By Rishi Ghiraiya & Ceyda Serhat
Rishi:
My year at London Business School taught me what it actually takes to unite a community. I spent my time entirely immersed in student life. Coordinating communications for 3,000 peers as the Student Association Marketing Officer and organising massive events like TATTOO and the Grad Ball gave me a crash course in large-scale operations. Beyond logistics, I learned that real impact requires trust. Seeing Project Aasha reach its most active cycle in nine years and helping secure over £100,000 in corporate sponsorships for EUROUT proved what a dedicated team can pull off. Graduating with three awards this year feels incredibly validating, not as individual achievements, but as a reflection of how deeply I connected with this campus.
Thinking about all it took to make my time at LBS possible, I am incredibly proud to be a SKYY Development Scholar. As a first-generation student from Nepal, I initially worried whether I would truly fit into the LBS environment. Knowing this support came from alumni who once navigated this very campus made stepping into this space so much easier. When unexpected family hardships struck back home, the scholarship provided the exact stability I needed to keep going. Removing the constant weight of financial stress allowed me to fully immerse myself in the community life that makes LBS what it is. I was also able to actively mentor an incoming Nepali student who recently secured this exact same scholarship. Seeing his success made me completely understand why our donors created this fund. As I transition into the corporate world, I leave as a lifelong supporter of this school, committed to keeping this cycle of access and mentorship alive.
My next step is moving into the corporate sector to focus on direct-to-consumer marketing, ready to help commercial brands build genuine loyalty. I’m excited to see where this new journey takes me
Ceyda:
My programme experience has been both challenging and highly rewarding. Throughout the programme, I had the opportunity to strengthen my academic knowledge, develop practical skills, and work with people from diverse backgrounds. The experience helped me understand different perspectives, improve my confidence, and become more adaptable in both academic and professional settings.
One of the highlights of the programme for me was the Global Experience, which I truly enjoyed. It gave me the opportunity to learn in an international context, engage with new perspectives, and better understand how business challenges differ across countries and cultures. I also really enjoyed LondonLAB, as it allowed me to work on a practical project and apply classroom learning to a real business situation.
One of my biggest takeaways has been the importance of collaboration, communication, and continuous learning. Working on different projects and engaging with classmates allowed me to improve my problem-solving skills and apply what I learned to real-life business situations. I also gained a clearer understanding of my strengths, areas for improvement, and the type of professional path I would like to follow.
Overall, the programme has helped me grow personally and professionally. It has given me stronger analytical skills, a broader network, and more confidence in taking the next step in my career. My next step is to use these experiences and skills in a professional environment, continue learning, and contribute meaningfully to the organisation I join.