By Azamat Bodeneyev, MiFFT2025
What a month!
Four years ago, I never imagined that one day I would find myself in London, pursuing a Masters in Finance at one of the top business schools in the world.
I remember my interviewer describing the diversity and calibre of students in the MiF class, “One day, you’ll be sitting next to someone who worked on quantitative easing in Japan, and the next day, you’ll be next to a future CFO.” With those words, I knew I was in good hands.
Relocating to London was the easiest part for me. I had already experienced starting life from scratch, moving from Almaty to Prague 8 years ago. So, fitting my entire life into a suitcase was not a challenge! Although, returning to the classroom and sitting behind a desk with a pen and paper for a three-hour lecture could have been if you’d asked.
However, with every challenge comes a reward. Meeting more than 150 people in MiF Orientation Week has been one of the highlights at LBS so far. My classmates have worked in different areas of finance across thirty different countries and have taken a year (or more) out of their lives to move to London and pursue their dreams. Each student has arrived with their finance experience, unique background, and story to tell.
I asked myself once I had received my offer: how do I make the most out of only sixteen months on the programme? In my search for an answer, I sought after advice from twelve LBS alumni and MiF student ambassadors, and I want to thank all of them for their support and sharing their guidance. After speaking with them, I learned there are three elements that are hard to juggle within the first month of starting the programme: recruitment, academics, and socials. Usually, they advised, you can only focus on one in the first term whilst adjusting to your new schedule. However, I found balancing all three, whilst challenging, is possible.
Recruitment
Pursuing a Masters in Finance degree is like an LBO. It is financially challenging and time-consuming, (comparable to taking on debt), but the returns, in terms of opportunities and knowledge, will outweigh the costs. Having done my due diligence, I set a priority for myself before coming to LBS: I wanted to pivot into investment banking, so recruitment became my number one focus. While I am only at the start of the programme, I have already immersed myself in the process: attending employer events, going to my first interview, re-studying financial modelling and valuation, and preparing for behavioural questions. It is not easy, but it is doable with calendar management, a daily to-do list, and a great study group.
Academics
Academics has been one of the trickier ones. I can only speak on the core courses at LBS and so far, the content has been comfortable to manage. Going through the CFA programme will undoubtedly give you a leg up. For example, immunising a liability and calculating weights in a minimum variance portfolio in one class did not completely throw me off. The value of the CFA meant I have been able to manage the content of the core courses and my workload whilst attending recruitment events comfortably.
Socials
Don’t get me wrong – I am not one of those people you constantly see in the library or wearing a suit to a coffee chat. However, I had to be honest about what I wanted to achieve from my time here in London. I have found my fellow classmates are extremely kind and supportive. Even if your busy schedule means you must decline their invitations for a drink several times, they will continue reach out to you. There are countless events happening every day at LBS. If you want to meet as many people as possible, there are always opportunities available.
There is more to life at LBS besides recruitment and academics. I play tennis every other week and am an ExCo member of the Finance Club. I am also a community representative for the MiF programme and a student ambassador.
Conclusion
Dreams do come true. Not only am I lucky enough to call London my home for the next year, but I have also piloted a plane for the first time, just a short distance from the city! I am becoming an expert in navigating London and using my time most effectively. I can jump on the Tube eastbound to Canary Wharf for a coffee chat, then, just 40 minutes later, return to campus near leafy Regent’s Park, to learn about the binomial option pricing models, and several hours later, head to a nearby pub.
Reflecting on my first month at LBS, if I had to share one piece of advice, it would be to prioritise what you believe is best for you and your future. Avoid comparing yourself to anyone else. Everyone has a different path, and what works for one person may not work for you. At LBS, you will discover your own method for balancing your time, your commitments and ultimately your learning.