The Global Experience offers numerous advantages, not only in enhancing your knowledge within a particular industry and culture but also in widening your network beyond the confines of the classroom and regular key speakers. This opportunity allows for interaction with students and faculty from various programmes as well as company visits. Our SLN2023 alumnus, Nasir Khan, had the opportunity to immerse himself in the New York and Boston experience last year, returning with a wealth of knowledge in asset management and the commercial real estate market in the United States. Let us delve into his story below.
- Could you please tell us a little bit about your background and why do you think you needed a programme like Sloan in your career at that point.
Nasir: I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, starting from my medical school days as a Doctor of Medicine, balancing the clinical with the commercial. Over the years, I’ve worn many hats—leading ventures across various industries from healthcare to trade and invoice discounting.
It wasn’t until I turned 45, after COVID-19 ravaged the business space I had built in trade and finance, that I realized I needed to take a step back and truly invest in myself. I wanted to formalize my business acumen and equip myself for the next chapter in my career. After being shortlisted by some of the top EMBA programs, I chose the Sloan Masters at LBS. The school’s prestigious history, global reputation, and expansive alumni network drew me in, and its location in the heart of Europe allowed me to remain connected with my family in the Middle East.
I embraced this journey of self-discovery with the goal of reinventing myself. The leadership modules and professional coaching sessions at LBS provided me with profound insights, not just about business, but about my own leadership style and personal growth. These tools helped me achieve a level of clarity and focus that I hadn’t experienced before. After 25 years of work experience, I thought I knew what to expect, but this programme was truly transformative. It wasn’t just about refining my skills; it was about rediscovering my potential and pivoting towards a future I had only imagined.
2. What location did you choose and what was the most attractive about the theme?
Nasir: I chose New York for my Global Experience because of its unique position as a global financial hub and my desire to gain a deeper understanding of U.S. market dynamics. As LBS focuses on Europe, this elective allowed me to explore the U.S. perspective, offering access to top-tier institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Columbia. Their insights on the commercial real estate downturn and the impact of service outsourcing were incredibly valuable.
The focus on sustainability and enforcing ESG indices also resonated with my beliefs. Moreover, visiting firms like BlackRock and General Atlantic, and interacting with senior executives, provided unparalleled insights into asset management. Although I had visited NYC for business before, the high-level engagement through this program was truly distinctive.
3. What kind of activities/ workshops did you do throughout the week?
Nasir: Throughout the week, we engaged in a variety of immersive activities, including networking dinners and drinks with peers from different LBS programmes like MIF, EMBA, and MiM, as well as faculty members. We also had an event with LBS alumni in NYC, offering an excellent platform for exchanging insights.
We attended seminars at partnering universities and interacted with top professors. There were Q&A sessions with senior executives from the companies we visited, followed by report submissions on our findings. We also participated in a consulting assignment, proposing and analysing a company project.
A highlight was the extempore/MUN-style debates where teams argued on assigned topics, with my team winning the session. Finally, we enjoyed excursion tours in Boston & NYC, which added an enriching cultural perspective to the learning experience.
4. GE is about expanding your expertise within a specific topic as well as being able to experience first-hand talks and tours from the leading companies within that sector. Where there any special networking events that you attended? What companies/ stakeholders did you interact with?
Nasir: I was particularly interested in gaining insights from leading asset management firms, as I aim to collaborate with them in the future for potential projects. GE provided excellent networking opportunities and opened many doors in this regard. We visited renowned firms like BlackRock and Vanguard, gaining valuable perspectives on their operations and strategies.
A highlight for me was our visit to General Atlantic, where we had the chance to interact with a partner who shared his inspiring journey from being a tech founder to exiting his company and now investing with GA. His story resonated with me due to our similar age and experiences, making the visit particularly impactful and motivating.
5. What were the main take-aways from this one-week project? What do you think you learnt, and you can still apply nowadays?
Nasir: One of my key takeaways was the deep insight into the precarious state of the U.S. commercial real estate market, which has influenced my approach to diversifying my portfolio in the Middle East. The discussions provided clarity on how to hedge risks by understanding global market trends.
Additionally, the connections I made during the company visits have been invaluable. These relationships have already proven useful in my current work with outsourcing business opportunities and a tech driven ESG reporting project, providing both strategic insights and potential collaborations.
6. What piece of advice would you have for upcoming Sloan candidates that wishes to choose Boston/ New York as their GE?
Nasir: If you’re looking to gain insights into major trends in the U.S. economy, connect with leaders from prominent asset management firms, and learn from world-class professors from top US Schools under the guidance of LBS faculty, then the Boston/NY GE is the ideal choice. It offers a unique chance to understand the financial landscape on a large scale.
However, if your focus is more on start-ups, tech innovation, or smaller-scale venture financing, this GE may not fully align with your goals. It’s essential to know what you want and match it with what the specific GE offers. And, of course, NYC is an iconic city that adds its own charm to the learning experience!
For more information on the LBS Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy Programme, please visit our website.