Joseph Folkes

“I am an enterprising design engineer, passionate about developing technology to address wicked problems”

Program: MBA

Hometown: London

Fun Fact About Yourself: I knew that I wanted to work in Design and Technology before I was 10 years old.

Undergraduate School and Major: Imperial College London, Design Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: CEO, CLIP Energy – Currently open to opportunities

What were some of the key motivating factors behind pursuing your MBA, and why did this seem like the right time for you?

The key factors behind me pursuing the MBA were a lack of any formal teaching in business, and my passion for entrepreneurship. I could have studied Economics in school, but for whatever reason it wasn’t interesting to me at the time. In hindsight, I should have – since starting the MBA I’ve not only gained a knowledge base in Economics and Business but also learnt so much about how the world runs, which has made me more interested in and aware of topics ranging from politics to behavioral science.

Graduating university whilst running my own start-up, I thought it would be good to supplement all the entrepreneurship experience I was gaining with more formal business studies. At this early stage of my career and with the ability to manage my own time, it seemed like a good opportunity. I also felt the need to supplement my strong engineering education with more expertise on how to actually scale solutions to affect positive change in the world.

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

Flexible. In terms of time, project work and cost. I can do Quantic work when it suits me: whether that’s on my commute, when I need 20 minutes of a different task, or even on the plane. I can choose how to approach project questions, experiment with working in groups or on my own, and learn as much as I can by connecting with the wider Quantic network.

It didn’t cost me a fortune so I could choose where to slot it into my career. With generous scholarships from Quantic and the ability to fund it with money from a previous scholarship, it could become a possibility.

What course were you/are you most interested in taking coming into the program and why?

I was most interested in the Capstone project coming into the program. As I’m passionate about entrepreneurship, the idea of coming up with a business plan is enticing. I’m also excited about working with people across the world to bring it to life and learning about their different cultures and experiences in the process. Plus, the ability to have it entered into the moonshot competition at the end of the program is exciting!

What club, activity, or experience at the school have you most enjoyed so far, and why?

I’ve most enjoyed going to the entrepreneurship inspired events and those organized by the Quantic Entrepreneurs Club. The ability to listen to and learn from seasoned entrepreneurs on a variety of interesting and relevant topics is inspiring.

What do you consider the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

All of my biggest accomplishments in my career so far revolve around my start-up CLIP Energy. From raising £68,000 non-dilutive funding to pitching in front of hundreds of people at an accelerator demo day, the start-up has presented me with my biggest challenges and therefore greatest achievements.

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

I’m recently re-reading the book Mastery by Robert Greene and would highly recommend it, especially to recent graduates looking at starting an MBA. When I think long-term and see the next 10 or so years of my life as an extended apprenticeship phase, learning opportunities become urgent and are greatly prioritized. I think it provides a good view in today’s world as to why investing in yourself, as soon as possible, is worth it.

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

On the academic side, I was interested in the different laws around depreciation of assets, especially when comparing to the assets in my own start-up. The laws around 100% first-year allowances were surprising with the ability to deduct the full cost from profits before tax.

Non-academically, taking learnings from the MBA and my expanding worldview, how my own opinions have shifted over the year has been surprising. They’ve changed in ways I didn’t expect.

What advice would you give to help prospective MBA gain admission into the MBA program?

To get onto the MBA program I would just emphasize being honest and confident in your abilities and achievements. Consider how the MBA fits into your wider life plan and what positive impact it will enable you to drive later on!