Emma Hutchinson

London Business School

“Multilingual, ‘Third Culture Kid’ with passion for climate action and thirst for new experiences.”

Hometown: Boulder, Colorado, USA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve been to 35 countries in nearly 30 years and I’m not planning on slowing down any time soon!

Undergraduate School and Major: Stanford University, Earth Systems (Environmental Science & Policy degree)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deputy Director for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation at The White House, Washington DC

What makes London such a great place to earn an MBA degree? While London is well known as a financial hub, it’s really an “everything” hub—a melting pot of global cultures and foods, a hotspot for innovation and entrepreneurship, and home to a huge array of industries. No matter what you want to do, there’s probably someone doing it in London.

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? I knew I needed to choose a business school that took social impact and sustainability seriously—and LBS is doing great research and teaching on ESG, clean energy, and how traditional business practices can help the public sector. It shows both the values of the school and how in tune LBS is with the current needs of global businesses, which need to compete in fast-moving clean energy markets and manage accelerating climate risks. During my time at LBS, I am also eager to learn from the UK’s leadership on climate and clean energy—especially when my home country is going backward on this critical issue.

London Business School is one of the most culturally and professionally diverse MBA programs in the world. What will make you unique in this class and how will it enrich the experience of your classmates? I come from a non-traditional professional background—I’ve only worked in government and the nonprofit sector and only on the issue of climate change. I’ve known since I was a teenager that I would always work on climate and clean energy because it affects everything—food, health, politics, and business. I deeply believe that global businesses have not only the ability, but the responsibility, to lead the development and implementation of clean energy solutions globally. I will be that student in the LBS classroom who constantly brings up climate risk and asks what more a particular company could do to make its operations more sustainable – and I hope to inspire my fellow classmates to do the same.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at London Business School? I am excited at the prospect of joining the LBS Sailing Club. Ten years ago, during college, I sailed for five weeks from Tahiti to Hawaii on a scientific research expedition, and I’m eager to brush up on my skills!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was very proud to work in the Biden-Harris administration for nearly four years—first as a speechwriter for former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and later as communications director to John Podesta, Senior Advisor on climate and clean energy implementation to former U.S. President Joe Biden. One of the biggest highlights during my time at the White House was helping with communications and content for President Biden’s announcement of the 2024 National Climate Assessment, which collated the latest research about how climate change is affecting every region of the U.S. It was very important for President Biden to use that moment to show his personal passion for the issue and emphasize urgency for climate action, and I was very proud to be a part of the preparations.

Tell us your favorite memory: My most recent favorite memory is scuba diving at sunrise on the Great Barrier Reef in March 2025. Watching the fish dance together as the first rays of morning sun filtered down to the reef reminded me why it’s so important to fight for the future of this planet.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into London Business School’s MBA program? LBS is looking for students with a truly global mindset—working abroad or with global teams definitely helps, but what’s even more important is having a desire to learn about other cultures and wanting to give back to the world as a whole. Before you apply, make sure you reflect deeply on why a global mindset matters to you and how it will advance your career.

DON’T MISS: MEET LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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