Latest / Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast / Episode 387: Admissions Director Q&A with Emily Brierley of Cambridge Judge

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Episode 387: Admissions Director Q&A with Emily Brierley of Cambridge Judge · Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast

• 0:17
  Speaker A: Welcome to the clear Admit MBA admissions podcast. I'm your host, Graham Richmond, and this special episode is part of our very popular admissions director Q and a series. Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Emily Bryerly from Cambridge University's judge School of Business. Emily's title is head of Cambridge MBA recruitment and admissions. She first joined Cambridge back in 2016. By 2018, she had joined the MBA recruitment and admissions team, starting as a coordinator in operations and then candidate management. And she moved into a head role in August of 21. Some of you may have heard Emily on the show for a short episode that we recorded over the summer at the annual GMAT conference. But today we're gonna do a deep dive into all aspects of the admissions process at Cambridge. Judge. Without further ado, let's bring Emily on here. Welcome, Emily, and thanks so much for doing this.
• 1:08
  Speaker B: Thank you very much, Graham. And I'm delighted to be here and to join you and to talk with you and, yeah, tell you about all things Cambridge.
• 1:15
  Speaker A: All right, well, it's great to have you back on the show. Let's dive right in. I gave a little bit of a summary about your background, but I don't know if it was all accurate, so feel free to correct. And also add, I'd love to just know more about your background and the path that kind of led you to your current role at judge.
• 1:29
  Speaker B: I. Yeah, absolutely. So I've always worked in higher education, ever since I graduated and I started out working in the international office of my alma mater. And I worked in a few roles, starting on reception, moving to marketing promotions. I always loved working with overseas students, being that point of contact when they arrive in the UK to start their studies, start their journey, being able to help them along the way. It's an incredibly exciting, but nerve wracking time. Having been an international student myself, at some point I really valued the team that were there to welcome me and make me feel comfortable and at home. So I've always really enjoyed working with overseas students and that aspect of it. I went traveling for a bit after that, I worked in Australia. My brother lives out there, so I stayed with him for a bit. And then when I came back to the UK, I did a bit of a weird career move. I became a librarian for about a year and a half.
• 2:25
  Speaker A: Wow.
• 2:26
  Speaker B: And that's when I moved to Cambridge. So I joined a trainee librarian program. And if you're going to be a librarian anywhere, Cambridge is a pretty good place to do it. There's, you know, all the colleges have libraries, all the departments of libraries, they have the big university library. So that was a cool experience. But I quickly realized that, you know, that career path was perhaps not for me when a student shushed me in the library. I have a pretty loud voice. So, yeah, then a job opportunity came up, working at Cambridge admissions office. So this is the central university's undergraduate admissions office to have helped develop a new international student recruitment team. So I did that for 18 months. It was just me and my colleague and we built it up. I believe they're now a team of about eight or nine, which is fantastic. And then, yeah, moved to judge in 2018 when a role in the MBA admissions and recruitment team came up. I'd never worked in graduate management education, but I love it. I absolutely love it. I love the industry. I love my peers and colleagues at all the different schools. I love working with the students. It's a fantastic industry to work in. So, yeah, I've been there ever since, had a couple of roles in the team and now I'm excited to lead the team.
• 3:35
  Speaker A: Yeah, that's excellent. And I think you've kind of. I have a feeling where you're going to go with this next question, because you talked about some of the things you like and I just wondered, yeah, just what is it that you like most about this current role that you're in? And if you're willing, give me something that you don't like too much about it.
• 3:52
  Speaker B: I think it's the people. I think it's, you know, it's always the people, isn't it? So I have an amazing team that I work with, you know, not just the admissions team, but the wider MBA teams, careers, cjbs, careers, teams, all the teams, you know, in judge. Judge is a fantastic place to work. There's a really strong community there, but it's also the students, you know, the prospective mbas. I meet the current students, seeing them go on through their journey to become alumni. I've met some amazing people doing some really incredible things, you know, met some really inspirational women, but in particular, I know along the way that you can kind of like, look up to as role models. So, yeah, it's quite inspiring in a lot of ways. So, yeah, definitely the people, the industry are the bits I love. What don't I love? I think higher education is very busy. I think it's the same with everywhere. It's a lack of time. So there's lots of ideas, lots of things I want to do, but it's just finding time to do those on top of everything else. I'm a massive advocate of work life balance for my own mental health, my own wellbeing. I do have to have that divide and that clear delineation, and that's really important. So it's trying to manage and do everything I want to do in the time that I have to do it. I know some people are super people and can do it all. I would say I'm perhaps not one of those people. I need that balance and I advocate for that.
• 5:12
  Speaker A: Yeah, as you should. I feel like it's funny you're talking about not having time, because I feel like we literally were just hanging out, kind of celebrating the end of one season, and now we've turned into the new application cycle. So, yeah, it's sort of nonstop. And the other thing you said struck me was you mentioned earlier on that one of the things you really enjoyed in those roles that you held even before you were at Cambridge, was this idea of helping folks, international students especially, kind of adjust and come to the UK. And I feel like given the fact that judge is so international, that piece must still be there for you, right? I mean, you're bringing in a lot of international students every year.
• 5:49
  Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. And it's actually a perfect time to talk about that because we literally just had our registration days last week, and it's such an amazing time when they arrive and they're excited, but they're all also really nervous and everyone feels the same and they think they're the only one that feels that way. But every single person I spoke to was like, I'm excited, but I'm nervous. And it is even, you know, even if you've got, like, ten years working experience behind you and you're going to a new country, you know, with new culture, you know, different, perhaps different values, just a completely different setup, it is nerve wracking. So it's really. I think it's really valuable to know that the support, the support there, not only from your peers, but from the program team, the people who are going to be helping you along their journey, I think that's what I find really valuable in my job.
• 6:31
  Speaker A: Yeah. So I guess one of the things I wanted to ask you, and maybe this is a good segue, I wanted to know if you'd be willing to debunk a Cambridge or judge stereotype that's out there. So whatever one you want to pick, is there anything you want to kind of.
• 6:49
  Speaker B: I think I have to say that it has to be that, like, you don't need a 700 Gmail or a first class degree to be considered. And I think that's a common myth across business schools in general. But I think it's something that's really, really heightened at Cambridge. I think because of the institution we are, you know, and the focus that there is on academics and research, but I genuinely think it puts people off applying. You know, I've heard people walk past my booth at events and be like, oh no, Cambridge, I'll never get in there. And that really upsets me because, you know, you don't know until you try. And we do take a holistic approach. You know, we do look at everything together and academics are important and I won't say they're not, because they are. And, you know, we need to know you're going to manage the program, but they are just one part of it. So I'd really encourage people to apply or, you know, get in touch with us and have a chat. But I think people are always surprised when they arrive at judge. You know, they come to the business school, they see how relaxed it is, how friendly it is, you know, how approachable everyone is, you know, the faculty, the, you know, the staff, the students.
• 7:45
  Speaker A: Yeah.
• 7:45
  Speaker B: So I think Cambridge has a bit of a reputation that precedes itself, but it's not, it's not this kind of like terrifying place.
• 7:54
  Speaker A: Yeah. I remember taking the train from London. I was coming out to your campus to have coffee with one of your colleagues, Conrad, who you must know. And I remember it was my first time ever going to Cambridge and I had these visions. I'm an american and we know what Princeton and Harvard are, but Cambridge is sort of that next level beyond. And so I just remember taking a walk around and seeing the campus and yeah, having that, like, oh, this is intimidating. But then getting over to the judge building and hang out with Conrad and other people on the team. It was very laid back environment and very welcoming. But yeah, I think that's a great one to debunk. What's one new thing that's happening or is going to be happening on campus that you wish people knew more about?
• 8:38
  Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. Okay, so I would say, so this was something that was introduced at the end of this last year. So the outgoing class were the first students and it's called the Future forum. So this is a two day kind of event, conference forum essentially. And that takes place. So it marks the end of Capstone week for the outgoing class. So in Easter term. Easter term is the third term for Cambridge MBA students. Cambridge has strange names for all the terms and it's the last taught term in Cambridge. So after Easter term, there's no more lectures. So we really wanted to kind of bring something in to really mark the end of Capstone week and kind of really celebrate the end of, you know, everyone being on campus together. So the first one was held this year. It was in, I think it was at the beginning of June. And, yeah, it was just really. So basically it's just an opportunity to bring together alumni and students from across different years, different programs, to bring industry and business leaders together. A really great part, and I think a really valuable part is bringing faculty from other departments across the university to come and talk about the research they're doing. You know, a lot of these, like, world leading, you know, academics who are doing, you know, doing cutting edge research. So coming in and talking about, you know, current issues like climate change and AI. So this is a really, really fun, you know, I think this has been a fantastic event and we're looking forward to it next year. You know, we had people come from Pinterest, from meta, we had alumni from Google all come along and, you know, give talks. There were networking events. So, yeah, it was a really valuable opportunity for, you know, our students, but also our alumni to kind of, you know, deepen those connections. So the kind of focus for Futures forum this year was really to focus on the changes with everything going on. So the business world is in a constant state of change evolution. So industries are shifting, technologies are advancing. There's always going to be new challenges. So staying ahead of the curve is not just a choice, but it's a necessity. And so the inaugural forum really wanted to focus on those changes. So, yeah, it brought together industry leading researchers, seasoned practitioners, and it was designed to provide our students with a roadmap to kind of navigate those ever changing, the kind of ever changing world of business. So, yeah, that's a really exciting new development on the program and we're looking forward, we're already planning ahead for next year and kind of seeing what the event will look like then.
• 10:56
  Speaker A: Okay, excellent. And I'm going to ask you some questions a little bit later on about the program specifically. I mean, you talked about Easter term and the sort of how everything's structured. So we'll get into that in a moment. But I know our listeners are always very passionate about understanding the application process. And so we'll have, I want ask you a couple of questions about that first. So the first one's really simple. I just would love to know, like, take me through the life of an application so somebody hits submit and they breathe a sigh of relief. And then usually after like 15 minutes go by, they turn to panic as they're like, when am I going to find out and what's next and when's it going to happen? And blah, blah, blah. Right. So take us through on your side. What happens, you know, to the file once it's submitted and all the way through.
• 11:38
  Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. Do you know what? When I first hear this question, I actually pictured myself as the application, like, going through all the channels.
• 11:46
  Speaker A: Yes.
• 11:48
  Speaker B: Yeah. I think what I always say to candidates, and I think the best thing with Cambridge MBA application and admissions process decision, etc. Is always, just remember three. So at the moment you hit submit, about three weeks later, you would expect the outcome. So within those three weeks, your application will be reviewed. It will be be reviewed by the admissions committee, it will be reviewed by multiple people, and then a decision will be made and outcomes will be sent. About three weeks after you've. After you've submitted your application and you'll find out if you've been invited to interview, if you've been, you know, if perhaps you've been unsuccessful, or maybe even if you're placed on a short waitlist. If you are invited to interview, you know, we'll contact you, we'll give you lots of information. You'll be able to kind of choose whether you want to come on campus or do it virtually. We offer both in all four rounds. The choice is yours. If you do come on campus, there'll be a college dinner, there'll be a whole range of interview activities. You'll meet the careers team, have a lunch with current students, etcetera, as well as your interview. So there are benefits for doing that if you're in a position to do so. Three weeks. So you'll have your interview, and then about three weeks after that, you can expect the outcome. So during that time, the admissions committees will meet again. They will review all the interview candidates, their applications, their interview feedback, and then they'll decide who they want to make offers to. And the candidates will get those, will get those decisions, whether they've been made an offer or if they've been unsuccessful. About three weeks after the interview has taken place.
• 13:18
  Speaker A: Okay. Pretty simple, I guess. One thing I want to underline is you mentioned that after the interview, everything gets looked at again. So it's not just the interview only determining. It's like you go back and read the interview feedback alongside the full application and then make a decision.
• 13:31
  Speaker B: Oh, yes, absolutely. The interview feedback is again just another part. We look at everything. Your application, your essays, your profile, your academics, interview, feedback that plays into it as well. Everything's looked at together and there's multiple different people sit on the admissions committees in terms of admissions professionals, but also faculty as well. So lots of people have input into the final decision.
• 13:52
  Speaker A: Okay, great. Good to know. Yeah, I just feel like sometimes candidates, there's lots of stuff out there on the Internet, people saying, oh, if you get an interview at a school, it's the final hurdle. It's all that matters at that point, which is never true for schools. But anyway, I feel like we need to debunk that a little bit. Tell me a little bit about the application essays. Like, if you had to give one tip to candidates as they sit down for the essay component of the application, what would that tip be?
• 14:18
  Speaker B: Yeah, I think, I mean, specifically for Cambridge as well. I would say focus on your inputs and not just the outputs. So, a lot of applications focus just on their takeaways, what they're going to take from the program. When we're talking about Cambridge, we do so much work in group projects, and I would expect to see in an application evidence of what each applicant's going to contribute. What is it they're going to bring? I think candidates shy away on our MBA applications from blasting their own horn like their own trumpet or whatever it is. You know what I mean? Sell yourself and it's your application. You're probably only going to apply once. It's one opportunity in life where you can absolutely tell us how amazing you are in a non arrogant way. So, you know, just, yeah, you know, be your biggest cheerleader and tell, you know, kind of tell us, you know, what you're going to bring to the, you know, contribute to the group projects, to the classroom discussion, what, you know, why should you join the Cambridge MBA?
• 15:10
  Speaker A: Yeah, I love that point because I do feel like it's. As an admissions reader, you know, I used to read files, too, and I just. I would always try to envision the person in the classroom and like, what are they. What point are they going to offer in a conversation, in a business case, or. And so being able to, like, sort of, yeah, have them and, you know, if you're. If you're applying to a school, thinking about what you're going to be giving back, and not just, well, I'm going to get the degree, get the job and get out. That's great advice. We talked about interviews a second ago. You mentioned three weeks after you apply, but tell me about the interview process itself. You did say that you could go to campus or do it virtually, but in terms of the, like, how should one prepare for the interview itself? What kind of questions are you asking? Is there a certain type of interview that you guys use? That sort of thing?
• 15:57
  Speaker B: Yeah, I actually think we talked about this recently at the GMAT conference. We talked about faculty. So at Cambridge, I think we're a little bit unique in this sense that everyone that interviews for the Cambridge MBA has to be interviewed by faculty member. So it's 30 minutes, whether it's in person or virtual, either way, it's 30 minutes with a faculty member. So, I mean, I think the great thing about that is, you know, you're going to be interviewed by someone who will teach you on the program. So it's a really great opportunity to get insight into, you know, the curriculum, the faculty, you know, what it would be like to be in a, you know, in a classroom with them. But it's really just a conversation. So I know a lot of students get really nervous about it, but, you know, most about most candidates come out afterwards, they've had a great time, they've had a really fantastic, you know, conversation. They've enjoyed the experience. However, saying that, you know, it is still an interview. So prepare like you would any job interview, you know, read through your application. It might have been like, you know, a few weeks or, you know, even longer that you submitted and definitely remind yourself of what you wrote on there because the faculty will ask you about it. There's no specific set questions. The faculty kind of run their, each individual, they each run their interviews themselves. However, a few things they will be like, you know, covering is thinking about what, you know, why an MBA, why now, why Cambridge? And they will also be one, you know, they're trying to gauge, you know, in terms of your critical thinking skills and what you do with new information as well. So basically ensuring that you're able to manage the, the academic expectations on the program. But it's not like one of those scary Cambridge interviews that you hear where someone, you know, gives you an orange and says, what is that? Or something, you know, you know, what's the, what's the difference between Father Christmas and God? Or something like crazy that you hear about on the Internet? So it's not that kind of Cambridge interview.
• 17:41
  Speaker A: Okay.
• 17:42
  Speaker B: I would say, though, ensure that you've done your research again. It's like any job interview, you know, on about Cambridge, about the MBA, what the program can offer you, how it aligns with your post MBA career goals, really identify specific areas of the program that are going to help you get there and, you know, ask questions. You know, do. Please do ask questions. It's a two way street. You know, you're interviewing us as much as we're interviewing you.
• 18:04
  Speaker A: Okay.
• 18:04
  Speaker B: So if there's anything you want to know, particularly from the faculty, then do ask them. You know, use that time wisely. You know, you'll be able to ask the admissions team anything you want about scholarship applications or college applications or the kind of, you know, the ins and outs of the admissions process. But, you know, whilst you have time with the faculty, think about what it is you really want to know about the curriculum or about Cambridge. So, yeah, I think that would be my advice. One last thing I'd say. Don't fall into the trap of, you know, trying to know everything about their research area. You know, you don't need to impress them. They want to see, you know, critical thinking and originality of thought. So, you know what you do when you receive new information. So, you know, disagree with them if you want. You know, they'd probably like that. And they'd enjoy the discussion in the debate because, you know, that's kind of what Cambridge is built on, debate, healthy debate.
• 18:51
  Speaker A: So do the faculty, they have the whole file? Are they reading the whole file before they meet with the candidate, or do they have sort of pieces of the.
• 18:59
  Speaker B: File or they have pieces of it. They don't have the full information that the admissions committee see, no. So they have a redacted. So certain things are removed. So they'll have a kind of very high overview of the candidate as well.
• 19:12
  Speaker A: Okay. Yeah. Good advice. I'm glad that you're walking us through this because I think you could see how a candidate might say, wow, it might be intimidating to sit down with a faculty member, but at the same time, what a better way to take the pulse of a program. So, anyway, yeah, that's terrific. Appreciate you providing advice on that.
• 19:31
  Speaker B: I think it's. Sorry, can I just add? I just think it's really special as well, when you're interviewed by someone and then you come on campus and you're in the class, and I was speaking to one of. Of our incoming students, our new students last week, and they were like, oh, it's a thingy. I was interviewed by them. I'm really looking forward to their class. And I just think there's a really kind of this kind of full circle moment. It's really lovely.
• 19:51
  Speaker A: It's also a nice way to keep the faculty engaged in your work of bringing in a class, so I can see how there are benefits there too. So, speaking of the faculty, your program's different from some of your peers due to its one year format. And I know maybe that's less so the case in Europe, but from our standpoint, and a lot of people listening are looking at two year programs. So our listeners, many of them, are thinking about going to the US or even within Europe, they might be looking at some programs that are longer format. So I just wanted you to elaborate a bit on how is the year structured? And also in the US we say two years. It's not actually two years, it's two school years, which is September to May, if you're lucky. So walk us through your format and how it's laid out.
• 20:35
  Speaker B: Yeah, so it's structured over four terms. So like I mentioned earlier, Cambridge has some unusual names for term. So there's Michaelmas, which is the first term, lent term, second term, easter term, and then summer term. So actually similar to what you were saying about, you know, it's not a full year, the tort terms are the first three terms. So actually you could say in terms of where on being on campus in Cambridge, it's a nine month programme. But then the summer term, you're doing your individual projects. So you may still be in Cambridge, you may be elsewhere doing a work placement, which is like an internship essentially. So yeah, it's. In terms of taught terms, it's from basically September to about June. But yeah. So the way the program is structured and designed is to follow a micro to macro pathway. So in the first term you start with all, you know, your core classes, everyone will take these. And these are kind of like the building blocks, you know, then you're kind of building the foundations and alongside that you'll do your first group project, Cambridge venture project, which I think will probably talk about a bit more, in a bit more detail later. And then in the second term you can kind of. There's still some core classes, but then you can start to tailor it to sue, you know, your own interests, your post MBA career goals. And you do this through the electives and that you choose. So you choose three in the second term. And then at the end of the second term you have your global consulting project and you work on that for about a month at the end of the second term. So the length terminal and then the third term, this is kind of really where you can drill down and focus on a specific area. So you'd have your concentration, which you choose. You can choose one of the nine that we offer, you know, we have one, finance, consulting, entrepreneurship. We also have more niche ones like energy and environment, healthcare strategies, and cultural arts and media. And alongside that, you pick three more electives and your group project is related to your concentration choice. At the end of that third term, like I was talking about earlier, you'll then have your Capstone week and with the Futures forum, which kind of celebrates and marks the official end of all your taught lectures in Cambridge. And then in the summer term, you'll do your individual project. And this is really to consolidate everything you've learned over the year in one final project. A few options you can choose from. You could do a research paper. You could do a work placement. So, like I mentioned, an internship in everything but names. You could consult for a company on a specific project. So we often see quite a few spin outs from the GCP on this. You could attend the international business study trip. So you'll go with about 30 of your peers to a city. So this year, the students went to Seoul. Last year they were in Berlin. And you'd go visit companies. There'd be panels with alumni, there'd be networking events, cultural immersion activities, and a whole range of different things. Or you could choose to do lean six Sigma project or a case study workshop instead. So there's quite a few options in the summer term, and it really depends where each individual student is along their kind of career journey or what it is they kind of want to kind of, you know, really deep dive into in the summer term.
• 23:40
  Speaker A: So does that mean that the graduation happens, like, at the end of summer term, or does it happen before they go off and do their things so.
• 23:47
  Speaker B: They get their certificate. They officially, like, graduate from the program in the end of September, beginning of October, when everything's done. However, the graduation celebration actually takes place the following year in April.
• 23:59
  Speaker A: Oh, wow. Okay. Okay.
• 24:00
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 24:01
  Speaker A: So, yeah.
• 24:03
  Speaker B: Again, Cambridge. Very. You graduate at your college, and colleges have different graduation times throughout the year. And as an MBA team, we provide a big celebration in April. So people can bring families and friends and, you know, graduate together, but you can choose to graduate separately or earlier on your, you know, if you wanted to.
• 24:23
  Speaker A: Okay. And I like the fact. So one of the things, I think a sort of a stereotype that comes up is that, oh, one year programs, no internship, no ability to, you know, to. And it sounds like you can spend your summer interning, or it has a different name, but interning, particularly if you're like a career switcher or something, that might be something that people would do, right?
• 24:41
  Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. But also I think with Cambridge as well, it's all the projects that you do. So that's not the only work experience or, you know, real world application that you're having. You get a these like touch points throughout the year through all the different projects you do, which I think are really, really important. On the one year program, you know, you are essentially almost taking a two year MBA and condensing it into a year. One year. It is busy, it's very intensive. But if you're someone who wants to make a career change, you want to make it quickly. You don't want to spend two years of your career or finance an MBA for two years. And the one year MBA is a good option.
• 25:16
  Speaker A: Yeah, sounds like it. I guess we talked a little bit about this, but there are all these hands on projects and I think the program is kind of known for that. So there's the Cambridge venture project, the global consulting project. Just tell me. It sounds like they integrate really well into the curriculum. I mean, you mentioned the global consulting project happens at the end of the second term. Is it a semester? I can't remember what term you guys use.
• 25:42
  Speaker B: Lend term.
• 25:43
  Speaker A: Lend term. But yeah, just tell me, just. Are those the two main ones? Are there other opportunities for this sort of hands on work?
• 25:51
  Speaker B: So those are the two key ones. They're the live projects with real clients who will do another group project at the end of the third term. But it is the Cambridge venture project and the global consulting project, and they are a core part of the experience. So we don't want students to just learn the theory, we want them to be able to apply it to real world situations. So you're taking what you're learning in the curriculum and you're applying it to these live projects. My colleague in careers says it the best way. She was like, you're basically learning something in the classroom on Monday, and then on Tuesday you're applying it to your CVP the next day. You're literally having that immediate application, which is incredibly beneficial for the students. So they're not just theorizing it. There is a core course as well called management praxis, which really applies to the Cambridge, to the both the projects. And so with the Cambridge venture project in the first term, management practice focuses on managing team dynamics, and you're applying that to your project when you start. And that's really important because when you arrive to start the Cambridge MBA, you are put into this very small study group. These teams are engineered to be as diverse as possible so that people from different industries backgrounds that perhaps you've not had the option to work with before. And the Cambridge venture project is a market analysis project with a Cambridge based client. And often these companies will have a very niche, technology or science or product that the first thing the students are going to have to do is to get their head around. So this is, I mean, what's great about this is it evens the playing field. So, you know, you might join and, you know, you're the finance person or you're the consulting person, but you're all thrown together on this project and you're all having to work together from, you know, starting from the same point, which I think is a really, really great thing. And it also allows students to get outside of their comfort zone. So if you are someone who, you know, if you are the strategy person, it gives you the opportunity to wear a different hat, try on a different hat. So maybe you step back and you try being the finance person or, you know, or the consulting person or someone else to, you know, you want to stretch yourself and put yourself outside of your comfort zone. And students are really, really encouraged to do that, that on the different projects. But yeah, the Cambridge venture project in particular, I think is a real learning experience for our students, and they learn a lot about themselves and what it means to work in a team. And then when you get to the global consulting project, again, a real, this is a live project for a real company, you know, could you are solving a problem effectively that could, you know, have a financial impact on a company, and you're taking everything that you've learned, you know, from the Michaelmas terms, from the lent terms, and you're applying that to your global consulting project, and it's a really valuable learning opportunity and also an opportunity to experience new sectors or new roles. So I think this is the great thing with the projects. If you are someone who wants to pivot and you're wanting to go into a new area that you don't have any experience in, the projects are a great way to gain that experience because you're going to be able to draw on that experience later on in interviews, and you're going to be able to talk about it and put it on your cv and on your LinkedIn, and so you can be able to demonstrate that you have that experience.
• 28:59
  Speaker A: Got it? Yeah. So I guess, I mean, it does sound like this sort of hands on stuff is sort of front and center in the program, which is great for a one year, I think, because as we were talking about before. It gives you a chance to have these multiple touch points to. What did the career person say? To take what you've learned and put it into play right away so that when you actually hit the job market, you can do some good things. One last question for you before. So one last serious question. We have a bunch of lightning round questions that are fun, that we always do at the end, but the last serious question is about the relationship between Judge and the broader Cambridge University. And I guess like we were talking about earlier, I mean, Cambridge has this sort of really famous reputation. It's a renowned university. And so I just wondered, to what extent do students at judge sort of tap into the broader kind of Cambridge University alumni network and just all the other great resources that the university provides?
• 29:59
  Speaker B: Yeah, I think the kind of Cambridge collegiate system is always quite interesting when you first come to it and navigate it. I remember when I first moved to Cambridge and I was like, excuse me, it works. How so? You have all the 31 colleges, they're autonomous but related, and then you have all the departments of the university that students studying and as a Cambridge MBA study and judge, which is a department, but you're also a member of one of these fantastic colleges and a member of the. You are a student at the University of Cambridge. So there's lots of ways students can get involved in the wider Cambridge ecosystem or the college, you know, in their college life. It really depends on the individual and how they want to get involved and what they want to do outside of the program, because that kind of tends to be how they'll engage outside of, of the MBA program. So most students usually kind of tend to get involved in their college, whether it's through sports or clubs, things like that. Some might get involved at university level. So if you're someone that excels in something. So we always get rowers every year. We had rugby players, you know, join the University of Cambridge, you know, rowing team and rugby teams who take place, you know, who go and then get involved in the varsity against Oxford. So, you know, the boat things. Boat race. Last year, one of our students took place in the rugby bar city, which used to take place in Twickenham, which was always an amazing experience, going along and seeing all the NBA cohort there cheering for their, for their peers. You could get involved in theatre. One of our mbas got involved with ADC theatre, which is very famous. It's kind of the home of footlights. So, you know, the dramatic society in Cambridge where people like Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Rowan Atkinson, Emma Thompson, they all came through footlights. One of our MBAs did a one woman show during her time at the ADC theatre. You can get involved with things more related to MBAs. So, you know, the university has business societies, entrepreneurship societies, there's a Cambridge university, women in business. So a lot of our mbas get involved in that. And they'll mentor undergraduate women as well, who perhaps maybe want to then go on and start their own business later on or aren't sure kind of what to do next after they finish their studies. So that's a really fantastic opportunity for mentorship and coaching. You can also get involved in the Cambridge union and the debate society. I know a lot of students have done this in order to develop their own presentation skills and their critical thinking skills. So yeah, loads of ways to get involved, but mostly it's just a great way to meet other students studying different things. And, you know, it's not uncommon for students to start businesses with, you know, engineers or scientists that they meet in their colleges. So it is a really valuable part of the experience and really adds another dynamic to your time on the MBA. But it then also means that when you do graduate, like you've mentioned, you have this very extensive network, so you have all these kind of little pockets of different networks you can tap into. So you'd be an alumni of judge and then you're the alumni of your college. And if you're part of a very old college which has a very long history, you know, that has a very extensive alumni network, and you're then also on top of that, an alumni member of the wider University of Cambridge. And on top of that, then Oxbridge, and, you know, there's chapters all around the world. I met an MBA, one of our mbas in Vienna a few years ago who was the, who led the Oxbridge chapter in Vienna as well. So there's lots of different networks you'll be able to tap into and it's ensuring that you kind of utilize those and leverage those as best you can.
• 33:23
  Speaker A: Yeah, I think, I mean, one of the things that strikes me is that, but the fact that you're putting the judge students into colleges is great because like you just said, they can then have relationships with people who are engineers or people who are in other programs or paths of study at the university. It's a great way, I think. And that's not something that actually happens in the US. I mean, there are some, some of the Ivy leagues have colleges and things too. But on the MBA side, usually you're just kind of siloed into the MBA. So it's really interesting that you guys do that. I think it's great. Wow. I've learned a lot about judge through this conversation, which is why I'm so glad that I had you on the show. I did want to ask you if we could do these lightning round questions. Which are. The idea is that we want everyone tuned in who maybe is thinking about Cambridge judge to learn a little bit more about you and to recognize that you're not a scary gatekeeper deciding their fate, but that you're a regular person, too. So I'll just throw them at you. These are just quick answers, so we'll start with an easy one. Coffee or tea?
• 34:26
  Speaker B: Oh, coffee.
• 34:27
  Speaker A: Okay. Wow, you're in the UK. I wasn't sure where that would go.
• 34:30
  Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
• 34:31
  Speaker A: All right. Beach or mountains?
• 34:34
  Speaker B: Mountains.
• 34:34
  Speaker A: Okay. Morning person or night owl?
• 34:37
  Speaker B: Morning person.
• 34:38
  Speaker A: Okay. Annoyingly, what is a pet peeve that you have?
• 34:41
  Speaker B: Oh, people dropping litter. Just put it in a bin.
• 34:44
  Speaker A: Yeah, that's a great one. Guilty pleasure.
• 34:51
  Speaker B: Reading. Probably reading a trashy ya fantasy novel. Watching Bluey.
• 34:56
  Speaker A: Okay. Oh, that's so funny. What about your favorite virtue in others? Besides that they don't litter?
• 35:05
  Speaker B: Compassion.
• 35:06
  Speaker A: Okay. What's your happy place? Somewhere you like to hang out?
• 35:11
  Speaker B: Anywhere out in nature, I'd say preferably on top of a mountain and somewhere hot.
• 35:15
  Speaker A: Okay.
• 35:15
  Speaker B: Okay. I'm thinking of Cape Town. I'm thinking of Cape Town.
• 35:18
  Speaker A: Excellent. 100% I. Comfort food.
• 35:22
  Speaker B: Oh, pasta.
• 35:22
  Speaker A: Okay. And what about a proudest moment?
• 35:25
  Speaker B: Oh, that was tough.
• 35:27
  Speaker A: I mean, aside from coming on the cleared Met podcast, obviously.
• 35:30
  Speaker B: Yeah. Apart from this moment. You know, anytime I can watch my team develop or grow, anytime they receive great feedback, which they do all the time, because they're amazing. I feel like a proud mom at Henry.
• 35:41
  Speaker A: Excellent. What about a superpower that you wish you had?
• 35:46
  Speaker B: Flight. Okay, obviously, I'd never have to get on a plane again.
• 35:50
  Speaker A: Yeah. And you could also, you know, get yourself directly to the top of these mountains that you were talking about.
• 35:56
  Speaker B: Exactly. I could go to Cape Town right now.
• 35:58
  Speaker A: That's right. Okay. Which part of your own admissions process would you most like to skip if you were applying to judge?
• 36:06
  Speaker B: Oh, I guess it's not just hours, but it's everyone's. But the test. 100% the test.
• 36:11
  Speaker A: Yeah.
• 36:12
  Speaker B: Like, I. I am not a fan of standardized testing, and I am in awe of all the people that do it.
• 36:17
  Speaker A: Yeah, that's our most popular response because we've done these with a lot of schools over the years. Everyone says that.
• 36:22
  Speaker B: I bet they do. Yeah.
• 36:24
  Speaker A: And then, if you're willing, what's the best thing that you've either read or watched or even listened to recently?
• 36:29
  Speaker B: Oh, so I read a lot, a lot of fiction for, like, that's kind of like, my escapism. I've read quite a lot of good things this year. Finally read Homecoming by Yargasse, flowers for Algernon. Heartbreaking. I think my favorite novel this year, though, is a novel called our wives under the sea. It's like this contemporary, LGBTQ Gothic. It's very suspenseful, very atmospheric. It's a bit of a slow burn. So, like, if you're someone who loves Dracula. I love Dracula. Then you'll probably enjoy it, but, like, I know a lot of people didn't like it because it's this slow burn build up, and then it's like, oh, did anything really happen? I love it. I love that our wives under the sea isn't me.
• 37:07
  Speaker A: Okay.
• 37:07
  Speaker B: I read it in one sitting. It was so good.
• 37:09
  Speaker A: Wow. Okay. Noted. Well, Emily, I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule, especially now that I know your first deadline has passed. So you're probably frantically reading through files, and then I know you have another deadline in October. Right. So, yeah, things are off to the races with this admission cycle, so I really appreciate you making time.
• 37:29
  Speaker B: I know. Thank you for having me, Graham, and for inviting me along. It's always a pleasure to catch up and have a chat, so thank you very much.
• 37:35
  Speaker A: You're welcome. All right, everyone, please stay tuned to the clear admit MBA admissions podcast, us for more admissions director Q and A's, as well as our weekly wiretaps episodes. And as always, thanks for rating and reviewing this podcast. Wherever you listen.