About
Name: Kelsea Alderman
Nationality: American
Programme: MBA 2019
Education: BA Economics, Bucknell University, USA
Current role: Senior Vice President at Claire’s USA on secondment from McKinsey & Company consulting
Pre-MBA role: Global Brand Planning Manager, Ralph Lauren
What was your professional experience before the MBA?
Before the MBA I spent six years at Ralph Lauren in New York City in a variety of merchandising, planning and buying roles, so I came into the MBA wanting to have a bigger impact on retail and on consumers.
Which aspects of the Cambridge programme impacted you?
I would encourage anyone to take advantage of as many different courses and opportunities as you possibly can during the MBA programme. I think having the confidence to take risks and really be yourself in making your choices is so important. For those interested in consulting, a wide range of studies will benefit you – a large part of consulting is about building relationships, not only with your employer and your team, but also with your client. Having that exposure to such a broad set of courses, people and opportunities is great preparation.
What were your career change experiences?
I was focused in the MBA on pivoting into a different sort of role within retail, so my industry experience was a real asset to me. In the time I have been at McKinsey, people often come to me for expert advice, because I did have 6 years in industry. Even if you’re not interested in staying within that sector in consulting, there are lots of things to be taken from a traditional industry job – such as your interpersonal skills, how you work in teams, and communicate with senior leaders.
Did an MBA from Cambridge set you apart?
Doing the Cambridge MBA allowed me to stand out in the US job market, much more so than if I’d done one of the more expected US MBA programmes. I was often asked specifically about Cambridge in my job interviews, especially in the second round where you’re with more senior people – it was a point of interest and discussion.
Cambridge is just an incredible place to study – it was an opportunity to broaden my horizons professionally, socially, and geographically, having access to different parts of the world, different people with different ways of thinking. That’s something that’s really unique about this programme.