About
Name: Olivia Jenkins
Nationality: British
Programme: MBA 2024
Education: BA (Hons) Modern and Medieval Languages: German and Russian, University of Cambridge, UK
Pre-MBA role: Portfolio Talent Associate, Montagu Private Equity, London, UK
Olivia is a recipient of the Dean’s scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement and the Forté Foundation Fellowship.
What led you to take the Cambridge MBA?
After graduating, I started my career in executive search and was responsible for hiring board and executive talent across different sectors internationally. I particularly enjoyed learning about different business functions and industries. When selecting a business school, I was looking for a programme that would enhance my academic business knowledge, but also continue to provide practical business experience. The versatility of the Cambridge MBA therefore appealed to me with its combination of core courses, electives and the opportunity to participate in the Cambridge Venture Project and Global Consulting Project.
As a linguist, I value that Cambridge welcomes students from a variety of career paths and countries and I look forward to learning with and from peers with different experiences.
Describe the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?
In my previous role at a private equity fund, I established a global network for Chief People Officers across our portfolio companies to facilitate knowledge sharing. This involved setting up an online collaboration platform, organising regular events, working groups and leading projects on strategic People topics.
I was particularly proud of managing and completing a one-year project with input from portfolio people teams to produce a toolkit with best practice guidance for the talent lifecycle. The toolkit was successfully launched as a key resource for use by portfolio companies.
How do you feel about being awarded your scholarship?
I was delighted to be awarded the Dean’s Scholarship.
I am grateful to be recognised in this way and really appreciate the support that this award provides for me to continue to enhance my learning, development and skills.
What do you want to get out of the MBA most of all in the next year?
I am excited for the year ahead and the opportunity to broaden my horizons. Academically, I am looking forward to consolidating and expanding my business knowledge in areas where I have less experience, such as Finance and Economics, and then applying this in practice through consulting projects and internships.
In addition, I am keen to meet, learn from and collaborate with an international and diverse cohort of MBA peers.
Where do you see your MBA journey taking you in your future career?
Working across the deal lifecycle at a private equity fund, I enjoyed collaborating with stakeholders in different businesses and sectors, thereby gaining a unique perspective on the importance of Talent in value creation. I also enjoyed developing my knowledge of people strategy through the Chief People Officer network that I helped to create.
Post-MBA, I am interested in developing my strategic skill set by exploring a move into People and Organisation consulting or an operational role within a strategic People function.
What does Cambridge mean to you?
As a Cambridge graduate, the university holds a special place in my heart for its history, scholarship and opportunities.
It has been formative in my adult life, providing me with happy memories, lifelong friendships and the foundations with which to pursue my interests and develop my career.
Something that few people may know about you…
As an undergraduate, I studied German and Russian and spent a year living and studying in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Here, I joined the university choir and had the opportunity to perform in the famous Mariinsky Theatre, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I shall never forget.