Nicholas Hulse

About you

What work experience/internships did you have before beginning with Imperial College Business School?

In 2019-20 I worked as a Senior Analyst for Apperio, a London-based legal technology startup. In my role I was mainly liaising and negotiating with leading global law firms on behalf of our clients (to get their legal expenditure data into our platform), working with development and product teams to resolve product bugs and build a product roadmap, and building customised and automated client reports.

Earlier in 2019, I worked for one month as an intern at EOS Risk Group, a leading global professional security services company, providing a comprehensive range of risk services and solutions in analysis, audit, strategy, operations, travel and assistance.

In 2018, I interned for two months at Good Soldier Songs, an independent music company in London specialising in both publishing and recording activities. I was tasked with helping to strategise artist marketing plans in new markets, performing due diligence on publishing revenue, and helping to organise artist events.

Why did you decide to study MSc Management at Imperial College Business School?

I initially decided to study MSc Management to develop my business acumen with goals to pivot towards a career in management consulting. Coming from a STEM background (having previously studied Electronic Engineering), Imperial stood out due to their extensive analytical pedigree. This is reflected within the Business School as well as the wider Imperial College London, with many different programmes catering to an extensive range of technical disciplines. Having this breadth in offering was important to me as it allows for extensive networking and collaboration opportunities.
London’s proximity to leading global financial and business firms is reflected not only by the extensive preferential career opportunities but also by the fantastic teaching faculty, which include many leading professionals across finance and wider professional services (both former and current).

Programme

What aspects of the programme do you most enjoy the most?

I love the diverse content and ability to tailor the programme to your professional aspirations through the extensive selection of electives.

Covering a broad range of content allows students to develop all aspects of their business acumen — something that is not only immeasurably beneficial for working within modern day businesses, but is especially helpful if you are wanting to start your own company.

Which has been your favourite module so far and why?

Strategic Management has been my favourite so far. The lecturer, Dr Elena Dalpiaz, is incredibly passionate about the module which shows in her teaching. Every session had intent and purpose and was very engaging, with some incredibly diverse and insightful guest speaker sessions.

Our coursework allowed us to apply the skills and techniques we learned to real-world issues companies are facing which was incredibly engaging.

What has been the most rewarding part of the programme?

Working with a truly diverse and driven cohort. The skills and insights gained, and the breadth of network opportunities available help facilitate an outward-looking mindset which is indispensable for a future career in globally facing businesses. It’s fantastic to have built up such a committed and resilient network which no doubt will prove indispensable in years to come.

What has been the most challenging part of the programme?

Working with people while being fully online without having had the opportunity to meet them beforehand. This has really allowed me to accelerate my teamwork development and build skills that will become indispensable in a future career in the post-COVID-19 working climate.

How have you found the multi-mode teaching delivery?

It gives fantastic flexibility and has allowed the School to cater to a wide range of student living circumstances. While many schools have gone fully online, Imperial has truly differentiated themselves by adapting their offering, ultimately giving the best value possible to create a creative and engaging learning experience.

People

How would you describe your cohort at Imperial?

Highly motivated, aspirational, and incredibly diverse (both from a geographical and an academic perspective).

Did you have a favourite professor/lecturer and why?

Professor José-Luis Peydró who teaches Corporate Finance. Professor Peydró is incredibly knowledgeable within all financial areas and frequently brought new and topical news articles to help capture and teach the content – every lecture was highly engaging.

Opportunities

What has been the greatest opportunity you have had at Imperial?

The energy and entrepreneurial spirit that Imperial College Business School fosters is unparalleled. Collaborating with students from numerous different programmes through both society and clubs opens a tremendous number of opportunities. Imperial is well positioned to retain this through their extensive societies and support channels.

Furthermore, being able to engage with leading industry professionals throughout modules has added tremendous value. It allows students to not only interact with industry experts in areas of professional interest, but also understand what the application of the module content looks like in the real business world.

Which workshops, events or guest lectures at the School have been useful in developing your skills and knowledge?

I found the Strategic Management guest lecture: ‘In conversation with McKinsey & Company: Strategy does matter indeed!’ with Guido Frisiani (McKinsey Partner) to be a great culmination of the module, helping define what constitutes a successful strategy within industry. The lecture overviewed key shifts to unlock strategy for businesses, and gifted lots of transferrable skills which I have utilised for projects since.

I also found the Risk Management for Corporate & Financial Institutions guest lecture: ‘The Pandemic Revolution – Macroeconomics and Economic Policy in the Post-Covid World’ with Davide Serra (Algebris CEO) to be very insightful. It outlined the current global economic state and helped define the constituent elements that will shape the future of the capital markets (with the corresponding risks that we will need to overcome, and also helped to differentiate what the priorities of different financial institutions are.

What clubs, societies or other activities have you been involved in at Imperial?

I have held the following positions:

• Imperial College Business School Student Investment Fund – Operations Associate
• 180 Degree Consulting (Imperial College Business School branch) – Co-founder & Partnership Director

I have also been a member of the Imperial College Business School Consulting Club and Imperial College Cycling Club (ICCC).

Have you had opportunities to work/socialise with students across programmes within the Business School?

Yes, through the Student Investment Fund, through 180 Degree Consulting and through ICCC. Additionally, through various careers-oriented workshops throughout the year.

How have you benefited from the Business School’s connection to the Imperial College London community?

I have been able to work with Imperial College London students through various societies. This has allowed me to build upon my analytical skillset and also build out my professional network.

Career

What are your future career goals and how have they been realised since being at Imperial?

I have accepted a role as a Tech Associate (Analyst) at EY-Parthenon within their Transaction, Strategy & Execution division and I will be starting in September this year. My short-term career goals are still to move into strategy consulting, specifically in the technology, media and telecom sector (building from my engineering background).

My long-term career goals have become more refined, and although it is difficult to exactly say where I will be in 5-10 years, I aspire to move into the growth equity space. This builds from my interest in the global capital markets and will allow me to utilise my analytical and strategic skillset.

London Location

Do you think studying in a central location such as London is beneficial for networking and career opportunities?

London’s proximity to leading global financial and consulting institutions as well as the UK's top startups give it a competitive edge. This not only allows for more effective networking opportunities but allows for less restrained engagement with prospective employers.

Where do you live in London and why did you choose to live there?

I chose Fulham for its close proximity to Imperial, its great food options and its friendly atmosphere.

When you’re not studying, what do you enjoy doing?

I am very active and enjoy cycling, running and skiing. I also love reading and challenging myself with exciting cooking dishes (I bought a pasta maker over lockdown to help facilitate this!).

If you had to move to London for the programme, what have been the benefits and challenges of moving to London?

One of the challenges is that there are so many unique places to live and being able to decide between each can be very challenging! London is a fantastically diverse city steeped in history and living there allows you to experience it. My advice would revolve around a few of the following questions:

How close are you to campus? This very much depends on how you aim to travel across London. If, for example, you cycle, this significantly broadens your prospective reach, whereas if you expect to get the tube, aim to live close to a sensible line which goes towards South Kensington.

Do you have friends and family currently living in London? It’s great to live close (or even with) friends and family, so check in with people who you might think already live in London.

What is your budget? There’s no getting around the fact that London is expensive, but with sufficient guidance and time you can easily find somewhere great.

Tips

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about applying for the programme?

Clearly define your motivations for applying to the MSc Management programme. This can be split roughly into three areas:

• Understand exactly why you want to study at Imperial, why you want to study MSc Management and how you are going to utilise the programme to be able to further your career aspirations. For example, you should think about why MSc Management suits your career aspirations rather than the other programmes.
• Think about whether or not you are up for the challenge of the programme. Having the determination and resilience to study a broad number of subjects with team-facing challenges is essential.
• Reflect on your previous experiences, skills and competencies. Understand what lessons you may have built up from any previous experience. This can be part-time work, society related activities or anything in which you have built valuable skills through challenging scenarios.

Remember the application is a two-way process, it is equally important to showcase to Imperial what you are able and willing to give back to the university – do you want to become a champion to further strengthen Imperial? Get in touch with previous students and research current societies that you may be interested in (of which there is an abundant number catering for all). Before your interview, catch up on the latest news through business-related outlets (Economist, FT, Wall Street Journal, etc). Lastly, relax. Be confident and be yourself – everyone is human and cultivate your application to best represent you.