Rachel Cottam: From stay-at-home to the Cambridge MBA

What led you to take the Cambridge MBA?

6 years ago, I was a stay-at-home mum to 2 kids, struggling to make ends meet. My husband and I were desperately trying to fulfil the roles our culture prescribed for us, but we were looking at 87 dollars in our bank account and no way to pay the rent the next month. 

I applied to every job with a LinkedIn Easy Apply button and landed a part-time role at a local startup. 

What started out as a pay cheque became a career turning point. Within 3 years, I had gone from a part-time copywriter to the director of a content team. I also started sharing my story online and developing allyship content that resonated with men and women alike. So many people want to see gender equity in their workplaces, homes, and communities, but they don’t know where to start. 

I wanted to hear broader experiences of allyship around the world and to gain the knowledge to grow my business. I have learnt so much from the last 6 years in tech, but I knew an MBA at Cambridge would allow me to learn from a truly global cohort. 

6 years ago, I probably wouldn’t have believed you if you told me I’d be going to Cambridge.  I’m pinching myself to be here! 

Describe the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

While I’m extremely proud of the launches and acquisitions I’ve been a part of, I believe the biggest accomplishments in my career have had to do more with people than profit. 

The moments when we make co-workers and customers feel seen are the most significant of any career. Relationship building isn’t a soft skill at all – it’s one of the hardest and most important leadership skills we develop. 

How do you feel about being awarded your scholarship?

As I’ve shared, my family would never have reached a point of financial stability if my husband and I hadn’t been willing to move beyond cultural traditions. He made the sacrifice to be a stay-at-home dad when we couldn’t afford childcare, and I stepped into the role of full-time breadwinner. 

In these circumstances, taking a year off work is not a decision I’m making lightly. It’s not an exaggeration to say I wouldn’t be attending this programme without this scholarship. 

I am humbled and grateful – and I’m ready to pay it forward. 

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

As a right-brained creative, I expect the MBA to round out my knowledge with quantitative skills and business vocabulary. 

But more than the practical applications, I am here to learn from the personal insights of brilliant faculty and peers. I am here to expand the discussion of gender allyship to a global sphere. I am here to be uncomfortable, to do hard things, and to make unforgettable memories with my family. 

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

My short-term goal after the Cambridge MBA is to move from marketing into entrepreneurship, launching my own business in gender equity and consulting. 

However, I’m open to plans changing and I know that an MBA will position me to be a change-maker in whatever organisation I am in. 

What does Cambridge mean to you?

To many, Cambridge means legacy and leadership. Over the last year in admissions and onboarding, Cambridge has also come to mean kindness, humanity, and intention. 

I chose Cambridge because every interaction I’ve had with the faculty and my cohort came from a place of care – care for who I am as an individual, not just an applicant. 

Something that few people may know about you…

I spent much of my 20s performing as a singer-songwriter.