Real Humans of the Cambridge Judge MBA Class of 2024

Sarah Al-Kandari, Cambridge Judge MBA Class of 2024

Age: 31
Hometown: Kuwait
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Gulf University for Science & Technology, Business Administration Major in Marketing
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): From most recent to oldest: Americana Restaurants, Senior Manager, Brand Strategy & Insights – Regional Marketing Manager, 4 years; KLC Virtual Restaurants, Marketing Manager, 2 years; M H Alshaya, Regional Marketing Executive, 3 years. 

Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Throughout my career in the Restaurant industry, I have learned a lot about consumer behaviour, building brands and launching new markets. While this has been very rewarding, and I have grown so much, my goal has shifted to expanding my skillsets and knowledge in a new industry, and the Cambridge MBA is the launchpad.   

Why did you choose Cambridge Judge? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I have been lucky enough to have been awarded a scholarship from the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce & Industry; they were a major part of my decision as they had pre-selected a few top schools around the world for us applicants to choose from. After reviewing the program, CJBS’s focus on Entrepreneurship and their global lens on teaching as well as their practical learning methods, really moved the needle for me in their direction.

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
After meeting my fellow colleagues, I believe my work experience is quite unique and provides a different perspective. Also, being the only student from Kuwait, I am happy to share more about my culture and experiences working in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I am a major Harry Potter fan, read the books multiple times and I must say it also influenced my decision to enroll at Cambridge Judge Business School. The formal halls, gowns and historical buildings remind me of Hogwarts. 

Post-MBA career interests:
Beauty and Luxury goods industry and Private Equity.

Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Definitely make sure to attend all the online and in-person events held by the Admissions team. They do a great job of helping you understand how the Programme works and are a wonderful opportunity to meet your fellow candidates. 

–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have definitely applied earlier, it was a bit stressful being a part of round five as most of the Colleges were full and accommodation was also a challenge.

–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The interview made me feel quite nervous as CJBS has Faculty conduct the interviews, which was different to my experience with other schools. To combat my anxiety, I did a lot of desktop research to find out what advice previous students had and there was quite a bit of content available online.

What is your initial impression of the Cambridge Judge students/culture/community?
Diverse and welcoming. The Admissions and Programme teams, fellow students and Faculty are all so friendly and helpful; they have made me feel right at home. Diversity is a big bonus point for me as you get exposed to so many different cultures and backgrounds that you are bound to learn something new even outside the classroom.

What is one thing you have learned about Cambridge Judge that has surprised you?
The social aspect of the programme. There are many social events that I wasn’t expecting but I must say it was a pleasant surprise.  

What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Being able to manage the workload from all the classes and the extra-curriculars and networking events. Our calendars are filling up quickly, and I am hoping that we will not be so overwhelmed. 

What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The Global Consulting Project. I am looking forward to that experience and hope to travel to North America or East Asia for my project.