Sheen Hui 

Imperial College Business School 

Hometown: Singapore

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve lived in five cities! Singapore, Beijing, Taipei, Boston, and now London.

Undergraduate School and Major: Babson College, BSc in Business Administration (Concentrating in Environmental Sustainability)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: SmartFlower Solar, Creative Designer & Marketing Manager

What were some of the key motivating factors behind pursuing your MBA, and why did this seem like the right time for you? I decided to pursue an MBA at Imperial College London because of my passion for creating social impact. After years of working within the renewable energy industry, I wanted to transition into the non-profit and social impact space and create value that directly benefits the communities around me. While I have over six years of for-profit experience, I sought the MBA to address my limited non-profit exposure and to develop leadership and strategic skills for larger, mission-driven initiatives. Imperial College Business School’s distinct focus on innovation, its approach to the intersection of business and technology, and its global community offers the ideal platform to prepare me for this transformative career shift.

What have been your first impressions of the Imperial MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Imperial story. I have only positive things to say about my fellow Imperial MBA classmates and alumni. Everyone I’ve met has been friendly, approachable, and eager to share their experiences and insights. My cohort has been incredibly supportive, whether it’s through meaningful discussions on complex topics or simply making time to connect over dinners, pub nights, and celebrations like Diwali and Halloween.

One of my favourite memories so far was our cohort coming together to organize and celebrate these events, showcasing how diverse yet unified we are as a group. These experiences not only highlight the openness and camaraderie of the Imperial MBA community but also create a space where diverse perspectives and cultural traditions are celebrated. It’s been inspiring to be part of such a friendly and inclusive environment.

Aside from your classmates, what were one or two key aspects of Imperial’s MBA program that led you to choose this Business School and why were they so important to you? Two key aspects of the MBA programme that influenced my decision were the Global Experience Week and the offering of leadership and strategy modules. The Global Experience Week offers an immersive opportunity to engage with local organizations and understand how different business environments shape operations. My upcoming GEW trip to Helsinki and Copenhagen, ‘Climate Transformation in Action: Moving from impact talk to real impact’, focuses on decarbonization and climate impact, aligning perfectly with my passion for sustainability and social impact. Additionally, the leadership and strategy modules are crucial in preparing me for a future career in the nonprofit sector, equipping me with the skills to drive meaningful change.

What makes London such a great place to earn an MBA? As Paddington Bear once said, “In London, everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in”. London is a truly global city, offering a vibrant multicultural environment where students can engage with people and industries from diverse backgrounds, fostering cultural intelligence and global perspectives. Its rich ecosystem of professional opportunities, including conferences, networking events, and workshops, allows students to build meaningful connections with industry leaders and peers. Imperial College Business School’s strategic location in the heart of the city enhances access to this dynamic environment, giving students unparalleled exposure to London’s thriving business and innovation landscape while studying at a world-renowned institution.

What module, club or activity excites you the most at Imperial? As the President of the LGBTQ+ & Allies Careers Club, I strive to provide students with opportunities to engage with inclusive employers, empower our careers club members to be their authentic selves, and build a diverse and supportive community at Imperial College Business School. Being part of the LGBTQ+ & Allies Careers Club also gives us the amazing opportunity to connect with the larger business school community. We recently had the pleasure of attending EUROUT, London’s leading LGBTQ+ Conference for business school students. Through the conference, we networked with MBA students from other top Business schools, heard from companies committed to fostering an inclusive workplace, and even got to attend a Keynote from Dame Julia Hoggett, the CEO of the London Stock Exchange!

Looking at your admissions process, what was the moment when you realised Imperial was the right program for you? Why? The moment I realized Imperial’s MBA programme was the right programme for me was when I compared its focus on tech and innovation to other schools I was considering. Imperial College London’s reputation as a global leader in innovation and its connection to London’s vibrant STEM and tech ecosystem aligned perfectly with my goal of leveraging technology for social impact. Additionally, its location in London offered numerous opportunities for networking and exposure to a diverse, global business environment. These factors made it clear that Imperial College Business School was the ideal place to develop the skills and connections I need for my future career.

What are two things you have learned at your school that have surprised you so far — one academic and one non-academic? Did you know that 68% of young talent would leave a company if their values weren’t aligned? That’s a statistic I learned while representing the LGBTQ+ & Allies Careers Club at Preside 2.0, an event gathering over 150 University Society Leaders across the UK to bridge the gap between talent and employers when it comes to values. It was a powerful reminder of the impact making a genuine commitment to ESG and DEI initiatives can have. 

As someone who’s only ever worked in Marketing, it’s probably not a surprise to you that I don’t consider myself a numbers person. So, imagine my surprise when I developed a clear understanding of accounting in my very first term! Our Financial & Managerial Accounting Professor, Dr. Danielle Lyssimachou, did an amazing job demystifying the subject of accounting for us, and has taught us valuable lessons that I’ll be able to take with me (yes, even as a Marketing person) in my future career.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far. One of my biggest career accomplishments would be overseeing a collaboration between my company and AY Young, a musician and UN Youth Ambassador. AY wanted to hold a clean energy concert in New York’s iconic Times Square (in fact, it would be Times Square’s first ever concert fully powered by renewable energy) and wanted to use my company’s solar flower Smartflower system to power the stage! I worked with AY’s team to develop a joint press release and media campaign, and took part in the event planning and logistics process to make sure our product was seamlessly integrated with the concert stage.

Looking ahead one year, what would make your MBA experience successful? I’d know that my MBA experience was successful in a year if I’ve significantly grown in both a personal and professional manner. Academically, I aim to deepen my knowledge of leadership, strategic marketing, and innovation, and apply those skills to real-world challenges. Professionally, I hope to expand my network by forming meaningful connections with my cohort, alumni, and industry leaders, building a community that supports my transition into the nonprofit sector. Personally, success would mean embracing new perspectives, fostering inclusivity both within the Imperial community and outside of it, and emerging as a more confident, impactful leader ready to drive social change.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Imperial’s MBA program? The school really values candidates who can bring their own diverse perspectives and contribute to its collaborative and globally focused community. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you need to have worked in specific industries or studied specific subjects to get in! Lean into your unique skills and experiences and showcase how they have been of value to your career so far. Furthermore, be clear about your career goals and how the MBA program will help you build the skills or the network needed to achieve them.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE ENTIRE IMPERIAL COLLEGE MBA CLASS OF 2025

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