Meg Mathile

London Business School

“Self-proclaimed art nerd turned corporate girlie who loves a gig as well a good book.”

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio / New York City, NY

Fun fact about yourself: I can crochet metal

Undergraduate School and Degree: Yale University, Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts (concentration in Sculpture)

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Kohl’s Department Stores, Senior Strategy Analyst

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Santoni in Milan, Italy

Where will you be working after graduation? Undecided

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Co-President EUROUT, Europe’s largest student-led LGBTQ+ conference / Co-President LBS’s Out in Business Club 2024-2025; Previously Co-SVP DEI Advocacy 2023-2024

Walpole Luxury Leaders of Tomorrow 2024

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?  Leading DEI and then subsequently EUROUT/Out in Business at LBS has been memorable on so many personal and professional fronts. This community helped me to come into my own as a person, encoring me to be out and visible for the first time. Additionally, leading the club gave me clarity on the importance of culture and community in my leadership style. It has been a privilege to combine purpose and passion and stand behind something that makes a positive impact on my community.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Working with Harrods International Marketing team this past term has been a dream role, combining insights, strategy, and global market research. The level of trust and collaboration with the team, as well as belief in data-led decision-making, has shown me first-hand why this retailer is more than just a department store and truly best in class within the luxury sector. Not only have I felt excited by the challenges of shaping our strategy within new markets, I really feel this opportunity has allowed me to hone the tools I’ve have learned throughout my LBS experience in real time.

Why did you choose this business school? First and foremost, LBS attracts a global network and curious mindset that I felt aligned with my values and my vision for my future as a leader within the retail sector. Additionally, I was drawn to the Walpole Luxury Leaders of Tomorrow program which allowed me to work directly with mentors in the luxury industry.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Jessica Spungin, Adjunct Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship — Her ability to engage students in thought provoking conversations and curate a mix of engaging cases and content really impacted me. I took Strategic Innovation with her last Fall, a topic that could easily become very theoretical and amorphous, but she was able to bring to life actionable frameworks that have helped me understand how to be a more effective change leader. Every class, I walked away with a key question that pushed me to re-evaluate how I approach stakeholder engagement and implementing new business projects in real time.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Data Led Enterprise with Bruce Hardie, Professor of Marketing and Michael Ross, Executive Fellow of Marketing. As someone with a data insights and creative background within retail, this was by far my favourite course and the most impactful for me. Michael was instrumental in creating a platform called Edited that actually started my career as a Trend Insights Analyst when I first moved to New York. It inspired a passion for data storytelling amidst creative teams that has greatly shaped the rest of my career journey. Bruce and Michael are not only experts in the field, but understand the importance of intersecting “art” and “science” to build effective customer strategies in a time where data fluency is more critical than it has ever been.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favourite MBA event or tradition has actually been London Business School’s Global Experience, a week-long experiential learning course. I did mine in Lima, Peru and found it to be an absolute highlight of my two years here. From the amazing guest speakers to the engaging client projects, the week really opened my eyes to a perspective I had not yet explored in economic development. Additionally, it was an unforgettable experience and great way to reconnect with my classmates as we enter the final chapter of the MBA.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I think rather than different, the advice I would give my first-year self (and have given many first years since) is this: “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” There are so many opportunities and ways to engage throughout this experience. It’s so important to be clear on what path best suits you and your values, your goals, and what you want to get out of your time at LBS. This can look different for everyone—for me this lens made the “yes” all the more impactful (such as leading Out in Business) when I was able to focus my energy in alignment with my goals (to develop culture and lead teams).

What is the biggest myth about your school? That all we do is travel—we do in fact go to class. But there is a universal travel bug that I think must be a prerequisite of the program.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? London is a vibrant city and the center of so much creativity and ambition. It has been an amazing backdrop for learning as well as access to the rest of the world, as there is such a strong international presence at LBS and beyond.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? As someone with a corporate background, I still back The Office as a timeless reflection of interpersonal dynamics. Even in the most absurd situations, everyone will have “this one time at my old job” moment to relate to it.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? AI has been an amazing tool to help enhance my professional journey—whether researching new functional roles or background on market leaders and potential employers. It has been an amazing way to strengthen and synthesize the recruitment process.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Ed Vickers-Willis — A dear friend and thought partner, Ed has taught me so much about purpose and personal development. Ed is equal parts smart, compassionate and driven, but has this amazing capacity to stay incredibly clear and grounded. His ability to lead not just with empathy but also by example inspires me, and our chats over coffee throughout our time at LBS have kept me grounded and also pushed me when I needed it most.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Customer Research Abroad – Would love to immerse myself further in markets that I am working with to better understand customers and culture.

2. Lead an LGBTQIA+ ERG – I really want to continue to show up for my community in my next chapter professionally.

What made Meg such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Meg’s focus throughout her MBA journey is something remarkable, as she has sought out opportunities to bring together different opportunities that support her overall ambition. With excellence and passion for both data and luxury – two things that you might not automatically connect – she has purposely carved out an MBA experience that truly aligns with her objectives. Alongside this, Meg’s personal journey advocating within the DEI space has ensured her space within the MBA class is one where she is respected and admired. Her commitment to the LBS community, to continually look for ways in which we can all do more, and create better, longer-lasting impact, makes her a role model for all those around her. As Meg considers her post-MBA opportunities, I have no doubt that she will take a purposeful and intentional path towards even greater success.”

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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