Industries are rapidly evolving and professionals need to enhance their knowledge and approaches just as quickly to keep up with new technologies and research across sectors. The Global Online MBA Class of 2028-2029 have chosen to future-proof their skills and grow their international networks at Imperial Business School, all while continuing to excel in their careers.  

Delivered exclusively online, our Global Online MBA programme is designed for experienced professionals who want to develop their business knowledge and leadership skills while continuing their career. Students learn alongside a diverse cohort, applying their learnings to real-world challenges and leveraging the experiences and perspectives of their peers. 

Imperial’s unique STEMB blend is embedded in the programme’s curriculum, through a range of modules in AI, data and analytics grounded in the latest cutting-edge research. Students can tailor the Global Online MBA to their interests and career goals through a combination of core, elective and flexcore modules, before consolidating their learning together through practical experiences, such as the Capstone project. 

This year, 86 professionals from 52 nationalities fill the virtual classroom, bringing an average of 11 years’ experience across a range of sectors with them. We’re also pleased to have a cohort with an equal 50% split between male and female students. Banking and finance is the largest professional sector, representing 21% of the cohort, followed by Consulting/Professional Services (17%), IT/Tech/Telecoms (14%), Energy (12%), Engineering (9%), Pharma/BioTech/Healthcare (8%), Government/Private Sector (7%), Non-Profit (5%) and other sectors (7%).

Our Global Online MBA programme is ranked 1st in the world and brings together a truly global cohort of students from Africa/Middle East (24%), Europe (22%), Asia/Pacific (19%), Americas (18%) and the UK (17%). The flexible online format not only allows students to gain a world-class education from wherever they are, but also fits comfortably around busy full-time work schedules.  

The Global Online MBA cohort begins their journey together on-campus at our South Kensington campus for Induction Week. This is the first of various in-person opportunities, where students collaborate during workshops designed to understand their learning and leadership styles, attend networking events and build connections ahead of continuing their MBA journey online. Later in the programme, students unite on-campus again for Capstone and optional in-person elective modules. Between these touchpoints, Canvas, allows students to continue cultivating relationships with their classmates and faculty online. 

What is your professional background and why did you decide to pursue the Global Online MBA? 

Since specialising in breast surgical oncology, my career has taken me through several healthcare systems and countries. 

In addition to treating breast cancer patients and research, I am now involved in several innovation projects and leadership roles in artificial intelligence and medical technology, which are working towards improving cancer diagnosis and treatment. Developing an idea scientifically is one challenge, but understanding how to build a sustainable model, finance and commercialise it, and lead a team to bring it successfully into clinical practice is a completely different challenge. 

That gap became increasingly apparent to me, and I didn’t want to learn business through trial and error. For me, the Global Online MBA would provide a structured understanding of strategy, economics, finance, marketing, organisational behaviour and entrepreneurship. 

My goal is to combine my experience as a physician and researcher with stronger business and leadership skills so that I can have a broader impact on healthcare and help translate promising innovations into solutions that can reach patients. 

How will Imperial’s STEMB blend support your career goals and why is this valuable? 

My career already sits at the intersection of medicine, science and technology. I regularly work with engineers, computer scientists, radiologists, pathologists and other clinicians. 

Imperial’s STEMB approach therefore feels very natural to me. I want to retain the scientific way of thinking that has shaped my career while adding a business perspective to it.  

I believe this combination will help me ask better questions – not only “does this technology work?” but also “who needs it?”, “what value does it create?”, “how can it be implemented?” and ultimately, “how can we make sure it reaches the patients who could benefit from it?” 

Which modules will be immediately applicable to your current role?  

For someone who is already established in a career, Imperial’s Global Online MBA is a particularly powerful option because you do not have to choose between continuing your professional progress and going back to education. Doing both simultaneously can make the experience more valuable because you constantly have real situations to test what you are learning and can then bring those insights back into the classroom.  

The Corporate Finance, Managerial Economics and Marketing Management core modules will be especially valuable for my innovation work. Several of my projects involving AI and medical technologies could be moving toward becoming clinical products. For that transition, I need to understand issues such as value creation, market needs, costs, investment decisions, intellectual property and commercialisation, which I’ll gain through these modules. 

I am also very interested in the programme’s applied projects, such as Capstone, and team-based work. Healthcare problems rarely sit neatly inside one discipline, so working through business problems with classmates from completely different professional backgrounds will challenge the way I naturally approach problems as a physician.

How will Imperial’s STEMB blend support your career goals and why is this valuable? 

I work in urban investment and development, particularly regeneration, so I am interested in how innovation can improve the impact we create in cities, especially in Africa. Imperial operating at the intersection of science, technology and business will be an avenue for me to understand trends and the latest innovations. 

There are constantly new approaches emerging in areas such as climate resilience, energy and urban development. The Grantham Institute’s work in climate, innovation and resilience could equip me with knowledge that I can directly apply to my work. As much of my career has consistently been focused on working with businesses and projects that can create meaningful economic, environmental or social impact.  

I would be interested in learning from that ecosystem and thinking about how these innovations can be translated into practical, commercially viable solutions. 

Why did you choose Imperial Business School for your MBA?  

When looking for an online programme, Imperial’s Global Online MBA felt like the right fit because it is intentionally designed to create meaningful opportunities to connect with my cohort and wider Business School community. The MBA offered an immersive and collaborative learning experience where I’ll be doing much more than watching lectures and completing assignments independently. 

During the research process, a good friend and Imperial alumnus, spoke about how the Business School has continued to be an important part of both his professional and personal development, even after completing the programme. The continued careers support and active alumni community, including events and meet-ups across different regions, really appealed to me. It was reassuring to hear that the value of being part of Imperial extends beyond the MBA. 

How does the Global Online MBA curriculum align with your career goals? 

My current role involves deal analysis and execution, portfolio oversight, investor communication and fundraising support. Before this, I worked across consulting and corporate finance. I supported impact-focused businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa to become investment-ready. Imperial offers various tools to build on my background and boost my leadership skills to take my next step. 

The Personal Leadership Journey directly aligns with my goal to build on my leadership skills because it takes a very practical approach to leadership development. Rather than leadership being something we only learn about theoretically, the module calls for introspection and will allow me to reflect on how I currently operate and how I want to develop as a leader. 

I look forward to working with a Careers Consultant and receiving one-to-one coaching to better understand my strengths, motivations and areas for development. With Imperial’s careers guidance providing valuable, structured reflection, I’ll carry the practical tools and experiences with me well beyond the MBA. 

What is your professional background? 

I’m currently in the energy and building technology sectors, working at Siemens Switzerland. In my sustainability role, I work with stakeholders from across the organisation to embed eco-design and carbon transparency across a wide-ranging hardware and software portfolio. In parallel, I also manage the roadmap of digital asset management products used globally across energy assets and projects. 

Why did you decide to pursue the Global Online MBA and how does it align with your career goals?  

My career goal is to lead sustainable innovation and develop digital and AI products that support the climate and energy transition. The Global Online MBA aligns with that goal by complementing my technical foundation with stronger business capabilities. My technical career has taught me how to identify credible ways to reduce environmental impact. But the MBA curriculum will complement my background by supporting me in understanding customer needs and the economics to support and scale solutions. 

The Global Online MBA is an intentional next step to become better at building business cases, leading across functions and scaling digital and AI-powered products. Although I can learn through projects at work, an MBA will give me a structured understanding of digital strategy, leadership and corporate innovation, alongside access to a global network of peers.  

How do you plan to get involved in the Imperial community as an online student? 

I’m interested in supporting Imperial’s community in Switzerland and beyond. I have already connected with the Swiss MBA and Imperial community in Zurich and would like to strengthen those relationships. 

My aim is to contribute both as a classmate and as a bridge between Imperial and Switzerland’s energy and sustainability technology ecosystem. In time, I would like to help organise opportunities for classmates to learn from companies working on the energy and climate transition in the Greater Zurich area.

What is your professional background? 

I’ve spent over 16 years in the oil and gas sector, and, for the majority of that time, I have worked on one of Kazakhstan’s largest and most technically demanding assets. As the Supply Chain Manager at Shell Kazakhstan, I lead supply chain and procurement governance across Shell’s two biggest joint ventures in the country: The North Caspian Operating Company and Karachaganak Petroleum Operating.  

What were you looking for in an online MBA programme? 

As I progress in my career, I will be aiming for a global role, so I was looking for an online programme with academic rigour that is identical to the on-campus experience and holds the same international recognition, whether I’m in London, Houston or Astana.  

The value of an MBA for me sits in the people. When researching, I looked for live sessions, study groups and structured collaboration, as well as in-person touchpoints like Induction Week and the Capstone project offered by Imperial.  

As a mother of two with a demanding full-time job, the part-time, online format meant that I didn’t have to choose between continuing my career and the education I needed to reach my goals. Imperial Business School’s Global Online MBA met all my needs without compromise. 

Which modules will be immediately applicable to your current role? 

In my current role, I use advanced analytics in contracting and procurement performance reporting and for some time I have wanted to go deeper into the methods behind the dashboards, particularly around forecasting and spend segmentation. The Business Analytics flexcore module will allow me to gain this understanding.  

Finally, I expect the Capstone project to provide long-term return as it’ll support me in examining decarbonisation pathways for frontier-market supply chains, which is directly relevant to Shell and to where I want to take my career. 

What is your professional background and why did you decide to pursue the Global Online MBA? 

I have been a British Army Officer and a member of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards for over ten years. My role was to prioritise, plan and resource military operations, training exercises, readiness commitments and any other tasks to be fulfilled by 1(UK)XX force elements, which includes people, vehicles, equipment and money.  

Having met my partner while on a mission in Somalia a few years ago, I made the difficult decision to leave the Army and relocate to Stockholm. This was a big life decision and involved not just a change in country, but also in language, culture and industry. I felt that as part of this transition, and coming from a public sector background, I needed to equip myself with the best possible skillset and academic grounding to succeed in my new circumstances. I am at a point where all the change happening concurrently is presenting a new range of options that I had never previously considered. A high-quality Global Online MBA at Imperial will give me the skills I need to excel in any one of them. 

Why did you choose Imperial Business School for your MBA? 

Imperial Business School stood out immediately because it offered multiple routes to achieving my objective. The Global Online MBA programme is flexible, customisable, and comes with world-leading connections, faculty and facilities. In addition to the programme, the university is going from strength to strength, which is reflected in the global rankings. Imperial’s laser focus on the future and being at the intersection between science and business made it clear it was the right fit for me. 

What is your professional background? 

Over the past six years, my career has focused on the planning, financing and delivery of transport infrastructure investments across Europe, Oceania, Latin America and Africa. 

I lead and contribute on the preparation and implementation of transport investments and advisory engagements in developing countries. My work focuses on improving connectivity, strengthening transport infrastructure and institutions, and supporting sustainable and resilient transport systems that enable economic development and greater access to opportunities. 

Why did you choose Imperial Business School for your MBA?  

Imperial was a natural choice for me because I already knew first-hand the impact the university had my professional and personal development. I completed my MSc in Transport and Business Management at Imperial, and that experience was a pivotal turning point in my career. It broadened my perspective, opened opportunities that shaped my professional path, and introduced me to an international network of people from whom I learned enormously from. 

Coming back to Imperial for the Global Online MBA therefore feels familiar. At this stage of my career, I was looking for a programme that would allow me to broaden my knowledge, particularly in finance, strategy and how the private sector approaches investment and decision-making. 

How did Induction Week prepare you for your Global Online MBA journey? 

Having followed the same career path for many years, I found it refreshing and inspiring to learn from people working across different sectors, countries and contexts, each with their own motivations for pursuing an MBA. Some are looking to shift careers, others are thinking about how to remain relevant in the age of AI, while many are balancing the programme with demanding jobs, parenting, relationships and other responsibilities. Hearing these different perspectives was both motivating and reassuring and gave me a renewed sense of energy and excitement for the year ahead. 

How will you balance the Global Online MBA with work and other commitments? 

I have been very pleasantly surprised by how thoughtfully the Global Online MBA has been structured. To accommodate the students participating in the programme from various time zones across the world, classes are offered at three different times a day to align with students’ schedules. As someone who travels frequently for work and often finds myself in different time zones I find this incredibly valuable. It really reflects the global nature of the programme and the realities of its participants.  

Organisation will be key to balancing the Global Online MBA with my work and personal commitments. I plan to set aside dedicated time for coursework, attending classes consistently and staying ahead of assignments in the evenings. Imperial’s online learning platform supports collaboration and building connections across the Imperial community. This is valuable as I plan to actively engage with my study group and cohort as this is essential to my learning experience. 

Which modules will be immediately applicable to your current role? 

I’m especially looking forward to the Organisational Behaviour module, as these principles will allow me to methodically identify and frame “people problems” in my organisation and design effective solutions for them. This is immediately applicable to my current role as an information security governance leader in the financial services industry. Governance is about doing the right thing and building the right structures to promote ethical behaviours to empower information security across the organisation. Insights into building this culture and empowering colleagues will be valuable in my future leadership journey. 

What do you hope to gain from learning alongside a diverse, global cohort? 

Creativity is at the heart of my approach to problem-solving, and businesses need leaders who are open to new perspectives to navigate today’s business challenges. This year’s Global Online MBA cohort will give me those new perspectives and add a globally informed dimension to my creativity. 

Each class member, shaped by their own upbringing, cultures and lived experiences, is a treasure trove of knowledge, perspectives and insights for me. This was a key reason I chose Imperial Business School. 

How will you balance the Global Online MBA with work and other commitments? 

I’ve dedicated a fixed block of time for my studies. For me, those time blocks are early mornings, evenings after work and weekends. During these blocks, I read lecture notes, participate in live classes, write my own notes and collaborate with my study group on assignments. Study groups are formed based on time zones and experiences, ensuring that we’re easily able to collaborate and share our diverse perspectives. 

I’m also able to access Imperial’s online learning platform from multiple devices, meaning that I can read and watch a lesson or two on a mobile as well to make the most of even smaller pockets of time. 

While the motivations to complete the Global Online MBA vary across the cohort, a common theme is the desire to build upon current expertise and step towards senior leadership roles. All students work alongside completing the programme, which provides various opportunities to apply concepts in real-time and for their MBA to add value to their current role. Upon graduation, students will leave Imperial with not only a fresh set of skills and the same degree as an on-campus delivered programme, but also a global network of professionals ready to lead impact and drive innovation.