Two students on the EMBA-Global programme offer complementary perspectives on their experiences, highlighting the programme’s academic rigor, diverse cohort and collaborative learning environment. Their reflections shed light on how the curriculum and study-group dynamics at London Business School (LBS) and Columbia Business School (CBS) , shape both personal growth and professional development. Together, their viewpoints provide a rounded understanding of what it means to navigate and benefit from the EMBA-Global journey.
Gloria Boye, EMBAG2027, shares her thoughts on joining LBS and CBS, and comments on the diversity within her study group.
What were the three most important factors that influenced your decision to join LBS/CBS?
Having done both my undergraduate and graduate studies in the US, I was very intentional about choosing a program where the American worldview was not the dominant lens through which we studied and learned. EMBA-Global at LBS/CBS offered the chance to interrogate business questions from genuinely global, often contrasting perspectives. I was also drawn to the opportunity to be immersed in the world of finance, both as an intellectual curiosity, and as a way to better understand how business leaders and profit-maximizers think and make decisions. Finally, the idea of studying in the heartbeat of two cultural and financial capitals, London and New York, was irresistible; having a “reason” to move frequently between these cities has been exhilarating.
How does the diversity within your study group come through in your discussions and collaboration? In what ways has it benefited your learning?
The diversity in my study group shows up first in how differently we each approach work and problem-solving. Over time, as we peel back the layers, we start to see the deeper mix of similarities and differences that shape our unique ways of being. Coming from a technical, niche background, it has stretched me to genuinely value more intuitive approaches and to see how they interact powerfully with analytical thinking in decision-making. I have become more deliberate about creating space for different styles of contribution (the doers, the thinkers and the talkers) and about harnessing these differences for maximum collective value. Our cohort is intentionally curated to be diverse not only in professional background, but also in motivations for pursuing the EMBA-Global, and what makes that diversity powerful is how much everyone leans in to give, share, and support across the class. I thought of myself as a natural “giver,” but my classmates have raised the bar. I now think far more proactively about how to enhance my own value so that I can enhance the value I give: a gift from this cohort that I will always cherish.
Mohammad Saim, EMBAG 2027, shares his motivations on joining the programme and his experiences on being apart of his study group.
What motivated you to pursue the EMBA-Global programme at LBS and CBS?
I reached a stage in my career where I felt the need to grow further both as a leader and as a person. I’ve had the privilege of working through complex challenges in my career. My career has placed me at the center of high-stakes situations, from the COVID-19 ventilator surge to over a dozen factory consolidations to stringent medical-device regulatory challenges to living and working as an expatriate abroad. Still, those experiences also made me aware of the gaps in my own perspective. I wanted a program that would broaden my thinking, strengthen the fundamentals I rely on, and expose me to diverse ways of approaching problems.
The dual-school model at LBS and Columbia stood out for combining rigorous academics with a truly global outlook, aligning perfectly with my motivation to grow as a leader. I want to learn from faculty who challenge my assumptions and from classmates with diverse viewpoints, which I can’t encounter in my daily work. EMBA-Global offers the stage, community and environment I need to become the leader I envision, focused on meaningful impact rather than mere ambition.
How has being part of your study group enhanced your experience of the programme so far?
I have the coolest and most brilliant people in my study groups, which has been one of the most transformative elements of the program. We come from different sectors, and everyone in my group is from a different country, and each has a unique functional background and skill set, which makes me curious and eager to learn from diverse viewpoints. My group challenges my assumptions, broadens my perspective and forces me to think more creatively – especially when we tackle cases like Freemark Abbey, Netflix, Wildfang, or the complex business problems our professors throw at our group.
What I value most is the trust and camaraderie we’ve built so quickly and with depth. I can call them anytime, and they will pick up. We share the workload, hold each other accountable and genuinely want each other to succeed; there is no competition – I mean it. This sense of safety and belonging has reminded me that leadership is not only about driving outcomes but also about enabling others to shine. The group continues to sharpen my analytical thinking, improve my communication style and strengthen my ability to lead in diverse, high-performance teams. In many ways, my study group is a microcosm of what it means to truly lead globally, and I cannot put a price on this experience, nor on the friendships I have built.
Find out more here, on the EMBA-Global Programme Experience.