Meet the Cambridge MFin class of 2025

We have welcomed our largest number of students to date with 106 students coming from 38 different nationalities, representing a wide variety of finance sectors. Their wealth of knowledge and experience brings a dynamic energy to the classroom.

Lorena Martinez Tadeja

Prior to attending the University of Cambridge, Lorena worked for 3 years as an Investment Banking Analyst in JP Morgan’s Latin America Coverage team, gaining M&A and equity capital markets deal experience across different sectors. Her notable transactions include BBB Foods’ IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, TRAXION’s follow-on offering on the Mexican Stock Exchange and Americold’s acquisition of Qualianz.

Previously, she was an Asset Management Analyst at DD3 Capital Partners’ Real Estate fund and completed an internship in Credit Suisse’s Equity Research team during her final years at university. She holds a degree in Financial Management from ITAM in Mexico City.

She chose Cambridge for its academically rigorous yet practical programme, the entrepreneurial ecosystem supported by the University’s scientific community and the College system, which she hopes will allow her to connect with brilliant people from fields beyond business.

She also expects the programme to deepen her expertise and guide her in leveraging her capital-raising expertise to contribute to the industries she values most, positioning herself as a sophisticated professional within a specialised team.

Lindani Samkange-Chikumbirike

Prior to Cambridge Judge, Lindani worked in the African investment sector, where he managed high value private equity and corporate finance transactions across multiple African markets. His core skill is navigating volatile economic environments and managing the challenges that come with currency devaluation. In his most recent role, Lindani was an Investment Manager at Arise B.V. in Cape Town, South Africa. He oversaw the Fund’s banking investments in Tanzania (NMB Bank Plc), Zimbabwe (NMBZ Holdings Limited) and Mozambique (Moza Banco Limitada and Socremo Microbanco Limitada). After navigating these difficult markets, Lindani was seeking a world-class qualification in finance to take his career to the next level, which led him to Cambridge.

The reputation and abundant resources of Cambridge Judge Business School attracted Lindani to the MFin programme. Learning from world-class scholars and connecting with vibrant, talented and ambitious peers, whose energy and intellect elevate every conversation, made the Cambridge MFin stand out above other programmes.

The opportunity to participate in the University’s rich tapestry of societies and extra-curricular activities is something Lindani intends to fully immerse himself in during his time at Cambridge. He has already attended a talk at the Cambridge Union where they bestowed the Professor Stephen Hawking Fellowship on Jensen Haung, the founder and CEO of Nvidia. This significant event made him reflect on his own journey from Zimbabwe, where the thought of listening to such visionary leaders was a dream but has now become reality.

Lindani stated that his MFin year is also time to be introspective. He explained it is his chance to understand himself better, refine his values and clarify what impact he can make while developing his finance skill set. He wants to harness the knowledge from Cambridge Judge and the MFin to uplift himself, his family, his community and his country. By the end of the MFin, he hopes to have developed life-long friendships with his cohort and members of his college who hail from every corner of the world.

Gabriella Woo

Before the Cambridge MFin, Gabriella established her career at CJ ENM, South Korea’s leading entertainment and media company, where she specialised in finance across multiple divisions. She compiled consolidated reports for more than 130 subsidiaries and collaborated on over 30 strategic investments and divestitures. She played a vital role in the $1 billion acquisition and post-merger integration of the Hollywood studio, Fifth Season. These experiences provided Gabriella with end-to-end exposure of the M&A process, from due diligence to integration, which sparked her desire to delve deeper on transactions and valuations.

Gabriella has grown up in diverse cultural environments including the UK, Slovakia, Brazil and Switzerland. This global exposure motivated her to pursue a career move that combined both a shift in industry and a chance to learn in a global environment. That was one of the reasons why she chose to apply to Cambridge.

She is very much looking forward to Cambridge’s unique blend of rigorous learning and the diverse cohort of 100+ professionals from across the globe. Gabriella is looking forward to the Cambridge Collegiate system which offers a vibrant community beyond Cambridge Judge and the MFin classroom. She is excited to fully embrace student life, something she felt she missed in her undergraduate studies. She is also looking forward to sharing and learning from her classmates’ varied experiences whilst gaining further insight into the global finance industry.

Gabriella wants to leverage her Cambridge MFin to springboard her career in entertainment-focused investment banking or corporate development where she can bridge global capital with creative industries.

Shivin Sharma

Before joining the Cambridge MFin, Shivin built his career at the intersection of strategy and finance. He began at the Boston Consulting Group, working on data-driven strategy and transformation projects and later joined Panoptyc, a US-based AI technology firm, where he led global initiatives focused on financial optimisation and operational improvement.

Shivin chose the Cambridge Master of Finance for its analytical depth, collaborative environment and strong integration of theory with real-world practice. The opportunity to gain experience from leading academics and practitioners while engaging with peers from diverse backgrounds was a key factor in his decision.

He is particularly enjoying the Equity Research Project, which is an opportunity to apply financial concepts to live markets by developing an investment thesis and presenting it to a panel of investors.

Over the year, Shivin aims to refine his analytical and strategic decision-making skills, particularly in investment and corporate finance. He hopes to leverage these experiences toward a long-term career in strategic finance and investment, helping organisations navigate complex global markets through data-driven and value-focused financial strategies.