Peter Anderson, London Business School’s MBA Class of 2024
Age: 28
Hometown: Cambridge, UK
Undergraduate Institution and Major: BSc Economics, University of Exeter, UK
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Amazon, E-Commerce/Tech, 5.5 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I think that what it boiled down to is that I just wanted to take my skills, career and life experiences to the next level. Particularly after days of WFH in the pandemic, I felt that life had ‘plateaued’ a bit. So after speaking to my business mentor, who himself had previously done an MBA, he showed me how taking the time out to learn business principles in a structured, formal way, placing oneself at the epi-intersection of this generation’s worldwide talent and being given the time flexibility of a student again, I could achieve this goal in the two years it takes to get an MBA.
Why did you choose London Business School? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
With my family and friends all being based in the UK, I know that I will want to be based here over the long term, so it makes sense to start building networks in Europe (and it also makes travel easier!). After deciding this, I decided that I want to be playing in the ‘premier leagues’ of life, which narrows it down to Insead and LBS. And then for me it was a no-brainer. With its in-city, London location, 2-year course length, 91% international student body, entrepreneurial strengths, industry connections and highly rated reviews from speaking to students, alumni and friends, the decision was easy!
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
It seems that a lot of people are targeting internships at Amazon next summer, so coming from 5.5 years of working there, I think that I may be in rather high demand to help them secure a place.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have a superpower for catching things as they are falling off shelves…
Post-MBA career interests:
I currently have three new routes that I want to explore:
1. Social impact consulting – just something I had not even heard of before starting the MBA…!
2. Starting my own business after finding a fellow business partner on the course
3. Target Google, maneuvering into the Google Health sphere, then pivoting into Health Tech.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Find a student ambassador (this can be done online) early and ask them everything, have them check your application, give you interview tips/practice, etc.
What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Start the MBA applications (post-GMAT) in the January-April period when things are generally a bit more chilled socially and so that you can enjoy the summer fully without having to think about applications ahead of applying in round one.
What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
GMAT… I was lucky with the timing as I was able to blitz it during the second UK lockdown, which made it easy not having to trade off social life. However, I would still recommend taking a ‘blitz’, super-focused approach at an advantageous time in your career so that you increase the chance of achieving your score the first/second time and you can get back to partying as soon as possible after. Also, do it with a course, e.g. Manhattan Prep, Kaplan, etc.
What is your initial impression of the London Business School students/culture/community?
Honestly, when I first arrived, I was like, ‘Yes, I have finally found my people!’ Everyone is driven, ambitious, bright, interesting, leaders, organisational powerhouses and exactly the right people who I want to surround myself with to bring out my best self.
What is one thing you have learned about London Business School that has surprised you?
How much of a special time that this is. It gives you the valuable ‘space’ that you do not have while working full time to truly think long term, to work out what you want to achieve in your life, what you want your legacy to be and how to work backward from there to achieve that through your career and life experiences.
Also, you might not know, but in the UK MBAs are not such a big thing, so the fact that Brits are a minority group shows how international the cohort is!
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Looking back on my first year and not being able to have found a good balance and prioritization between all the opportunities and fun experiences that the LBS MBA brings.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Meeting super interesting people from all over the world, industries and roles. I have already met an Olympian medal winner, a skin cancer dermatologist and an ex-professional poker player…!
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
Fortunately not. I think that, if I had been targeting a year earlier, I would have deferred applying by a year to ensure that I was able to have as ‘normal’, non-hybrid, and travelling MBA as possible.
