Meet London Business School’s MBA Class Of 2027

DIVERSITY BECOMES A “LIVED EXPERIENCE”

Among the MBA Class of 2027, the students average 28.5 years of age and boast 5.4 years of work experience. Career-wise, 29% of the class last worked in Consulting, with Financial Professionals accounting for another 25% share of the class. The remainder of the class includes sizable blocs from Technology, Retail and Luxury Goods, Public Sector, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Energy, and Media and Entertainment. The class is divided 56%-to-44% in terms of men and women respectively. At the same time, 91% of the class hail from outside the United Kingdom. In total, 66 countries are represented in the first-year class, with the largest blocs stemming from Asia (30%), South and Central America (20%), North America (17%), and Continental Europe (11%).

This diversity stands as one of London Business School’s defining features. Consistently ranked among the 10-best full-time MBA programs and business research schools – along with ranking 2nd globally in CEOWORLD’s survey of top executives – the program is best known for instilling a global perspective. Call it a daily laboratory in how to navigate an increasingly-interconnected world, says Snehal.

“With 90% of the class coming from outside the UK, diversity at LBS isn’t just a statistic but a lived experience. Every conversation becomes a learning opportunity, whether debating the best Pisco Sour recipe or exploring Scandinavia’s advanced sustainability initiatives. This mix of cultures and perspectives ensures constant growth and a network that spans the globe. Where else can you say you have friends in over 60 countries?

Snehal’s classmate, Divya Chaurasia, echoed similar sentiments.  “When I read the stats – 67 nationalities in one class – during orientation, I didn’t realize that it was going to be one the key themes around which my MBA learning would revolve. It’s the Air Force pilot who challenges your view on leadership under pressure; the African entrepreneur who teaches you how to develop products from the heart; and the Japanese classmate who makes you realize the importance of being five minutes early for a meeting because punctuality is a sign of respect. The list is endless… If you do the MBA correctly, you can learn by listening, debating fiercely, and engaging with diverse sets of people.”

LA VIVA LONDON

This diversity only reflects the wider London milieu. Home to over 300 nationalities – with 40% of its residents born outside the UK – London is as much a melting pot as a commercial or cultural hub. Here, futurism and heritage co-exist, as the Shard and the Gherkin overlook the Tower Bridge and Big Ben. And the numbers are staggering: roughly 850 art galleries, 325 libraries, 300 music venues, 200 annual festivals, and 200 museums. And that doesn’t include over 40 higher educational institutions hosting nearly 400,000 students. Commercially, London continues to rank alongside New York City and Hong Kong as the world’s financial center. Not only that, but it headquarters notable Fortune 500 firms like Shell, BP, HSBC, Unilever, and WPP. At the same time, London ranks as the world’s 3rd-largest startup ecosystem according to Startup Genome, attracting $11-billion dollars in early-stage funding from 2022-2024 while maintaining 67 active unicorns.

Such numbers are one reason why Emma Hutchinson describes London as an “Everything Hub” – innovation, fashion, media, culture, even food – something for everyone and access to anyone, “no matter what you want to do.” Grant Soll would add “fast-moving” and “alive with energy” to the superlatives about London.

“Ambition certainly feels matched by opportunity here,” he tells P&Q. “It’s also incredibly social. You’re constantly meeting new people and doing interesting things, which is an important part of making one’s journey not only exciting, but inspiring.”

If anything, London is timeless, ever-evolving while also remaining “vibrant” and “relevant” in the words of Abraham Tesfu Firdie. “London offers unmatched access to global capital, talent, and culture all in one place,” he continues. “For the social butterfly in me who wants to befriend everyone, it is perhaps the ideal place. It’s a city where internationalism isn’t just tolerated, it’s celebrated. Unlike many global capitals where you feel like a guest, London feels like it belongs to world, where everyone is a minority.”

THE GLOBAL EXPERIENCE

And it even brings an underappreciated asset, adds Satya Sagar, who endured scorching summers and monsoon rainfalls in Hyderabad. “I actually like London’s weather – cooler summers, milder winters, and low humidity. London offers much better weather than most other top business school locations – I dare you to challenge me!”

If anything, says ’25 alum Zhen Ren Teo, LBS’s Regent’s Park digs make for a great escape from London’s hectic pace and crowded streets. “Its vast greenery and scenic beauty make it the perfect place to enjoy the London weather, rain or shine. Whether it’s post-class picnics, casual games, or a morning run, it’s my go-to spot to unwind and connect. It’s also where I’ve spent countless hours training for my first marathon, making it even more special to me.”

Of course, the school and city aren’t the only places for the Class of 2027 to immerse themselves in regional cultures and business practices. The Global Experience is one of LBS’s signature experiences. Week-long courses, they send students to countries as different as Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. Here, they meet with business leaders and entrepreneurs, along with completing a project. Not only do students get to learn about their selected topics of interest, but gain deep exposure to the business and social cultures of countries where they may someday work.

“The opportunity to work in an emerging market, solving real-world challenges with a team of global professionals, mirrors the work I aim to do post-MBA. It was important to me that experiential learning wasn’t an afterthought at LBS; it’s baked into the curriculum.”

VARITY AND FLEXIBILITY

Take LondonCAP (London Core Application Module), for example. In this module, four-member student teams partner with firms ranging from MasterCard to Google on issues like market development and product rollout. Over 10 weeks, students conduct research, hone ideas, and present findings. Not only do they gain experience in particular industries, but also reinforce their experience in working as a team and building relationships with high-level clients. Such exposure was a must-have for a career-changer like Denira Coleman.

“Throughout the program, there are numerous opportunities to take a practical approach to the concepts you learn in class and see how they apply in the real world. Initiatives which utilise this are the Entrepreneurship Summer School, the IMPACTathon, the Global Experience course, the HackLBS hackathon, and more. This is important to me because gaining real, hands-on experience, and practical, tested knowledge is essential when coming from a non-traditional business background like mine. Classical music taught me that progress comes from consistent practice, and I see the same principle reflected in LBS’s commitment to learning.”

Among LBS’s 53,000 alumni, the program’s variety is bound to come up. The school maintains over 80 student clubs, providing deep dive industry exposure alongside leadership opportunities. Beyond the usual business clubs, you’ll find organizations developed to Retail and Luxury Goods, Sailing, and Foodies. At the same time, students can pursue over 100 electives, including offerings in family business, sustainability innovation, and energy markets. MBA students can pair that variety with flexibility, with students able to choose durations of 12, 15, 18, or 21 months. In other words, they can choose to return to work sooner to pursue a faster ROI or stay longer to gain deeper expertise in the areas that matter most to them.

“The flexible exit timelines and the elective structure means that each student can design an MBA program that’s unique to them, giving me the comfort that I can embrace my individuality,” writes Satya Sagar. “I wish to fully utilize the flexibility to explore multiple internships, learn a new language, pick up a new sport, and potentially complete the program faster if there is an exciting opportunity waiting for me.”

How does that exactly look? Just ask ’25 alum Snehal. “I wanted an MBA program that would support my pivot to a new industry and give me the time and encouragement to explore possibilities I would not have otherwise considered. Thanks to LBS’s adaptable curriculum, I have completed four part-time internships, studied abroad at Columbia Business School, taken up an elective in Buenos Aires (Argentina), and travelled to bucket-list destinations like the Pyramids and Machu Picchu! These experiences have expanded my skill set and given me the courage and confidence to embrace the unfamiliar. And, of course, have the best time along the way!”

GETTING AN ANNUAL TATTOO

Embracing the unfamiliar is the heart of LBS’s most cherished annual tradition: Tattoo. Every April, 1,100 attendees gather for a night of “culture, colors, and celebration” – where over 1,600 litres of alcohol are consumed. Held on the Sussex Place campus, the event features food stalls, talent competition, battle of the bands, lawn games, and a closing light show. Organized by over 40 clubs, the event celebrates the talent and diversity of the program. Even the faculty gets in on the judging!

It’s energetic, beautiful, and a little overwhelming in the best way possible. Everyone on campus is involved,” says second-year Sagarika Biswas. “Think of it as an MBA-scale carnival — a fusion of cultural performances, global cuisine, live music, and late-night revelry. From a Battle of the Bands and talent showcases, to silent discos, arcade games, a ball pit, and even mini golf, every detail is curated to create magic. The evening culminates in a coach-led mystery journey to an exclusive afterparty location — a final act that solidifies the night’s unforgettable nature.”

That said, the India Club’s Diwali Ball also enjoys heavy alumni support, including Snehal. “Watching my classmates from around the world embrace Indian culture, donning vibrant outfits and intricate jewelry, is a sight etched in my memory.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH OLIVER ASHBY

Over the past year, LBS celebrated its 60-year anniversary, along with introducing an AI-infused one-year MBA program. What’s next on the horizon? For those answers, P&Q reached out to Oliver Ashby, MBA Programme Director. In an exclusive interview, Ashby outlines other unique features of MBA services, along with services the school provides to international students and alumni.

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in your MBA program over the past year? What type of impact will they have on current and future MBAs?

Ashby: “We are always striving to improve our learning environment, to create a space in which discussions can flow freely, and where students are engaged and focused. For 2024-25, we introduced a new approach of removing laptops in the classroom, for most courses. This initiative was supported by faculty keen to have as engaged a classroom as possible, as well as by students for whom deeper peer connections is paramount. After a year of the initiative, both students and faculty have reported high levels of focus and engagement, with discussions and meaningful class participation much improved. We also believe it helps to reduce multi-tasking fatigue, improving students’ wellbeing as a result too.

Equally important to us is for students to have the opportunity to develop interpersonal and leadership skills throughout the MBA. With a focus on our key behaviours of rigour, openness, curiosity, and inspiration, we introduced a recognition process and ceremony at the end of Year 1 to celebrate the contributions of students outside the classroom. Nominated by their peers, and selected by a staff and faculty panel, the awards gave recognition to those who have made efforts to step up, and lean in, for the benefit of others more than themselves. In doing so, we were able to highlighted the value of stronger connections with each other and the School, setting students up for even more success and engagement in year 2 of the programme.”

P&Q: What do you see as the main differentiator that distinguishes your MBA program from other schools? How does it enhance the student experience and make them more attractive to employers?

Ashby: “We are a truly global MBA, based in London. The combination of a truly global MBA class, based in one of the world’s most thriving business and financial hubs, sets us apart from all other business schools. We continue to be passionate about the value that our global diversity brings to the learning environment. With more than 60 nationalities, and no single nationality dominating – our largest single nationality is 16% – our classrooms and co-curricular activities bring diverse perspectives and experiences from all over the world. The value and richness this brings to academics, careers and networking is unrivalled, and students and alumni regularly tell us that this is the true USP of London Business School. With our base in the centre of London, on the doorstep of world-leading banks and consultancy firms, not to mention a growing and thriving tech space, we have the best of global talent working together in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

P&Q: What types of services do you provide to first-year MBAs to ease their transition into business school?

Ashby: “We know that the decision to do an MBA is a really significant decision. For most of our students, they are moving to a new country, giving up jobs, leaving behind family and friends, and – in most cases – leaving behind a regular income! Add to that the return to studying after several years, and the lack of 9-5 structure – it’s a lot to sign up to do.

Throughout the Admissions process, admitted students have access to an online networking portal, where they can connect virtually, with information sharing on finding accommodation, setting up bank accounts, navigating the visa process – all the admin pieces that need to be sorted out before such a big move. Our dedicated Visa and Financial Aid team provide professional advice and guidance to all incoming students, while the MBA Programme Teams start contacting students two months before the programme starts to help onboard the students well ahead of time. With online career sessions, and Student Wellbeing webinars, we are committed to providing the right level of helpful information so that students can really hit the ground running when the programme starts.

Providing a safe and inclusive programme experience is paramount for us, where mandatory onboarding courses on Bullying & Harassment, as well as Consent, form part of our transition support. From an academic perspective, pre-programme courses including Finance, Accounting, Data Analytics, and Academic Integrity are provided to get the students’ minds re-focused back to learning and academics.”

P&Q: What types of support do you provide to international students before and during business school to enable them to better acclimate to your country?

Ashby: “In addition to the transition support already discussed, our programme offers ongoing support and guidance to ensure that our students – 90% of whom are not from the UK – can feel comfortable and confident while in London. That said, a lot of our focus is on helping our students become comfortable in our global learning environment, with London as our important background.

Our Student Culture session, held in Orientation week, is an opportunity to talk openly about both the challenges and opportunities diversity brings to the programme. Working alongside peers from different backgrounds, with different cultural experiences and norms, can be difficult, and this session aims to allow students to learn how to navigate and thrive in this environment.

Our study group set up is also designed to help students get used to working in an international environment. In each group, there will be at least five different nationalities. Students are challenged and encouraged to challenge each other, using their unique experiences of their region’s business practices to educate those around them, to think twice about problems, and to see things from new perspectives. Students regularly tell us that the study group element of their MBA was one of the most enriching parts of their experience.

From a UK specific perspective, we invest time in supporting students with the UK Higher Education system, which can be very different from other countries. We are an inclusive learning environment, and ensuring students have access to learning support through academic and wellbeing support is very important to us. Our Student Wellbeing Services team are a dedicated, professional team who work with individual students to provide support and resources throughout their time on the programme.”

Next Page: Profiles of 13 members of the Class of 2027

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