Megan is Head of Strategy and Development for the EMEA Funds Practice, White & Case.
What is your professional and educational background?
I studied law at Cardiff University, graduating with a first-class degree in 2011. I trained at a Magic Circle law firm in London and practiced there as a junior lawyer before transferring to White & Case.
Whilst at White & Case, I’ve worked on several interesting deals in the financial restructuring space and undertaken two long-term secondments to two of our credit fund clients. Following these secondments, I was interested in progressing to a broader strategic and business role, and I was therefore appointed as Head of Strategy and Development for the EMEA Funds Practice in 2019. My focus is now on managing the EMEA network’s deal origination efforts, working directly with both the head of our EMEA practice and external EMEA credit funds to both maximise the firm’s exposure and to promote continuous development and understanding around how the firm can best support its clients.
What is the most exciting thing about your work?
I speak to a wide range of market participants every day. It’s fascinating to gain insights of the nuances of our clients’ businesses, as no two are the same. I also enjoy learning not only about our client businesses, but about the jurisdictions and sectors in which they choose to invest. Legal, financial, economic, political and social analysis are all relevant in our discussions with clients, and there are always new perspectives to consider.
Why did you decide to pursue an Executive MBA?
Moving from a traditional legal role into a broader, more commercially focused position has meant tackling a host of new challenges and building new areas of expertise, some of which I was initially unfamiliar with. The Executive MBA felt like the perfect degree to support me in this transition.
What attracted you to Cambridge Judge Business School?
I was, above all, seeking exposure to new ways of thinking, and to do that I knew I had to seek out professionals working in different fields and geographies. The breadth of experiences among my cohort and the alumni network was therefore a huge draw to the programme, and I am already seeing the benefits in my professional (and social!) life.
The structure of the programme appealed to me. I felt the balance of contact time at the University, together with personal study, group assignments and individual projects would fit well into my professional and personal schedule. It was essential that I could progress in the programme whilst maintaining balance in other aspects of my life, and I think the Cambridge EMBA strikes the right note in this respect.
I was also encouraged by the contact and interaction with real-world businesses and issues, particularly through the Team Consulting Project and the visiting industry speakers.