Lucy alumna, Nancy Xiangwen Luo (MPhil, Planning, Growth and Regeneration, 2012), shares her career journey and offers some leadership advice.
Before my MBA, I worked with a sovereign wealth investment company in Hong Kong and primarily with a strategic team helping develop industrial zones in Africa and Eastern Europe.
While on the MBA programme, I worked with a healthcare technology company incubated by Imperial College as part of The Cambridge Venture Project (CVP), an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to create strategic market entry opportunities in high-risk business environments.
I always wanted a broader perspective, to broaden my horizon and be able to meet various people from very different backgrounds and also create synergies in different sectors, different countries, and then be able to build resources from different geographical regions.
I was very lucky to be selected as Forbes 30 under 30 for the Greater China Region in 2019, while working for China Merchants Group as Deputy Director of the group's regional development department, helping to promote integrated innovation and industrial park projects.
I then switched from the finance industry to education and founded an edtech platform Oxbridge Global Connect after discussion with my Judge Business School professor. Running an edtech company that targets top international schools in the UK and China enables me to deliver the true value of international education and inspire leadership potential in our students in multiple disciplines. We nurture their team-building ability in global business and economics competitions.
Here are my five top tips to become a great leader:
- find good mentors
- learn to manage conflicting priorities
- build flexibility to accommodate different views
- continuously invest in your personal and professional development
- lead by example and inspire