by Andres Rodriguez, MIFFT2026
When people think about business school, they often imagine classrooms, case discussions, recruiting events, and packed schedules. All of that is very real at London Business School. What I didn’t fully anticipate before arriving, however, was how much emphasis there is on building a life beyond academics – and how central that balance is to the overall experience.
One of the most meaningful ways I’ve found to balance at LBS has been through clubs and community, particularly through sport. Not because sport replaces the academic or professional side of the experience, but because it complements it in ways that are grounding, energising, and surprisingly instructive.
Rediscovering competition in a new environment
As a member of the LBS Tennis Team, I travelled to Barcelona to compete in the World Inter-University Championships (WIUC), a multi-sports event held at the 1992 Olympic venues. More than 5,000 student-athletes from universities across Europe came together for what felt like a genuine celebration of sport.
For me, the trip had an added layer of meaning. It was my return to competitive tennis after several years away – the first time since representing Universidad de Chile during my undergraduate studies. Being back on court, competing again, and cheering for teammates reminded me how powerful it can be to reconnect with parts of yourself that existed long before your CV started to define you.
What stood out most wasn’t just the matches themselves, but the collective experience: supporting teammates through tough moments, celebrating wins together, and sharing the emotional swings that come with competition. Those moments created a sense of camaraderie that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.
Lessons that travel beyond the court
While tennis was the vehicle for this experience, the lessons extended far beyond sport. Many of them show up repeatedly in life at LBS.
A few that have stayed with me:
- Ownership
On a tennis court, there’s nowhere to hide. You’re fully accountable for your performance, your decisions, and how you respond when things don’t go your way. That sense of ownership mirrors the LBS culture, where students are encouraged to actively shape their own academic, professional, and personal journey.
- Managing highs and lows
Even when you’re playing well, you’re still losing points regularly. Learning not to overreact — to a mistake or a great moment — is a skill that translates directly to business school life, whether it’s a tough class discussion, a rejected application, or a successful interview.
- Pressure as a privilege
Competitive moments carry weight. Over time, you learn that pressure isn’t something to avoid; it’s something you earn. That mindset has been particularly useful at LBS, where expectations are high and opportunities are meaningful.
Clubs as the backbone of the community
One of the biggest surprises for me at LBS has been how central clubs are to the experience. They aren’t side activities you fit in when you have spare time; they are a key part of how the community functions.
Across the School, clubs create:
- spaces to decompress
- opportunities to meet people outside your immediate programme
- ways to explore interests that may have nothing to do with your career
Whether sporting, professional, cultural, or impact-focused, clubs make it easier to connect with people from different backgrounds and perspectives — one of LBS’s greatest strengths.
Life beyond academics
Business school can easily become all-consuming. There’s always another case to read or an event to attend. What I’ve learned at LBS is that stepping outside that intensity – through clubs, sport, or community events – doesn’t detract from the experience. It strengthens it.
Having something that grounds you, reminds you who you were before business school, and gives you perspective when things feel overwhelming isn’t a luxury; it’s essential.
A note to prospective students
If you’re considering LBS and wondering whether there’s room for life beyond academics, my experience has been a clear yes — but with intention. Balance doesn’t happen by accident; you create it by choosing to engage and show up.
A few things I’d encourage prospective students to keep in mind:
- Bring your interests with you — don’t leave them behind
- Use clubs as a way to build community early
- Embrace pressure rather than fearing it; it often means you’re in the right place
LBS offers an environment where you can push yourself intellectually and professionally while still reconnecting with the things that energise you. For me, rediscovering competitive sport has been one of the most rewarding parts of that journey – not because it defines my experience, but because it complements it.