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Renowned global academics came together at 91��ɫ Business School for the latest Management & Entrepreneurship Conversations conference.

1 minute read

Celebrating the Dean’s Community Award winners

Lou Lee — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:07:36 +0000

Celebrating the Dean’s Community Award winners

Lou Lee Thu, 07/08/2025 - 14:07

15 July 2026 News

Business School academic nominated for second term on UK's fiscal watchdog

14 July 2026 News

Celebrating the Dean’s Community Award winners

9 July 2026 News

91��ɫ Business School achieves 91% average positivity score in National Student Survey

14 July 2026

Each year, 91��ɫ Business School recognises the outstanding contributions of students and alumni who go above and beyond to strengthen the School community and make a positive difference.

Voted for by staff and students, the Dean’s Community Awards celebrate individuals and teams who demonstrate exceptional citizenship through their extra-curricular activities – leading initiatives, inspiring others, championing inclusion and developing solutions that benefit both the Business School and wider society.

Join us in congratulating the winners of the Dean’s Community Awards 2025/26:

Improving Society Award

Adrijana Pantic, MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management, was recognised for founding the Western Balkans Society at 91��ɫ College Union and creating opportunities for students to connect across programmes and backgrounds. Through social events, trips, coffee chats and initiatives such as a cross-cohort Secret Santa, Adrijana helped foster a more welcoming and inclusive community. She also acted as a valued voice for her cohort, ensuring student feedback reached the Programme Team and supporting prospective students through 91��ɫ’s Role Models initiative.

Adrijana Pantic

Inspiring Brilliant Minds

Lena Collante, MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management, was recognised for inspiring the student community through her leadership as Speakers Coordinator for TEDx91��ɫ, helping deliver events that brought together diverse ideas and perspectives. Through her contributions as a Business Writer for Felix, she has also encouraged curiosity and discussion through insightful writing on topics including retail, luxury and consumer goods.

Erasmus Yeo, BSc Economics, Finance and Data Science, received the award for building a high-impact student investment society that expanded learning and professional development opportunities for students. Under his leadership, the society delivered a wide range of activities, including educational sessions, career workshops, office visits and networking opportunities, helping students strengthen their financial knowledge and explore future career pathways.

Lena Collante

Erasmus Yeo

Pionering Practical Solutions

Anne Ndiaye and Aaro Vasama, MSc Management and MSc Economics & Strategy for Business, were recognised for securing official recognition for the Dean’s Student Advisory Council (DSAC) as a constituent union. Through their work with 91��ɫ College Union, they strengthened student representation and ensured Business School students have a formal voice within the wider institution for the first time.

Dennis (Mingjun) Jian, BSc Economics, Finance and Data Science (EFDS), received the award for transforming student representation and society leadership. As Department Representative and President of the EFDS Society, Dennis strengthened communication between students and faculty, secured new partnerships, and introduced initiatives that enhanced academic, professional and social opportunities for students across year groups.

Anne Ndiaye and Aaro Vasama

Dennis (Mingjun) Jian

Power of Innovative Thinking

Mif Ardianata Pratama Putra, MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management, was recognised for applying creative approaches across entrepreneurship, sustainability and education to create meaningful impact. As a Student Ambassador and content creator for 91��ɫ Business School, he has helped showcase student experiences globally, while his work in youth development and sustainability initiatives has supported thousands of young people beyond 91��ɫ.

The Analytics for Society 2026 Student Organising Committee – Chirayu Garg, Riddhima Tanwar and Jean-Marc Yao, MSc Business Analytics – received the award for transforming one of the School’s flagship competitions. The team introduced innovation-focused judging criteria, expanded industry engagement and strengthened the competition’s focus on developing data-driven solutions to real-world sustainability challenges.

Mif Ardianata Pratama Putra

Analytics for Society 2026 Student Organising Committee

Sustainable Business Thinking

Positive Investment 91��ɫ (P+II) received the Sustainable Business Thinking Award for creating a leading platform for student engagement with sustainable finance through high-impact events, industry collaboration and thought-provoking discussions. The society connected students with professionals from leading organisations, delivered one of 91��ɫ Business School’s largest student-led sustainable finance events, and created opportunities to explore climate finance, impact investing and the future of responsible business.

The team included leaders Cameron Lyon and Sarah Dutton, alongside Océane Mbaguta, Zeus Eden, Diana Aleman, Sandra Rigberg, Aleya Zaki, Allysha Shahrul Azlan, Sanika Khemani, Hugo Jair Sanchez Otero, Remo Rajith and Javaria Usman, representing MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance, MSc Finance & Accounting, MSc Innovation & Entrepreneurship Management and MSc Investment & Wealth Management.

Saeed Ibrahim, Executive MBA, received the award for bringing global expertise and practical insight into sustainable business and finance discussions. Through his professional work in sustainable infrastructure investment and his contributions to the Business School community, Saeed has inspired others to consider how business can support positive environmental and social outcomes.

Positive Investment 91��ɫ (P+II)

Saeed Ibrahim

Dean’s Community Award for Alumni

Shimona Clington Fernando, Intercalated BSc 2024/25, received the Dean’s Community Award for Alumni for her exceptional leadership in strengthening the student experience. As President of Management Society, she developed a mentoring network supporting more than 100 students, while also organising academic resources, tutorials, careers events and initiatives that helped students feel supported throughout their studies.

Zeyang (Zoey) Shu, Financial Technology 2021, received the Dean’s Community Award for Alumni for founding and leading the APAC Alumni in London group. Through networking events, mentoring, volunteering and community activities, Zoey has created an inclusive space for alumni and students to connect, share experiences and support one another in London and beyond.

Shimona Clington Fernando

Zeyang (Zoey) Shu

Through their dedication, creativity and commitment to making a difference, this year’s Dean’s Community Award winners represent the values of collaboration, innovation and community that continue to define 91��ɫ Business School.

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Meet the individuals and teams creating meaningful impact through leadership, innovation, sustainability and community-building across 91��ɫ Business School.

4 minute read

Business School honours exceptional student and alumni impact through Dean’s Community Awards 2025

Shamita Harsh — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:07:36 +0000

Business School honours exceptional student and alumni impact through Dean’s Community Awards 2025

Shamita Harsh Thu, 07/08/2025 - 14:07

15 July 2026 News

Business School academic nominated for second term on UK's fiscal watchdog

14 July 2026 News

Celebrating the Dean’s Community Award winners

9 July 2026 News

91��ɫ Business School achieves 91% average positivity score in National Student Survey

15 August 2025

Each year, 91��ɫ Business School celebrates the remarkable ways in which our students and alumni shape our community. Whether it is championing inclusivity or driving social impact and sustainability, they have consistently carved a way to lead by example.

The Dean’s Community Awards honour those who have gone above and beyond to lead, inspire, and pioneer new initiatives that make a difference both within the School and beyond. These awards are an yearly reflection of our community of practice, voted for by our staff and students, recognising the work of students and alumni who excel in extra-curricular activities.

Join us in congratulating winners of Dean’s Community Awards 2025:

Improving Society Award

Mohammad Zaid Abid Dalla, MSc Strategic Marketing, received the Improving Society award for leading impactful community initiatives as VP of Societal Engagement, including the What the Tech?! digital literacy programme and a Christmas dinner for care leavers, both of which fostered social inclusion and student volunteerism.

Dhruv Syam, BSc Economics, Finance & Data Science, received the Improving Society award for revitalising the Effective Altruism Society at 91��ɫ and launching initiatives such as the Intro Fellowship and Impact 91��ɫ Groups, which promote ethical, evidence-based engagement and empower students to address global challenges.

Mohammad Zaid Abid Dalla

Dhruv Syam

Inclusive Business Award

IB Sunset Festival Student Committee comprising of Edward Lim, Kevin Alvaro Handoko, Zaid Abid Dalla, Omar Elali, Milan Koehler, Zhamilya Mukai, Sumitra Natesan, representing the courses MSc Business Analytics Online, MSc Global Health Management, MSc Strategic Marketing, received the Inclusive Business award for creating and delivering the inaugural IB Sunset Festival, an inclusive, culturally diverse celebration that successfully reimagined the School’s summer event and strengthened community engagement.

Aisha Qadi, MSc Management, received the Inclusive Business award for initiating and organising the School’s first Iftar event, which fostered inclusion, cultural understanding, and community among Muslim and non-Muslim students during Ramadan.

IB Sunset Festival Student Committee

Aisha Qadi

Inspiring Brilliant Minds

Paolo Stagni, MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management, received the award for Inspiring Brilliant Minds for launching 91��ɫ’s first-ever Hult Prize On Campus Competition, mobilising over 100 students and coordinating a major cross-campus event that brought global social entrepreneurship to the heart of the university.

Andrea Martini, MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management, received the award for Inspiring Brilliant Minds for his leadership as Vice President of the Consulting Club, where he organised a diverse programme of events that enhanced student skills, broadened industry perspectives, and fostered meaningful professional connections.

Paolo Stagni

Andrea Martini

Pioneering Practical Solutions

Sameeksha (Sammy) Sahni, Global Online MBA, received the Pioneering Practical Solutions award for launching the Global Coffee Connect initiative in Dubai and hosting online prep sessions that fostered meaningful connections and support among online students, alumni, and peers across programmes and geographies.

Laotan Faji, MSc Business Analytics and Maria Hayek, MSc Economics & Strategy for Business received this award in Pioneering Practical Solutions for organising the largest-ever School Intra-Programme Football Tournament, significantly improving participation, event structure, and promotion to deliver a highly successful and inclusive student experience.

Sameeksha Sahni

Laotan Faji and Maria Hayek

Power of Innovative Thinking

Rhea Khanna, MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management, received the Power of Innovative Thinking award for founding and leading Medora, a venture addressing oral care in dementia through inclusive, user-driven innovation, while also advancing student entrepreneurship and healthcare accessibility through multiple interdisciplinary initiatives.

Lara Biter, MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management, received the Power of Innovative Thinking award for contributions to entrepreneurship, inclusive innovation, and student wellbeing at 91��ɫ, including co-founding Medora, leading national startup initiatives, and advancing accessibility and policy reform through multiple high-impact projects.

Rhea Khanna

Lara Biter

Sustainable Business Thinking

The Analytics for Society 2025 Student Organising Committee: Laotan A Faji, Margaux Drochon, Elena Lickel, Emily Peters, representing the MSc Business Analytics, Full-Time MBA, received the Sustainable Business Thinking award for transforming Analytics for Society into a global, cross-institutional platform by securing strategic partnerships, expanding international reach, and establishing a financially sustainable model that significantly enhanced the competition’s impact and visibility.

Nicolas Muller, Abdul Amin & the Climate Investment Challenge Committee comprising of Arushi Wasan, Ellie Schofield, Jessica Nutt, Alessio Boggio-Chaibi, Ofure Iribhogbe, Shraddha Kalpathi Jaidev and representing the programmes MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance, MSc Finance & Accounting, MSc Global Health Management, MSc Strategic Marketing. The group received the Sustainable Business Thinking award for organising the 2025 Climate Investment Challenge, securing new international funding, expanding global participation, and delivering a high-impact, professionally run competition addressing climate-focused financial innovation.

The Analytics for Society 2025 Student Organising Committee

Nicolas Muller, Abdul Amin & the Climate Investment Challenge Committee

Outstanding Contribution to the Business School

David Driskell and Tatiana Chang, Full-Time MBA, MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance, received the Outstanding Contribution to the Business School award for leading the creation of the School’s first student-authored EQUIS Student Report, coordinating diverse focus groups and delivering a high-quality submission that contributed significantly to the 2025 re-accreditation process.

Joanne Linder, Full-Time MBA 1996, received the Outstanding Contribution to the Business School award for chairing the Alumni Advisory Council for 13 years.

David Driskell and Tatiana Chang

Joanne Linder

Dean’s Community Award for Alumni

Marc Richly, Business Analytics Online (2023), received the Dean’s Community Award for Alumni award for leading the development of a machine learning tool to improve UNICEF India's fundraising effectiveness and for sustained contributions to student initiatives and alumni engagement through the Gandhi Centre for Inclusive Innovation.

Yasmin Baker, Intercalated BSc (2024), received the Dean’s Community Award for Alumni award for setting up a buddy scheme connecting alumni with current students to enhance mentorship and support student wellbeing, and for establishing the non-profit “More than Medics”, supporting medical students to explore careers beyond traditional clinical roles including consulting, medtech and policy.

Marc Richly

Yasmin Baker

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Celebrating the individuals championing diversity, inclusion and community through impactful initiatives and collaborative action.

Main image: IB Sunset Festival Student Committee - Edward Lim, Kevin Alvaro Handoko, Zaid Abid Dalla, Omar Elali, Milan Koehler, Zhamilya Mukai, Sumitra Natesan

4 minute read

Book launch on Tencent and its rise to being a global tech giant

Lou Lee — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:15:24 +0000

Book launch on Tencent and its rise to being a global tech giant

Lou Lee Mon, 14/04/2025 - 10:15

15 July 2026 News

Business School academic nominated for second term on UK's fiscal watchdog

14 July 2026 News

Celebrating the Dean’s Community Award winners

9 July 2026 News

91��ɫ Business School achieves 91% average positivity score in National Student Survey

1 July 2026

To mark the publication of their new book, China's 'Everything Online' Company: The Unique Innovation Model of Tencent, Professor George Yip, Emeritus Professor of Marketing & Strategy at 91��ɫ Business School, and co-author Professor Xiaolan Fu, Professor of Technology and International Development at the University of Oxford, shared insights from their research into one of the world's leading technology companies.

Introduced by Lord Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrat House of Lords spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology, the event traced Tencent's evolution from its early instant messaging platform QQ to the creation of WeChat and its vast digital ecosystem spanning social media, gaming, payments, cloud computing and AI.

Drawing on years of research, Professor Yip and Professor Fu explained that Tencent's success stems not only from technological excellence, but also from the way it encourages new ideas to emerge. Their book introduces the company's distinctive OCEAN framework: Openness, Coopetition, Empowerment, Autonomy and Attentiveness as a way of managing stakeholder needs. Together, these principles help Tencent operate more like a connected ecosystem than a traditional corporate hierarchy, encouraging experimentation while allowing new ideas to scale quickly.

“I hope people left with fresh insights into how Tencent combines technology, organisation and ecosystem thinking to create innovation at scale, and why those lessons matter well beyond China.”

Professor George Yip

Emeritus Professor of Marketing & Strategy

Reflecting on the event, Professor Yip said: "The enthusiasm and engagement from the audience showed just how much interest there is in understanding one of the world's most innovative companies. I hope people left with fresh insights into how Tencent combines technology, organisation and ecosystem thinking to create innovation at scale, and why those lessons matter well beyond China, even to the UK's next Prime Minister."

The evening concluded with a lively audience Q&A exploring the future of innovation, digital ecosystems and China's rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Professor Yip and Professor Fu's book offers fresh insights for business leaders, policymakers, researchers and students interested in innovation, digital platforms and the future of technology.

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91��ɫ Business School welcomed business leaders, academics and alumni for the launch of a new book offering a rare insight into how Chinese technology giant Tencent became one of the world's most innovative companies.

2 minute read

91��ɫ Business School students pitch to investors at London Tech Week

Lou Lee — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:15:24 +0000

91��ɫ Business School students pitch to investors at London Tech Week

Lou Lee Mon, 14/04/2025 - 10:15

15 July 2026 News

Business School academic nominated for second term on UK's fiscal watchdog

14 July 2026 News

Celebrating the Dean’s Community Award winners

9 July 2026 News

91��ɫ Business School achieves 91% average positivity score in National Student Survey

18 June 2026

London Tech Week, held from 8-12 June, is the UK’s premier destination for innovation, collaboration and growth in the tech sector. 91��ɫ’s stand showcased the university’s world-leading research, breakthrough ventures and growing innovation ecosystem through WestTech London, with strong involvement from 91��ɫ Business School alongside 91��ɫ Global, the School of Convergence Science, Lifelong Learning, and wider innovation partners. Together, teams championed how 91��ɫ works with businesses, investors and partners to translate scientific discovery into real-world impact.

As part of the week, student founders from the MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management (IEM) programme presented at the annual IEM Demo Day – a fringe event that brought together early-stage founders, alumni, investors and the wider London start-up ecosystem.

The Demo Day marked the culmination of a year-long programme in which students develop and refine their ventures, pitching live to a panel of judges and audience of industry professionals.

Tanushri Bhuruk, winner of the IEM Demo Day £1,000 cash grant prize, pitched Enso, a mental health app that helps users better understand their emotions through guided journaling and connect with suitable therapists. The app is already live on the App Store with users across five countries.

Tanushri said: “Presenting my startup was a genuine privilege. Enso came from a personal experience, so to stand in front of such a talented group of founders and have it recognised meant a lot. Winning the prize gave me a real push to keep building with even more energy - proof that what we’re building has an impact beyond just us.”

“There was a palpable energy in the room. For those pitching, this was the moment they moved from being students with an idea to becoming true entrepreneurial teams.”

Andrew Humphries

Entrepreneur in Residence and Module Lead for MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management (IEM)

Throughout London Tech Week, IEM students also engaged directly with investors, founders and partners at the 91��ɫ stand, presenting their ventures and receiving feedback from across the start-up community. For many, it was their first chance to test ideas in a live, high-profile innovation environment.

Reflecting on the experience, Andrew highlighted the importance of communication in early-stage entrepreneurship: “I’m constantly surprised by the power of storytelling and creating both an emotional connection and a commercial rationale with an audience. When something is being judged on just a five-minute pitch, you never quite know who will win – and even if you don’t win on the day, you may meet someone who helps move you towards your goals.”

Students gained valuable insights from engaging with industry experts during the week, with many describing the experience as a key moment in developing their ventures beyond the classroom.

Guglielmo Cimolai, an MSc Artificial Intelligence Applications and Innovation student, said: “For me, the best part was the conversations I had in those three days, surrounded by amazing founders building genuinely hard things. I’m thankful to everyone who stopped by to challenge our thinking.”

Solenn Sandberg, an MSc IEM student who reached the final stages of judging, said: “What made this experience even more special for me is that this is an idea I have carried with me for twelve years. What started as a childhood dream became something I had the opportunity to develop.”

The IEM Demo Day and London Tech Week activities form part of 91��ɫ Business School’s wider experiential learning approach, giving students hands-on opportunities to develop, test and scale ventures in real-world settings.

Andrew described the value of these experiences in helping students transform ideas into real ventures: “This is often when something moves from concept to reality. Talking to potential customers and investors, meeting incubators and accelerators, and stress-testing ideas with experienced voices is what makes the difference.

By embedding student founders within major innovation events like London Tech Week, 91��ɫ Business School continues to strengthen its role in developing entrepreneurial talent and supporting the next generation of start-ups.

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Student founders from 91��ɫ Business School’s MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management programme showcased their ventures to investors, innovators and industry leaders at one of the UK's leading technology events.

91��ɫ's London Tech Week stand at Olympia London

3 minute read

Alumni Q&A: Adrian Walker (MBA 2014)

Francesca Hoare — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 09:31:29 +0000

Alumni Q&A: Adrian Walker (MBA 2014)

Francesca Hoare Tue, 04/03/2025 - 09:31

9 July 2026 Alumni

Alumni Q&A: Florence Perramond, Climate Change, Management & Finance 2022

After building experience across venture capital investments, impact asset management and fundraising, Florence Perramond developed a strong focus on connecting capital with high-impact opportunities.

1 June 2026 Alumni

Lessons, insights and early career advice from 91��ɫ Business School Master’s alumni

We recently caught up with some of our Master’s alumni, who reflected on their early careers after graduating from 91��ɫ Business School. In this blog, they draw on their own experience to offer advice to those who are about to enter the job market.

29 May 2026 Alumni

Real career advice from 91��ɫ MBA alumni

We recently caught up with alumni from 91��ɫ Business School’s Full-Time MBA, Weekend MBA and Global Online MBA programmes, who shared insights and advice into succeeding in your career post-MBA studies. Read what they have to say in this blog.

21 May 2025

After a successful career in finance, Adrian Walker (MBA 2014) decided that it was time for a change. He enrolled on an MBA at 91��ɫ – a life-changing decision that led to Adrian meeting his future wife, Nataliya Walker (MBA 2014). Together, they founded Boataffair, a luxury yachting company. When we last spoke to Adrian in 2019, their business was developing a boat swapping scheme as part of their business, in addition to their yacht charter offering. Fast-forward six years, and Boataffair has gone from strength to strength - with a few pivots along the way! We caught up with Adrian to talk about embracing failure, making a bold career move, and what is next for Boataffair.

Next year marks Boataffair’s 10-year anniversary. What have been the defining moments for the company?

2019 was a cornerstone for us. At the time, we were focused on yacht charters and boat swapping as an additional service, which allowed owners to exchange boats globally and explore new locations without the need to charter. However, we noticed that there simply wasn’t demand in the market for boat swapping. We’re very open about that failure. We had to have the courage to pull the plug on an entire idea and redirect our resources into what was going well.

What did work was private crewed luxury yacht charters. We decided to make that our core offering, moving away from smaller, uncrewed boats. Today, we offer a hyper-personalised yacht experience, with luxury fully crewed charters, a concierge service and tailored itineraries globally aboard vetted yachts. Quality control is key to us, we only work with yacht operators and yacht crews where a superb client experience is guaranteed.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, like many businesses, we weren’t sure if the company would survive. But as restrictions lifted, we found an increase in demand for private yacht charters. People felt safer on our private yachts than in a crowded hotel. Word of mouth started to spread, and we were starting to be featured in travel publications. Our clients today include elite athletes, A-list stars, HNW multigenerational families and corporate clients.

More recently, we have started to expand internationally. We hit a major milestone last year when we opened our Singapore office, under the brand name Boataffair Asia Pacific, run by fellow alum Andrew Sutherland (MBA 2019).

Ultimately, we always believed in what we wanted to achieve. When we first started this company ten years ago, we wanted people to disconnect for a moment - to take themselves offline and just be present with each other. That initial idea is still at the core of the business, we have just achieved it with two or three pivots along the way.

What are your aspirations for Boataffair?

We have realised what works now, and that is something we want to continue. We want to grow internationally and tap into global markets which are a bit neglected. However, any growth must be in a sensible and controlled manner. We don’t feel the need to become a multi-billion-dollar company in three years. We are a family-owned company, funded by our own savings, passion, and hard work.

You left a career in finance to pursue an MBA and start a business. What drove that decision?

I don’t regret my time working as a Chartered Accountant. What I loved most about working as an auditor was getting to know a new company every couple of weeks. It helped me to understand business processes, and I really enjoyed talking to the clients. But I never felt like I was really making an impact, and I came to the realisation that I wanted to create something of my own.

I went against a lot of people’s opinions. My parents and friends all thought I was crazy to leave a stable career, good salary and pension. But none of those things are of any value if you’re not happy.

Adrian and Nataliya Walker

Andrew Sutherland (MBA 2019) with Adrian and Nataliya

What advice would you give to someone considering a career change?

Don’t let fear of failure hold you back. A lot of people don’t break out of the career path they are on because they are afraid of failing in some manner. It’s okay to fail, and sometimes it can be a step forwards. One day you can look back and say, ‘I tried, and I am proud.’

Listen to that inner-voice – the one that tells you what you would do without external opinions, or if the fear of failing wasn’t holding you back. If you have a persistent voice, like it was for me, then do something about it. I would urge everyone to find their courage within!

You run Boataffair with your wife, who you met at 91��ɫ. How do you juggle running a business with family life?

Nataliya and I both joined 91��ɫ for very similar reasons. We had both started our lives over, and we connected on day one of the programme. We quickly realised our skill sets really complement each other. What she excels at, I might not, and vice versa.

As is always the case in life, the journey has been up and down. Our second child was born during the pandemic and that was very challenging. But we support each other. When one of us is struggling, the other steps in. We are also fortunate to have a very supportive network of family and friends around us.

It’s much easier now than it was three years ago. Our youngest child is turning six in the summer, and he now understands what Boataffair is. Then our eldest is practically a teenager. He is starting to become more interested in strategic decisions, and even does a bit of social media for us. We are more convinced than ever that Boataffair is a family business!

What did you take from your MBA at 91��ɫ into Boataffair?

Coming from a finance background, I was programmed to be the ‘numbers guy’. But when I started at 91��ɫ, I quickly discovered I had a skill set beyond finance and cash flow. Doing an MBA, especially at 91��ɫ, you are forced to get to know yourself better and by facing your fears, you will discover your other talents.

I remember a workshop at 91��ɫ which was on managing expectations and negotiation. It was one of the highlights of my entire MBA journey! I discovered one of my strongest skills is to put myself in someone else’s shoes and find common ground to reach a win-win situation. It is something I use all the time at Boataffair, and I wouldn’t have discovered I was capable of it without 91��ɫ.

What is the value of the 91��ɫ alumni network?

You never feel alone. When you are having a hard time, whether in life or businesses, you know that there are people who have been through something similar. And of course, the network is great for building new partnerships and creating new connections.

Follow Boataffair on LinkedIn.

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5 minute read

Alumni profile: Quix solution to online applications

Francesca Hoare — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 09:31:29 +0000

Alumni profile: Quix solution to online applications

Francesca Hoare Tue, 04/03/2025 - 09:31

9 July 2026 Alumni

Alumni Q&A: Florence Perramond, Climate Change, Management & Finance 2022

1 June 2026 Alumni

Lessons, insights and early career advice from 91��ɫ Business School Master’s alumni

29 May 2026 Alumni

Real career advice from 91��ɫ MBA alumni

22 June 2021

A year ago Michael Rosam (Weekend MBA 2017) took the brave decision to leave his job with McLaren after “an incredible five-year journey” to pursue his dream. Inspired by his time there and at the Business School, as well as the support of family and friends, Michael left to take on the tech giants.

And it paid off. Lots of hard work, dedication and $3.2m in seed funding later, and Quix was launched: “From today, any developer in the world can sign-up for a free account to stream, process and store data at scale without the hassle of managing infrastructure.”

Tell us about Quix

Quix is a platform that provides an end-to-end development environment for building data-driven applications. It allows developers to build applications using live data streams and real-time machine learning – develop, test and deploy all in one place.

We built Quix around an in-memory data store called a message broker, in contrast to existing data and machine learning platforms that are architected around disk-based data storage. Quix provides our customers with lower latency, higher bandwidth and greater efficiency when compared to processing data in the traditional manner. Quix is particularly suitable for any applications where time is a driving context such as smart factory, connected mobility, robotics, healthcare and financial services. We also provide a free tier to help developers start building without any costs.

I'm passionate about applying technology to solve real-world problems and have enjoyed every moment of bringing Quix to market. My door is always open to anyone who wants to discuss their ideas - just reach out, I’d love to pay forward some of the support I have received!

Application users benefit from a more intuitive customer experience, providing genuine value for both the user and the business.

Where did the idea for Quix come from?

I met my co-founders, Tomáš Neubauer, Péter Nagy and Patrick Mira Pedrol, at McLaren where we developed solutions to get more data from the track to the factory in real-time. With each car producing 1.1 million data points per second it quickly became apparent that our databases were a significant bottleneck because each data point has to be written-to and read-from a disk before it can be processed. Our final solution was to adopt an open source message broker called ‘Apache kafka’ which keeps data in-memory, significantly reducing the latency and cost of working with this volume of live data. The biggest problem we found is that compared to databases, message brokers are very difficult to work with, especially for our race engineers and data scientists who increasingly use Python to write code. We saw it as an industry wide problem and founded Quix to make it easier for Python developers to use message broker technologies in their applications.

What lessons have you learned throughout the startup process so far?

Raising our Seed funding was much harder than we imagined! A working product and early adoption in the market is a must, but we were surprised about how much detail early stage investors wanted on the go-to-market strategy, including proof that certain marketing and sales strategies actually work.

My advice to other entrepreneurs would be to focus on commercialising your MVP, set up coherent KPI's as soon as possible and let the numbers speak for themselves. I'd also say that most investors aren't going to be the right partner for you, so work hard to filter them early to avoid time consuming dead end conversations.

How did your time at 91��ɫ impact you?

I specifically joined 91��ɫ because I wanted to build a technology business. My rationale? The Executive MBA programme ranked well for entrepreneurship and the wider College is developing incredible technologies. And it proved to be true. I developed fundamental skills on the course, which accelerated my personal and professional development. I practiced these new skills with by supporting two spin-outs: LoMaRe and Monolith.ai. The 91��ɫ ecosystem is second to none for anyone looking to set-up a technology business.

What has been your most significant achievement so far?

Our most satisfying moment happened a few months ago when we realised that we're now employing 15 people and enabling them to have great lives whilst also doing work that they are interested in. It was a humbling moment when we realised a greater sense of purpose for our business ambitions.

Building Quix has not been easy, and we couldn’t have achieved it without significant support from a huge group of people. I have to thank my co-founders - they are talented, passionate, motivated, and brave beyond words. And we couldn’t’ have achieved it without the support of all our financial backers and angel investors, who supported us with such strong conviction and speed.

I'm passionate about applying technology to solve real-world problems and have enjoyed every moment of bringing Quix to market. My door is always open to anyone who wants to discuss their ideas - just reach out, I’d love to pay forward some of the support I have received!

Programme

Weekend MBA

4 minute read

Alumni profile: From pharma to Fay&Mamie

Francesca Hoare — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 09:31:29 +0000

Alumni profile: From pharma to Fay&Mamie

Francesca Hoare Tue, 04/03/2025 - 09:31

9 July 2026 Alumni

Alumni Q&A: Florence Perramond, Climate Change, Management & Finance 2022

1 June 2026 Alumni

Lessons, insights and early career advice from 91��ɫ Business School Master’s alumni

29 May 2026 Alumni

Real career advice from 91��ɫ MBA alumni

9 November 2021

After nearly 9 years in the world of pharma in both account management and marketing roles, Sidsel Bockhahn-Tylecote (Full-Time MBA 2011) decided it was time for a change. With a passion for arts and crafts, Sidsel took inspiration from childhood memories, her Scandinavian heritage, and drew on her marketing skills to release her inner creative entrepreneur!

Despite the challenges of lockdown, in January 2021 Fay&Mamie was launched selling sustainable table decoration kits, alongside creative blogs and videos on how to create your own beautiful lunch and dinner tables.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

My memories are full of wonderful festive family gatherings and dinner parties where my grandmothers would whiz around the house setting gorgeous dinner tables with things they found in nature or bits and bobs from around the house. When I started hosting myself, I quickly found that tableware and table decorations were missing something. Everything I saw was too pricey or too boring and trust me, I’ve been looking!

I decided to change that. Through Fay&Mamie I sell cool, affordable table linens which you don’t need to iron, and easy-to-assemble table decoration. Most Fay&Mamie products have a crafty element because I believe in the value of making something your own.

I also took inspiration for the company name from my childhood and family: Fay - or fairy, as my hope is to add a bit of magic to the everyday and make a meal more than just a meal! And Mamie - a nickname for grandmother, to honour my two grandmothers.

Why did you decide the time was right to set up your own business?

My plan was to launch in 2020. I had the idea and I’d been working towards reducing the hours of my full time job for over a year. I’ve heard of lots of people taking the opportunity during lockdown to kick off their entrepreneurial dreams as they suddenly had all this time on their hands, for me however, 2020 was a big challenge professionally speaking. I had a small child, who wasn’t able to go to nursery for half the year, so there wasn’t really any time for a side gig. I officially launched in January 2021, but that was after a lot of behind-the-scenes work during evenings and my daughter’s nap time!

I also took inspiration for the company name from my childhood and family: Fay - or fairy, as my hope is to add a bit of magic to the everyday and make a meal more than just a meal! And Mamie - a nickname for grandmother, to honour my two grandmothers.

How did you feel leaving the corporate world to become self-employed?

I thoroughly enjoyed working for Johnson&Johnson; it’s an amazing company where you really get to see ‘best practice’ in action in a lot of areas of business. While there, I was in marketing, account management and sales and I was lucky enough to work in several different countries. Leaving the corporate world behind was not an easy decision, but I simply had to give my business idea a go. I must say, I love being self-employed! It comes with a lot of responsibility and uncertainty but I love the freedom that it also gives me.

What lessons have you learned so far?

I’ve learnt so much but let me stick to three points:

Make sure to share your idea. Whenever I have a conversation with someone about Fay&Mamie, whether it’s someone who could be a potential customer or a fellow entrepreneur, I almost always leave having learnt something that influences how I go about building my business.
Structure your week. It can be quite overwhelming the number of tasks you need to do when you run your own business and though you may work really long days it can still feel as if you get nowhere. A friend of mine, who is also self-employed, suggested planning the whole week keeping the tasks specific (e.g. find fabric for new placemat kit), instead of broad and vague (e.g. built 2022 strategy) and make sure to be realistic about time needed. This way of working has helped me feel a lot more satisfied as I can see exactly how much I’ve accomplished after a working day.
Get into PR & SEO. No matter how great your product or service is, no customers will ‘automatically’ find you. You need to drive the traffic, and if your marketing budget is zero then you need to get into PR to generate it. Consider local papers, online magazines, blogs open to guest posts, influencers and more. There are a lot of options out there. If you’re an e-commerce business then SEO (search engine optimization) is equally important and online PR related mentions can help here; but SEO is much more than that of course.

As a startup, how do you go about sourcing products and suppliers and setting price points?

As Fay&Mamie is still at a ‘proof of concept’ stage, I’ve decided to invest in a broad range of products with limited stock to test as many options as possible, rather than build up a large warehouse of stock. I use local suppliers who are happy to sell very limited quantities at any given time; in several cases, I make the products myself. This is all intentionally done to keep cost low while ensuring a quality product. For startups that do not have such an opportunity, for example, because their product cannot be made by hand, I would start by visiting relevant trade shows for contacts and reach out to supply chain agents specializing in the category.

Pricing is a really interesting area and something I love working on! I firstly started by taking a jumping off point in the consumer, rather than what made more sense from a profits point of view. The former is of course crucial but should come at a later stage, I believe. I asked myself: What would they be willing to pay? What commercial and non-commercial competitive solutions are available to them? And at what price points? I have intentionally priced my products rather affordably considering most are handmade, as this is where I see an opportunity. Example: In the UK, to set a table with quality fabric napkins and a tablecloth or a table runner, you can easily spend £100s! In other words, tableware becomes something you have very little of and typically not something you buy for yourself on a regular basis. It’s a classic wedding present and something most people only use for Christmas and similar major annual events. I’m hoping Fay&Mamie can make setting a gorgeous table a more everyday activity requiring a series of different linens and decorative items you can pick and choose from - and acquire yourself without breaking the bank. At the end of the day, food does taste better served at a gorgeous table and in lovely company!

What has been the highlight so far?

Managing the development a whole portfolio of very cool products despite of the fact that I’m not a designer! My background as an innovation consultant and marketer certainly helped me structure the process but I’m still pretty proud of pulling it off!

MBA

Programme

Full-Time MBA

5 minute read

Saluting our sisters during Black History Month: celebrating Alberta Asafo-Asamoah

Francesca Hoare — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 09:31:29 +0000

Saluting our sisters during Black History Month: celebrating Alberta Asafo-Asamoah

Francesca Hoare Tue, 04/03/2025 - 09:31

9 July 2026 Alumni

Alumni Q&A: Florence Perramond, Climate Change, Management & Finance 2022

1 June 2026 Alumni

Lessons, insights and early career advice from 91��ɫ Business School Master’s alumni

29 May 2026 Alumni

Real career advice from 91��ɫ MBA alumni

10 November 2023

The theme of this year’s Black History Month is ‘Saluting our Sisters’ and highlights the remarkable contributions that Black women have made to literature, fashion, sport, business, academia, art and more. In recognition of this, we are sharing the personal stories of Black women from the Business School who have made significant strides in business and entrepreneurship.

Alberta Asafo-Asamoah, Full-Time MBA 2020, is the Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Liquify, a platform that connects African sellers to global capital markets. In her blog, Alberta shares what inspired her to become an entrepreneur, the support she received at 91��ɫ Business School, and her advice to Black students aspiring to become entrepreneurs.

About me

I describe myself as a social entrepreneur and an educationalist. During my Undergraduate studies, I grew more interested in how policy affects private companies and their involvement in job creation. This led to me starting my career in OTC Derivatives and then in Corporate Banking at NatWest.

In 2018, I left banking to pursue a career in impact investing as I wanted to combine my experience in finance with a passion for social issues. I joined a boutique impact advisory firm as a consultant identifying and evaluating potential investments in the SME space in Uganda and Kenya to help bridge the funding gap for businesses caught in the ‘missing middle’ phenomenon.

During this period, I also founded AlgebraInTheCity (“AITC”), an educational tuition and consultancy business as part of my personal mission to help liberalise quality education and close the attainment gap in underserved communities in the UK.

Why I chose 91��ɫ Business School

I applied for the Full-Time MBA programme at 91��ɫ Business School because I wanted to contribute to the start-up ecosphere in Africa by developing investment opportunities for businesses and by lobbying African lawmakers to invest in initiatives for African social enterprises. I also entered the MBA programme with a business idea that I wanted to develop further during the programme.

I chose 91��ɫ Business School because of its initiatives in advancing science and technology because I knew that for me to become a successful entrepreneur, I needed to be a part of an environment that would allow me to test and trial ideas and access a global network that I can call on when needed.

My business: Liquify

I’m the Co-founder of a company called Liquify which is an invoice marketplace that connects exporters, in the emerging markets trading with multinational companies, in need of working capital financing with financiers. Our goal is to unlock liquidity in Africa by giving asset managers in Europe and beyond exposure to invest in an untapped asset class.

One of our biggest achievements was being accepted into Techstars Web 3 accelerator programme in February 2023. This was a great opportunity for us to network with other founders, investors and mentors whilst sense checking out go-to-market strategy. The investment from Techstars has allowed us to build the first version of our product.

Why I became an entrepreneur

I grew up in an entrepreneurial family so I always knew I would start a business at some point but I thought it would be much later in life. However, what pushed me to start sooner was my experience as a banker. Although I loved the structure of a stable career, as a solution-driven individual, I found it difficult to be creative because of the bureaucracy. So, I started to explore passions beyond my job. I left the bank in November 2018 to focus on developing an edu-tech business and to establish a career in impact investment.

Challenges I have faced

I am a black woman founder, in a female-led start-up, developing a fintech company in the UK, with a focus in Africa. This can be challenging! There is sometimes an assumption that you haven’t considered all risks, so it means as a team, we are often overly prepared and go two to four steps further on some decisions. I must say that we have been lucky to have advisors and allies who provide sound advice and make introductions when needed.

How 91��ɫ Business School has helped me

The Business School has been supportive of my academic journey and entrepreneurial journey. I received the Social Impact scholarship which showed that the institution cares about the issues I am trying to tackle and instilled a level of personal responsibility to continue working on these problems. 91��ɫ provided a really good ecosystem for entrepreneurs, and I took every opportunity. I received feedback on my business pitch at Pitch ‘N’ Mix events, I took part in hackathons and also chose ‘Entrepreneurial journey’ electives so it prepared me for the post-MBA world. 91��ɫ has also promoted my journey through its community and social channels which has allowed me to connect with a new network of people.

Advice I would give to Black students aspiring to become entrepreneurs

Firstly, build a community or an advisory board of people from diverse backgrounds so that you can get objective advice from different perspectives.

Secondly, do not discount the importance of peer mentors as they can be crucial to getting your product from zero to one when you do not have the financial resources from a large sponsor.

Lastly, when you do finally make it, don’t forget to help others along the way and invest in your community.

Culture and Inclusion

MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance

Programme

4 minute read

Tackling Plastic Pollution - Moving From Obsession to Profession

Francesca Hoare — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 09:31:29 +0000

Tackling Plastic Pollution - Moving From Obsession to Profession

Francesca Hoare Tue, 04/03/2025 - 09:31

9 July 2026 Alumni

Alumni Q&A: Florence Perramond, Climate Change, Management & Finance 2022

1 June 2026 Alumni

Lessons, insights and early career advice from 91��ɫ Business School Master’s alumni

29 May 2026 Alumni

Real career advice from 91��ɫ MBA alumni

20 February 2023

It's Sustainability Week! Dominic Santschi, MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance alumnus and Ampliphi co-founder discusses his sustainable business and shares advice to others on starting sustainable companies:

One of the key ways we do this is through our proprietary software, which uses machine learning algorithms to analyse brand-specific data and identify opportunities for cost savings and plastic waste reduction. By analysing data from a brand’s product, packaging and supply chain, we help consumer goods leaders identify inefficiencies and reduce their plastic footprint.

When we started Ampliphi in June 2021, we were challenged to convince potential customers of the value of our solutions. Many brands were skeptical of the benefits of sustainability analytics and data-driven strategy development, and they were hesitant to invest in our digital services. However, we were able to overcome this challenge by demonstrating the cost savings and environmental benefits of our solutions through detailed case studies and pilot projects.

Another challenge we faced was navigating the complex and rapidly changing regulatory environment around corporate sustainability disclosures, and, more specifically, extended producer responsibility policies. The Specialised Master’s at 91��ɫ helped me understand the policy and regulatory landscape, and this knowledge has been invaluable in navigating the challenges faced by Ampliphi.

Advice for others when starting a company with sustainability in its DNA:

Clearly define your mission and values: it is essential to have a clear understanding of why your company exists and what it stands for. This will help you stay focused and motivated, and it will also make it easier to communicate your message to potential customers and strategic partners.
Be prepared to face challenges: starting a sustainability services company is not easy, and you should be prepared to face a range of challenges, from technical and financial to regulatory and marketing. It is important to be resilient and to have a strong team of people who can help you overcome these challenges.
Focus on delivering value: it is essential to understand the needs of your customers and to deliver solutions that meet those needs. This is especially important in the sustainable sector, where many organisations are skeptical of the business benefits beyond marketing campaigns and improved brand reputation.
Keep up with the latest trends and regulatory developments: the corporate sustainability landscape is constantly evolving, and it is important to stay informed about the latest trends and regulatory developments. This will help you stay ahead of the competition and to develop innovative solutions that meet the needs of your customers.
Network, network, network: building relationships with your customer segment, other businesses, academia, and experts in your target industry is vital for success. This can help you learn from others, find partners and clients and stay informed on the latest developments in the industry.

In conclusion, building Ampliphi has been an incredibly rewarding and challenging experience. The MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance programme provided me with the knowledge and inspiration to pursue my passion for sustainable business, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world. I encourage others who are interested in starting a sustainability services company to pursue their dreams and stay focused on delivering value to their customers and the planet.

Written by Dominic Santschi