About
Name: Jens Peters
Nationality: Swedish
Programme: MBA 2018
Education: BSc Business Studies, Bayes Business School, UK
Current role: Senior Vice President, Co-Leader M&A and Transaction Solutions
Pre-MBA role: Account Executive/Consultant, Willis Towers Watson, London, UK
What stood out about the academic learning experience for you? Ie what were your favourite courses, what impact did they have on you etc?
The Negotiations class has helped me in my job since the MBA. In fact, I have taken a lead role on negotiating with large multinationals. The Philosophy of Business has widened my perspectives and maturity. Financial Statement Analysis gave me an introduction to the skills needed to successfully help clients manage balance sheet volatility. Corporate Governance has given insights needed to successfully navigate the ESG drive my organisation is undertaking.
Please tell us about the standout elements of the Cambridge experience or extra-curricular activities you had during your MBA.
Belonging to Emmanuel College was great and I remember playing squash with friends from the MBA. The running club was also a great way to connect with people from the cohort – we pushed each other during the year to balance learning and in-class room experiences with physical activity.
How would you describe the cohort of people in your class?
Amazing. The cohort was the best thing about the MBA. The diversity was great, and I have learnt many important life lessons from others in the cohort sharing their views. Having healthy debates with different lines of thinking involved is a great way to learn. Cambridge facilitated this.
What aspect of the MBA learning/experience would you say you find most useful now in your professional life?
Thinking from the point of view of others. This has allowed me to navigate both my organisation and clients. With these insights I can now take on more leadership responsibility.
Did the MBA enable a change in career direction?
I made a switch both in job function and country. The job function, moving into business development, was enabled by the MBA. The new role involved directly speaking to c-suite stakeholders, something the modules of the MBA helped me prepare for.
How has the MBA influenced your career journey in general?
The MBA has provided me with a base from where I can comfortably speak my mind in a professional setting, at the same time as I balance this with humility and an understanding for people having different points of view.