Katherine Vysotsky, London Business School’s MBA Class of 2023
Age: 26
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Georgetown University, Economics
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Four years, Media & Entertainment
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I decided to go to business school because I wanted to develop skills in an accelerated way to boost my career. After working for a few years, I felt that I had gained fundamental business knowledge and I was ready to take my skills to the next level.
Why did you choose LBS? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
London Business School (LBS) was the best fit for me in all key categories: education, career and social. I really wanted to learn concepts from multiple perspectives, so having teachers and classmates from all around the world made that a reality. Career-wise, LBS is in the centre of London – internships, coffee chats and networking events are easily accessible. Lastly, I was personally excited to explore London’s restaurant, music and art scenes.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2023?
My professional background is working in strategy at a major film studio and streaming platform, which is rare for a pre-MBA. Not only have I been able to share my unique perspectives with my classmates during case discussions, but I’ve also been able to do so in the context of well-known films and brands. This makes the discussions more tangible and fun! Even though we’ve had class for a month only, I’ve had several classmates that I hadn’t met come up to me and tell me that they really enjoyed examples that I’ve shared.
Tell us a fun fact that didn’t get included on your application:
I’ve been to classic car shows and museums all around the world, and it is my goal to learn how to drive a manual classic car one day.
Post-MBA career interests:
I’m aiming to work in a role that has an intersection of media, finance and strategy.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
– What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
My advice would be to start thinking about visiting schools early on. I started visiting business schools when I was in my junior year as an undergrad. I studied abroad in London so LBS was actually the first business school that I toured. After that, whenever I travelled, I usually set aside time to visit a business school in the area. When it came time to apply to schools, I had already visited all the schools that I was interested in without having to travel specifically for a school tour. It also helped narrow down the choice of which schools to apply to and attend.
– What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I wish that I had been better prepared when speaking with current students or alumni prior to applying. They are the best sources for gaining insight into a school’s culture, quality of education or career placement.
– What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The admissions tests were definitely the least fun part of the application process. Luckily, I formed a study group and we were able to help and motivate each other to succeed.
What is your initial impression of LBS’ students/culture/community?
I found that the LBS community is collaborative and willing to help others. I recently participated in a career event where alumni came to speak about their industry and offered to help current students with their career goals. Moving to a new country can be complicated, but my classmates shared handy advice, such as which neighbourhoods to explore and tips on how to get settled.
What is one thing you have learned about LBS that has surprised you?
I was surprised by the thoughtfulness of both the architecture and the art around campus. The main building was designed by John Nash, a storied British architect. Another part of campus is in a historic building that was recently modernized and redesigned with contemporary additions. LBS also showcases art around campus from community competitions. It’s very interesting to take a peek at art works right before class!
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
Interestingly enough, I found that the COVID-19 pandemic eased the application process for me. Information sessions and other admissions events were all online, so they were easy to attend. Interviews with alumni were also conducted online, which eliminated the need to travel (sometimes by plane).
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I’m most anxious about missing out on events. There are often several deadlines or events at the same time, so I have to judiciously manage my time and choose which task is a higher priority.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
A major part of business school is building connections with classmates, recruiters and faculty, so I am most excited about the opportunity to develop authentic and meaningful relationships in-person this year.
