself too thin. I’m not sure an MBA at LBS is a crystal ball that will show you your ideal career path, but I feel assured that those coming in with an idea of what they want to achieve during the program will find the relevant support and opportunities here.

To that point, I think doing your research beforehand, and speaking with current students, alumni and faculty, can help narrow down what you’re looking to get out of the program. Specifically, people representing the school are a fantastic resource to tap into to learn more about life at LBS and the program. If feasible, try to attend the open days, coffee chats, and other events to really get a feel of the culture at the school and decide if its right for you. From my experiences, the people are more than willing to help out and were one of the key contributing factors for me choosing LBS.

DON’T MISS: MEET LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2026