Victor Mallet, LBS MBA Class of 2021
Age: 28
Hometown: London, England
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Oxford, Modern Language (French & Russian)
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 5 years in Financial PR
Why business school? Why now?
I got to the point in my career where I felt like I wanted a new challenge and an opportunity to solve more difficult problems. I didn’t want to start from the bottom in a new industry, so taking the business school route was the logical conclusion.
Why LBS? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
LBS’s MBA program is unique in that it is based in the middle of one of the largest business centers in the world, rather than on an isolated campus. This means there’s so much more opportunity to build strong networks in almost any industry, in addition to the networking opportunities that come with any MBA program.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2021?
I think you’d have to ask others that question – but maybe a dose of British sarcasm.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I recently started playing competitive chess.
Post-MBA career interests?
Strategy consulting, media (specifically the news side) & technology
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Talk to your friends, to alumni, and to other people you know who’ve gone to business school about their motivations and what they got out of the experience. This is a valuable exercise in a) understanding whether or not it’s right for you and b) helping you with your story.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
I probably would have done more research on process and teaching methods. It’s often difficult to get beyond business schools’ marketing, but to really understand what goes on in the classroom and on campus you have to ask quite specific questions of people who have been through the process.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The more personal essay questions. The LBS application is actually very to the point and career-focused, which I appreciated, but other schools are much less so. I think by realizing that, in answering the more personality-based essays, you are partly playing a game, the task of writing them becomes much simpler.
What is your initial impression of LBS’s students/culture/community?
It’s been a pretty amazing first few weeks. I would describe myself as a cynic, but the diversity of opinions and cultures you have in the classroom is amazing and something that I think is unique to the school.
One thing you have learned about LBS that has surprised you?
How accessible and friendly the professors are. They are all very open to answering questions and you are encouraged to engage beyond the classroom.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The lack of cash in-flows.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The learning curve and getting back in a classroom.
