Josephine Francois-Poncet, London Business School’s MBA Class of 2024
Age: 27
Hometown: Paris, France
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium – Psychology.
Postgraduate Institution and Major: University College London, UK – Neuroscience
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Market Research – 5 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I wanted to switch career paths and move from market research to consulting. Doing an MBA was a great way to make that transition smoother and faster. I also felt that having studied psychology and neuroscience, I was lacking business skills that could be extremely useful in the long term, so I was keen to get more finance and accounting knowledge.
Why did you choose London Business School? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
London Business School has one of the best MBA programmes in the world. But what really made the difference for me was the focus given to diversity and inclusion. LBS puts together a class of people from around the world and with a lot of different experiences. However, it’s not just nice because you make friends all over the world, it also means that people applying to this MBA are also all about diversity and inclusion and therefore are very open-minded and supportive people.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
My understanding of human behaviours, combined with my experience in market research, have given me a unique perspective into problems. I have the ability to see the big picture through numbers without losing track of the human component.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I love scuba diving and I am hoping to become Dive Master one day.
Post-MBA career interests:
Consulting
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Being patient with myself! At one point, I had a lot going on (looking for a new job, getting married, long hours), so I parked my application for a month and started again when I wasn’t so overwhelmed.
What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I used a self-study website for the GMAT and took it once but did not achieve the score I wanted. So, I studied some more and ended up taking a tutor to make sure I was bulletproof. If I could do it again, I would have taken a tutor earlier.
What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The GMAT, of course! Support from my friends and family and keeping the goal in mind is what helped me through it.
What is your initial impression of the London Business School students/culture/community?
Most of you are considering applying to London Business School because you know it’s very diverse. However, it is still impressive when you get there! Everyone I met so far is nice and people are very supportive of each other.
What is one thing you have learned about London Business School that has surprised you?
How much access we get – to companies, events, cultures, people. You expect to have access to knowledge, but you don’t realise how much more you get access to when you apply.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I am currently expecting my first child and I am a little anxious about handling school, finding an internship and becoming a mother.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I had my first week of class, and honestly, the learning. Classes are so interactive; there are so many debates, and we learn so much from fellow students.
