By Camila Garate La Torre, MiM2025
6,335 miles (10,177 km), over 20 hours of travel, at least 3 planes, 3 internships, 1 part-time job, 2 years of full-time work, several scholarships during undergrad, and many, many extracurricular… that’s what it took to bring me to LBS.
Hola, I’m Camila, but everyone calls me Cami. I’m from a small town in the south of Peru (like Paddington), and it’s truly been an honour to be this year’s LATAM Scholar. Mucho gusto!
When I applied to LBS, I had one main goal: to find a job in London. After working in investments with a focus on the US and South American financial markets, I knew I wanted to explore European ones. LBS’s employment report was outstanding, graduates were landing roles at the world’s top 20 asset managers. I wanted to be part of that.
LBS did not disappoint. After two months of weekly meetings with the Career Centre, 76 coffee chats with alumni, MBAs, and MiFs from my target companies, and sending countless CVs, I finally received that call: “We want to make you an offer.” It was from PIMCO, one of the world’s leading fixed income asset managers. Easily one of the best moments of my life.
But LBS gave me much more than just a job. I was selected as a Walpole Scholar, which allowed me to be mentored by Frank Arnold, the CEO of The Savoy, and to attend exclusive events with top leaders in the UK’s luxury industry. I represented LBS at the Clash of Titans in Paris (an LVMH case competition), competed at the Selling Competition in Athens, and won a gold medal in the 4×400 relay at the MBATs at HEC Paris, where LBS brought home two trophies. I learned about Asian financial markets during my Global Experience in Hong Kong and skied for the first time ever on the snow trek in Val Thorens.
Most importantly, LBS introduced me to incredible people from all over the world, giving me the chance to learn about different cultures and build lifelong friendships. I learned Indian dances for the Diwali Ball, took salsa classes with the Dance Club, played football with my stream in the Battle of the Streams, and served as a bartender every two weeks at Sundowners and as Student Association ExCo. For my 25th birthday, I made friends from 4 different countries try tacos, tequila, and dance to Latin music (and yes, as Shakira says, they moved like they come from Colombia!).
I am beyond grateful for everything LBS has given me and taught me, the friendships, the experiences, the memories, and even someone special along the way. The journey wasn’t easy, but it was absolutely worth it. If I could go back and tell Cami from a year ago, the girl who raised her hand to read a poem in front of +800 people at the welcoming event, everything we would live, overcome, and achieve, she simply wouldn’t believe it.
Many LBS students say it, and now I can truly confirm it myself: This has been, without a doubt, the best year of my life!