By Lucky Singh, MiF Recruitment Manager
The Masters in Finance (MiF) programme at LBS is distinguished from other programmes as it is designed for finance professionals with at least 3 years of work experience, and includes: 6 comprehensive core courses, over 40 electives to choose from, 4 concentrations, practitioner courses, professional and technical skills workshops and access to career coaching sessions. As a result, the MiF gives you the knowledge, training and network you need to thrive in your finance career.
I asked two of our fantastic Student Ambassadors, Ana Hidalgo Manzano (MiF PT 2022) and Joe Messina (MiF FT 2020) about what they think makes the MiF a unique experience, and how they are finding the programme so far.
Why did you decide to study the MiF at LBS? What makes the MiF unique?
Joe:
“My past experience as a senior auditor at Richter LLP, one of the largest independent business advisory and family office firms in Canada, provided a great foundation to transition into the world of investments. However, I recognised that there are still some gaps in the skills necessary for my career switch. Therefore, I was especially looking to LBS’s outstanding courses – such as Corporate Finance, Private Equity and Venture Capital, Advanced Financial Statements Analysis, Distressed Investing and Digital Investing – to bolster my toolkit. The MiF and the MBA are designed for experienced professionals in the middle stages of their career. However, I chose the MiF rather than the MBA because I was sure that I wanted to pursue a finance career, and I felt that was it best suited for my career aspirations. On the other hand, the MBA is a more general degree, and it will give you broader options in the future.”
Ana:
“I joined the MiF to sharpen my finance skills, advance my career and enhance my professional network while working. LBS is the best platform as it offers a wide range of options that allows me to tailor my experience to achieve my goals. This unique value proposition is not available in any other executive education institution.”
What has surprised you about the MiF so far?
Ana:
“Besides the impressive number of resources that the School offers (career coaches, sector advisors and technical skills workshops etc) I think the most valuable asset so far is the quality of my cohort. They are really smart people in their fields and the professional and cultural diversity of the class is very enriching for all of us.”
Joe:
“I was surprised by the extensive career centre workshops where I had the chance to hone my interpersonal skills with experts in the field. Moreover, LBS is very well respected in the finance industry, attracting some of the biggest names in finance to the classroom. I am always pleasantly surprised when the professors invite finance practitioners into classroom sessions. So far, I have had the chance to learn from the world’s most prominent figures in investment banking, SPACs and private equity firms.”
What has been your favourite aspect of the MiF?
Joe:
“I am really enjoying Professor Florin Vasvari’s Distressed Investing course. LBS is probably the only business school in the world that offers a course on this topic which is another reason why I chose to study at LBS. I have had the opportunity to pitch an investment proposal to a Managing Director of one of Europe’s most prominent distressed fund.”
Ana:
“I personally enjoy the practitioner courses. I find them very practical, as they provide an insightful perspective about the industry, the challenges as well as the opportunities. In addition, they always bring amazing guest speakers to the table, and the sessions are very interactive.”
What clubs have you got involved in and how have they benefited you?
Ana:
“I am part of the Executive Committee of the Foodie Club, in the Marketing team. Besides getting to know people from other programmes (including MBAs and MiMs), I am learning about how to articulate a marketing strategy. I am now more conscious about the effort that all of the clubs put in behind the scenes to make things happen for the LBS community. In addition, the Investment Management Club and the Women in Business club have an amazing agenda of events that I always make time for.”
Joe:
“I’m the VP of Conference for the Real Estate Club, where I have the opportunity to connect with an extensive network of LBS Alumni in the field. Additionally, the prospect of learning from some of the most prominent figures in the field at the Real Estate Conference is immeasurably enticing. In return, I hope to leverage my accounting background and experience to add a different perspective to the club’s discussions.”
What advice would you give prospective MiF students to help prepare them for the programme and business school experience?
Ana:
“You will be starting your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it will be over in the blink of an eye so, make the most of it! Find out what do you want to get out of the MiF and use the LBS resources to get yourself into there. Make sure you speak to current Students and Alumni. Network as much as you can and make sure you have fun along the way!”
Joe:
“If you plan on pursuing the MiF, you should hunt for a finance-related job that allows you to grow and demonstrate your strengths. This job should be the stepping-stone before doing the MiF that will best allow you to make the jump to your dream job. I would also recommend writing at least the first CFA exam; many of the concepts helped prepare me for the programme’s core courses. In addition, I completed Wall Street Prep’s premium package before starting the programme, which well-prepared me for many of the investment-related electives.”
To discover more about the Masters in Finance, download our brochure here.
To speak to our Student Ambassadors, click here.