By Ishaan Sharma, MBA2026
So… What is the Student Association?
At its core, the Student Association (SA) is the official governing body of student life at London Business School—run entirely by students, for students. It’s your behind-the-scenes crew, your event masterminds, your club coordinators, your student advocates—all rolled into one dynamic, student-powered machine. From Sundowners to the Graduation Ball, the SA is part of your experience whether you know it or not. But if you’re the kind who loves taking things to the next level, there’s a chance for you to move from member to leader—and that’s where the real magic begins. Because while everyone’s on the guest list, only a select few step up to actually run the show. These are the passionate, driven students who roll up their sleeves, embrace the chaos, and make the LBS experience unforgettable for everyone else. Ever wonder who organizes iconic events like Tattoo, manages club budgets, champions student concerns to the school, and still finds time to attend class? That’s them. And they’re not doing it for the résumé points—they’re in it to make a difference.
Now here’s the plot twist: the SA isn’t just a casual student club or an extension of the school—it’s a separate legal entity. Yep, it’s that official. Think of it as a full-blown, student-run enterprise that operates alongside the school, but with its own structure, rules, and responsibilities. It’s like a startup nestled within LBS—only instead of pitching to VCs, it pitches ideas that make your student life better, brighter, and a lot more fun.
The SA Pillars Holding It All Up
The SA Executive Committee is made up of roles that reflect every dimension of student life. Here’s a lightning-speed rundown of who does what:
- President: Captain of the ship. Represents student voices at the highest level and sets the tone for everything the SA does.
- Vice President: Right-hand superhero. Drives flagship events and community-wide projects.
- Treasurer: The money maestro. Keeps the SA’s finances healthy, transparent, and impactful.
- Sports & Clubs Officer: The club connector and MBAT magician.
- Social Affairs Officer: The party planner-in-chief. From Tattoo to the Summer Ball.
- Advocacy Officer: Diversity warrior. Champions wellbeing, inclusion, and equity.
- Academics & Ethics Officer: Voice of reason. Keeps academic standards and ethical norms in check.
- Technology & Operations Officer: The wizard behind the tech curtain.
- Marketing Officer: The storyteller (aka, my pillar! More on that in a sec).
- Incoming Students Officer: The welcome committee lead. Helps newbies feel at home from Day 1.
- Alumni & Careers Officer: Connects the dots between current students and LBS legends of the past.
- ESG Officer: Champions all things sustainability and governance.
- Senior Sponsorship Officer: The ultimate deal-closer. Brings in partnerships.
- Oversight & Returning Officer: Ensures the whole SA runs fairly, smoothly, and by the book.
SA Marketing: More Than Just Pretty Posts
Let’s get one thing straight—SA Marketing isn’t just about picking the perfect Instagram filter (though we’re pretty good at that too). We’re the team behind the scenes making sure everything cool and important happening at LBS gets seen, heard, and hyped. From social media posts and slick newsletters to student spotlights and professional photoshoots, we’re all about shining the spotlight on what makes LBS awesome. We help clubs shout about their events, give new students the inside scoop, and even make sure those all-user emails don’t feel like spam. But it’s not just fun and filters—we’re also coordinating with the school, managing comms policies (yes, even the posters in Sussex Building), and repping LBS in student circles beyond campus. It’s marketing with meaning, and yes, we do it all in style.
This club wouldn’t have been half as epic without our dream team. Massive shoutout to our Senior Officers, Snehal and Darla Bautista —the real MVPs behind the scenes. And hats off to our full squad of marketing magicians: Salma Aitali, Rose Mittal, Prachi Rairikar, Teresa Wang, and Camila Garate. From Canva chaos to caption perfection, you all made the magic happen (and made it look good while doing it)!
Why I Jumped In Marketing Pillar (Even With Zero Marketing Experience)
Confession: when I applied for SA Marketing, I had zero marketing experience. No idea what “engagement rate” meant, never touched a content calendar, and Canva? Thought it was just for party invites. So yeah—I didn’t think I’d make it in. But I created my manifesto and hit “apply” anyway… and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I made at LBS. I joined as a Junior Officer, and right from the start, it was full-speed ahead. One day I was brainstorming student spotlights, the next I was helping shape our Instagram strategy or crafting captions for Tattoo. I was suddenly part of this energetic, creative crew from across MBA, MiM, and other programmes, all working together to make student life pop—online and off. What surprised me most? How quickly I started thinking like a strategist. I learned how to pitch ideas, navigate school comms (those all-user emails don’t write themselves), and juggle club priorities with a smile and a meme. It wasn’t just about content—it was about connection, collaboration, and building a brand students could actually relate to. And the buzz of seeing something you created go live? Pure magic. Like a Sundowners afterparty—but with captions and analytics.
What I Gained by joining Student Association (Spoiler: A Lot)
Joining the Student Association was like enrolling in a secret MBA elective called Real Life 101. More than just learning how to make posts look good in the SA Marketing Pillar, I figured out how to lead with empathy, keep things moving when plans went sideways, and rally a room full of overachievers behind a single idea (even if that idea was please respond to the group chat). I got to manage some pretty cool cross-campus projects—working with club leads, SA executives, and even LBS staff—and somehow became the go-to person for “making the message sound nice.” But honestly? The best part was the people. Student Association Senior and Junior Officers were this amazing mix of creative brains, and big dreamers who somehow pulled off serious work while having a blast. We brainstormed, laughed, stress-ate cookies, pulled things together at the last minute (shh), and celebrated every small win like it was the World Cup. It wasn’t just about building a student brand—it was about building a community. And if you ask me, that’s the kind of MBA lesson you don’t get in a classroom.
A Word from Our Student Association Member(s)
I could go on and on about how epic my SA journey was (because spoiler alert—it absolutely was), but hey, why not hear it straight from the legends themselves?
SA President 2024–25 Zhen Ren Teo (MBA 2025) summed it up perfectly:
“Leading the SA this past year has been an incredibly fulfilling journey. Collaborating with 60+ motivated and selfless ExCo members to deliver the school’s biggest events and elevate the student experience made every moment worthwhile. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.”
Senior Marketing Officer 2024-2025 Snehal (MBA 2025) and Darla Bautista (MBA 2025) shared the vibe best:
“Leading the SA Marketing & Communications team at LBS, alongside my amazing co-lead Darla Bautista, has been one of the most rewarding parts of my MBA journey. Guided by a shared goal to boost student engagement and elevate diverse voices, we expanded our social media presence, launched Campus Chronicles, and built a consistent brand identity for key events like Fall Festival and Speak Out Week. It has been an incredible crash course in leadership, creativity, and teamwork, an experience I deeply value.”
“I’ve been working with the SA for two years, and it’s opened several doors for me to maximize my MBA experience: 1) amazing mentorship from the MBA24s who continue to be my friends, 2) opportunities to start and scale the marketing strategy and operations across 3 channels, and 3) unforgettable memories with my teams of both years. My LBS experience would not have been so fulfilling if I didn’t join this organization !”
The newly elected SA President 2025–26 Maggie McNamara (MBA 2026) is already gearing up to take the experience to new heights:
“This year, working with the SA Sports and Clubs team, I was able to work closely with campus leaders, who are all deeply dedicated to creating meaningful experiences for our community. Tania Davila and I ran for SA leadership role to build on that momentum and shape an environment where every student can make the most of their time at LBS. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited for the year ahead!”
The mastermind behind Tattoo and our soon-to-be Social Affairs lead, Vaibhav Neelakantan (MBA 2026):
“Co-leading Tattoo with Diana and Tania was nothing short of inspiring—it truly opened my eyes to the incredible impact SA officers can have on the student experience. I’m thrilled to be stepping into the role of Social Affairs Officer next year, with the goal of creating unforgettable moments for our community. Collaborating with stakeholders and leading operations this year gave me a front-row seat to the power of teamwork and the vibrant culture that makes LBS so special.”
So, if you’re ready to leave your mark, level up your LBS experience, or just want to be part of the coolest crew on campus—join the SA! Trust me, it’s where the magic happens. Got questions or just want to chat? Slide into my inbox at isharma.mba2026@london.edu—I’m always up for a coffee and a good SA story!