Haydn Lewis: Transition into green energy startup

What led you to take the Cambridge MBA?

After spending 4 years in the M&A team, and my whole career within GE, I felt I was at a point in my career where I was ready for a new challenge. An MBA seemed the perfect next step to build out my network and hone some of the areas I need to work on to move into leadership positions. 

After conducting research into various programmes, the Cambridge Judge MBA stood out to me due to its combination of academic excellence and practical experiences. The relatively small cohort size was also a large factor, offering a greater opportunity to develop deeper partnerships with my classmates. 

At this stage, I was already quite set on Cambridge Judge but also took the opportunity to speak to many alumni who all reinforced the tight-knit groups they formed, the entrepreneurial nature of the programme and the academic rigour of the faculty. 

Describe the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

The achievement I’m most proud of would be my 8-year career with international experience. I have been fortunate to work in 5 different countries, building lasting relationships with colleagues. 

After completing the highly competitive financial management scheme with GE Healthcare, I moved into the M&A team for 4 years, working on global, cross-industry deals with over $2Bn in closed transactions. 

How do you feel about being awarded your scholarship?

Humbled and grateful. Growing up in the UK, Cambridge is always spoken of and seen as the pinnacle of academia, so to be awarded one of the highly competitive scholarships was amazing. 

Being awarded the scholarship was also an affirming experience, reinforcing the work and progress I’ve made since completing my undergraduate degree. 

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

I’m mostly looking forward to putting myself out of my comfort zone and experiencing the plethora of opportunities the MBA and the broader Cambridge ecosystem offers. 

With a substantial time away from studying, I’m excited for the academic portion of the course and to truly focus on deep learning, which I feel can be hampered while working full time. Equally, I look forward to participating actively in the broader community, including societies, attending talks and networking with students at all stages of their lives. I want to take advantage of all these opportunities and come away with new friends, perspectives and hobbies. 

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

Having spent a considerable amount of time in the energy industry, I have become passionate about the space and would love to join a startup or company engaged in the financing of the transition to a greener world. Silicon Fen has produced several impressive companies in the space so I could envisage joining one of those post-MBA. 

What does Cambridge mean to you?

Cambridge to me represents the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of giants, whose ideas and innovations have shaped the world for over 800 years. 

People have become disillusioned with the UK and our position on the global stage in recent times however, Cambridge is one of the institutions we have that is still, and will continue to be, world leading, and it will be an honour to represent it in my future endeavours. 

Something that few people may know about you…

I spent 2 years working in a kid’s toy shop while studying for my A-levels.