Katherine Gobey: Bridging science and strategy in climate tech

What led you to choose the Cambridge MBA?

I have always had a passion for science and engineering, studying all the way up to my PhD which was in using plasma processing for a solar power application. This inspired me to pursue using science to tackle climate change and have a positive impact on the planet, moving me to work for a Cambridge based climate tech scale-up as a Research and Development Engineer, leading the experimental wing of the R&D team.

Unfortunately during this time I saw first-hand the friction between the science and the management. The scientists and engineers did not understand the business strategy and the management responsible for the business strategy did not understand the unique challenges of a complex R&D scale up programme. I saw there was a missing link between the 2 and decided to pursue an MBA so that I could guide technologies through the difficult scale up process with a holistic approach that accounts for both science and strategy.  The Cambridge MBA in particular puts me at the heart of an innovation ecosystem and provides unrivalled networks and education.

What has been your biggest career accomplishment so far?

 I am proud to have been instrumental in the overhaul of Health and Safety of the R&D department in my previous role. I cared deeply about my team’s wellbeing and pushed for changes in our equipment, procedures and PPE to improve safety. This also sparked an interest in leadership from a behavioural perspective, as changing behaviours was just as challenging as changing equipment. I worked to ensure my team felt their concerns were heard and that they felt active participants in the process rather than just receiving instruction, which improved compliance. In addition to physical safety I became interested in the concept of psychological safety, encouraging my team to speak up and raise issues without fear, which in turn improved safety through increased honesty in reporting incidents and concerns.

How do you feel about receiving your scholarship?

Without the scholarship I simply wouldn’t have been able to have accepted the offer of study, so receiving it has enabled me to take this new path and may just change my life!  I’m aware of what a huge privilege it is to receive a full scholarship and I am incredibly grateful to have been awarded it. I hope to be a passionate ambassador and role model for the Cambridge MBA, especially for those who may come from unconventional backgrounds.

What do you hope to gain from the MBA over the next year?

Coming from a STEM background and previously working in hands-on technical roles, I have limited knowledge of how businesses work from the other side, so I aim to learn how business decisions are made from different perspectives. From broader strategy to finance, marketing, company culture and long-term survival, especially with regards to science innovations. I’m also looking forward to working with and studying alongside a diverse group of students and lecturers and learning more than just the academic content but also from the cultures and experiences of my peers.

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

Science is my passion and I want to stay in this space, so I hope that in holding both a Cambridge MBA and a doctorate in applied physics, I can be a driving force for science innovations to thrive through the difficult journey from concept to commercialisation. There are so many incredible ideas that do not survive, not because they are bad ideas or do not work from a technical perspective, but because they are not managed correctly and I want to do my part to prevent that.

What does Cambridge mean to you?

I have been privileged to already live in Cambridge for the last few years and I have absolutely fallen in love with it.  It is such an incredible place that bursts with vibrancy and life. There is a buzz in the air of all the hope and optimism of the world’s best thinkers who come together here to make the world a better place. And of course it is a beautiful city too, it is lovely cycling along the river on a warm spring morning or stopping at one of the many historic pubs and soaking up the sunshine in a beer garden or keeping warm by a log fire. The diversity here is also amazing, I have met some incredible people in Cambridge from a huge variety of backgrounds and the range of regional cuisines represented by restaurants here is excellent.

Something few people know about you…

Whilst I am very passionate about emerging technology, I also love the old engineering. I drive a modern classic 1980s Austin Maestro that I try to maintain myself and I love to see a steam engine at a country show.  I love being able to see the energy move through a system, from the source through the pipes, pulleys, gears and chains, through to the useful output. Seeing scientific principles realised into visible actions is fascinating.