Tapping into the MBA Network

One thing I’ve always appreciated about Imperial is the emphasis on networking and how much the school encourages us to build meaningful connections and a strong professional community. With four different MBA programmes – Full-Time, Weekend, Global Online, and Executive – there’s a huge amount of diversity and experience within our own community just waiting to be tapped on.

The good news is, there are already plenty of opportunities throughout the year to grow your network and meet people across programmes beyond the shared electives and trips later in the year.

Some are initiatives led by Careers, like the MBA World Café, where you can explore industries and connect with peers and alumni in a structured way. Then there are student-led initiatives, like Connect4, which I’ve been leading this past year, designed to help people with shared experiences, interests, and aspirations connect across MBA suites in a casual and ongoing way. And of course, social events led by our Social Leaders, which are a fun and relaxed way to meet people over drinks. In short: there are a lot of avenues available to you, and all you have to do is sign up, show up, and engage.

And yes, I agree that networking can sometimes feel awkward or overly formal, and that’s completely normal. Here are a few simple tips that have worked for me:

• Be curious, not transactional: Focus on genuinely learning about the person in front of you rather than just thinking about what they can do for you.
• Give as much as you get: Networking works best when it is about mutual value – share ideas, perspectives, or refer introductions where you can.
• Quality over quantity: You don’t need to have deep conversations with everyone, and it’s okay to move on if there isn’t alignment after a chat. Remember, one good meaningful conversation always bests ten shallow ones you try to keep alive.

These approaches made networking less intimidating and far more rewarding for me — helping me form connections that I still value today.

Connect4: Goals and Key Achievements

One of the things I realized early on was that while there are plenty of great events and programmes in place, there wasn’t a simple, ongoing way for students across all four MBA programmes to regularly connect, especially for those in part-time or remote formats who aren’t on campus as much.

That’s exactly the gap Connect4 was designed to fill. The initiative was first introduced by my predecessor, David MacDonald, the previous FTMBA Careers Leader, as a way to bring students together across different MBA programmes.

When I stepped into the role, I saw its potential to grow. I wanted to carry it forward, refine it, and build on the strong foundation that had been laid, making it even more meaningful and accessible for everyone. The goal has always been to create a straightforward platform for MBA students to meet, share experiences, and form valuable connections beyond their immediate cohort.

The idea is simple: we group MBA students into fours, based on industry experience, interests, and career aspirations, ideally with one person from each programme. From there, the groups decide how they want to connect: virtually, in person, all together, or through one-on-one conversations. There are no strict rules or formats, just a starting point to make networking easier and more natural.

Overall, the response has been amazing with 300+ students taking part. These numbers highlight the strong desire within our community to meet, collaborate, and build relationships beyond our individual programmes, which is exactly what Connect4 is all about. This initiative is still growing and my hope is that it becomes a lasting tradition for future MBA classes.