Susan Ren

London Business School

“British-Chinese corporate litigator turned early-stage startup operator who loves solving problems and learning new things!”

Hometown: Brixton, London

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a huge foodie and my family own a restaurant in Chinatown, London

Undergraduate School and Major: Law at Cambridge University, UK

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: VP Operations at Stacker Software (Series A low-code SaaS company backed by Y-Combinator and Andreessen Horowitz).

What makes London such a great place to earn an MBA degree? There’s a famous phrase that goes, ‘If you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life” (or something to that effect!). I think that really encapsulates what is so special about studying an MBA in London – the breadth and depth of experiences, interests, cultural perspectives and (of course!) career opportunities on offer means there’s truly something for everyone.

Whilst London is well known for being a world-leading center of finance, it is so much more than that – you only need to scratch the surface to find a vibrant and dynamic melting pot that is as creative and entrepreneurial as it is professional. London is also becoming a true tech hub that attracts talent from all around the world 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.

On a personal level, London is an incredibly tolerant and diverse place that welcomes all, and which I am proud to call my home. A large part of the MBA is about opening up yourself to new experiences – and I can’t think of a better place to do that than London.

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? As someone looking to continue working within the diverse and inherently global start-up ecosystem, an international mindset and ability to connect across cultures and backgrounds is essential for success. In the modern world of business, there is no such thing as a hard border. Even if you’re working for a national company, it is inevitable that you will be influenced by, collaborating with, or competing against others in your industry across the world. Learning to better understand diverse viewpoints, gaining exposure to different approaches to problem-solving and communication, and, most of all, developing empathy for others, will be invaluable in all business scenarios, from negotiation to leadership.

It is in large part due to the diversity of LBS’ MBA class (with previous cohorts comprising c.60+ different nationalities) that it was top of my list. The class is diverse not only in terms of gender and nationality, but also in the range of backgrounds and career outcomes with no dominant industry, which means there’s no “one size fits all” approach. Growing up as a second-generation immigrant, I’ve always felt lucky to have the privilege of being part of two unique cultures, and the innumerous benefits it has brought me – so I’m incredibly excited by the opportunity to be exposed to more global perspectives!

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? First, the quality of teaching and range of the curriculum is second-to-none. It means you can dive deep in niche interest areas (for me, emerging technologies and organizational behavior), whilst also gaining the world-class general management foundation required to be a well-rounded leader.

The flexibility of the program was also a key differentiator for me. 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.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at London Business School? Given the rapid developments in technology right now and the constant information (or misinformation!) that exists around topics such as AI, I’m looking forward to courses that cut through the hype and teach me to think critically about the application of technology to business. I’m particularly looking forward to LBS’ ‘Digital Strategy and Applications of AI & ML in Business’ course. I’m also incredibly excited to explore my passion for leadership through courses in management theory and organizational behavior under the guidance of world-class professors such as Lynda Gratton and Herminia Ibarra, whose books have long graced my shelves.

As someone who is deeply passionate about promoting female leadership and gender equality, I am particularly interested in participating in the Women in Business Club, and perhaps even a role helping to run the club’s activities. I am fortunate to have been awarded scholarships by the BK Birla Scholars Programme and the LBS Forté Foundation Fellowship, which supports female candidates of merit and is particularly relevant given my interest in furthering gender equality.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Jumping into the scrappy, early-stage startup world from the structured environment of “big law” was a real leap of faith. Going from a rather risk-averse, perfectionist corporate lawyer, supported by teams of juniors and specialists, into a results-driven “get stuff done” operator who always needs to deliver irrespective of resources has been a tough but rewarding evolution. I worked my way up with no operational experience (having barely touched Excel or slide decks before!) and had to quickly become comfortable with learning and executing fast. In startups, you have to wear many hats and solve problems creatively. It’s incredibly rare to come across the same problem twice – that’s what makes it so exciting and addictive.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? What I enjoy most, and what I hope is my unique skill to offer, is bringing people together. A start-up founder once described me as the “corn flour in the roux”, which I really liked! I hope this means that I’m the person who aligns diverse groups, bridges the gaps and keeps everyone on track and motivated – particularly during challenging times, of which I’ve experienced many! I have not had a linear career path, and I’ve also experienced the ups-and-downs that come with the entrepreneurial life of early-stage startups. The moments I’ve been proudest of throughout that journey have been where I managed to bring empathy, humanity (and where possible, a little joy) to others in difficult times. I therefore hope to bring the benefit of my experiences to the table at LBS to help support my fellow classmates when things don’t go to plan, and to create moments of genuine connection that define us beyond the classroom.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into London Business School’s MBA program? I think there are two key elements for both success in applying, and success on the program itself. First, it’s important to be authentic and true to yourself. At the end of the day, you want to find the best fit for your goals and preferences, as not every environment will be what you’re looking for and vice versa. To use a terrible dating analogy, there’s no point trying to be somebody else, as that won’t result in long-term relationship success!

Second, you should have a strong understanding of what the MBA will give you that you don’t already have – whether that be technical skills, network, practical experience, or international exposure. You don’t need to have a detailed strategy for the future – the best-laid plans can change – but an MBA is an investment that you’ll only get the desired value out of if you have done the necessary self-reflection and are intentional in your approach. Remember that LBS is ultimately looking to admit students they are confident will enjoy and succeed on the program.

I also want to encourage everyone to just apply and see. You hear a lot about so-called “requirements” around GMAT scores or GPAs, but a strong academic track record is not the be all and end all. In my experience, LBS is really looking to get to know you as a whole person (the admissions team understands that we are all much more than the sum of our scores!). You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so don’t self-select out of the process – just take your best shot!

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