Diana Goldenburg: On a mission to support ambitious ventures

What led you to take the Cambridge MBA?

I chose the Cambridge MBA thanks to the programme’s reputation for entrepreneurial focus, academic excellence, close ties with industry, and cohort diversity. Cambridge Judge Business School, in particular, fosters the ground for fruitful collaborations among ambitious and talented members of the entire Cambridge ecosystem, including the collegial system, faculty, wider university, and Silicone Fen. 

As an ultra-networker, I harness those to connect the sharpest minds from all over the world with exciting opportunities. After gaining valuable experience in both the public and private sectors, I am eager to broaden my horizons and sharpen my business acumen to support innovative founders in executing ambitious ventures.

Describe the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

It is quite hard to choose my single biggest professional accomplishment, but in retrospect, I think that it would be the understanding of my actions’ impact. One of the greatest attributes of joining very early-stage startups as one of the first employees is that even seemingly trivial decisions that I took early on have an enormous impact and actually set the scene for the proceeding growth stages. 

Working in such flat organisations, everyone has a massive impact on the product and delivery, far exceeding titles and work requirements. This setup enables ample growth opportunities. Additionally, the dynamic environment and supportive ecosystem have a huge impact on everyone’s phase and delivery, so I am eager to bring this incredible mindset to Cambridge and help as much as I can!  

How do you feel about being awarded your scholarship?

I am extremely grateful to be chosen among such a competitive candidate pool to be awarded this award and Forté Fellow support. 

This support encourages me to pursue my most ambitious ventures and pay it forward, and I am excited to make it happen.  

What do you want to get out of the MBA most of all in the next year?

Participating in such an incredible community, I look forward to not only intellectual growth but also collaborating with a diverse group of talented and driven people across the wide Cambridge ecosystem. 

I am excited about the opportunity to immerse myself in the Cambridge experience and learn, from and with, its bright members.

Where do you see your MBA journey taking you in your future career?

After gaining valuable experience working as an early employee of very early-stage startups and in strategic teams of national organisations, I aim to utilise the broad business fundamentals and talented community I cultivate during the MBA to broaden my impact and help ambitious founders execute their innovative ideas. 

By collaborating with the Cambridge community members and the incredible people I met throughout my personal and professional journey, I plan to bring innovative ideas to life as an early-stage VC investor, tackle meaningful issues, and promote prosperity.

What does Cambridge mean to you?

Cambridge symbolises a genuine community of explorers and thought leaders, including not only the Business School, but also the collegiate system, wider university, and surrounding tech ecosystem. 

By gathering the sharpest minds from all around the globe, Cambridge ignites intellectual growth and interconnections among the thriving community members. As an aspiring early-stage VC investor, I will cultivate those relationships to tackle exciting challenges and execute innovation, bridging between academia and industry.   

Something that few people may know about you…

My go-to recharge method is booking one-way flight tickets for the next day to new destinations. A bunch of awesome experiences started that way! 

Being an efficient packer also helps – I can fit everything needed for a 6-week trip across North America and a couple of months in Europe into a carry on in under 30 minutes. Travel buddies are always welcome to join.