Few business schools give their students unfettered access to the C-suite as Lancaster University Management School does. MBAs get to mix with Kevin Roberts, the chairman of advertising giant Saatchi & Saatchi.The MBAs effectively step into Kevin’s shoes. Their challenge is to come up with the top-10 challenges that Saatchi & Saatchi will encounter in the next 12 months. They receive the same information as the company’s board of directors.
“The biggest challenge facing an organization like Saatchi & Saatchi is how to maintain a competitive advantage. Technology and social media have brought down the barriers to entry. Traditional advertising is a crowded market,” says Matt Oliver, an MBA student at LUMS.
The business school claims it has the only MBA program in the world that works so closely with a global chairman. The connection is unique, says Matt.
“Kevin’s position as a business leader is legendary. To be able to have almost one-to-one contact with someone who has been there and succeeded is a golden opportunity.”
It was Kevin’s openness that stood out, Matt adds. “He made himself fully available. The direct words of wisdom he gave have helped me navigate the leadership and career journey that I am on.”
Such a strategic contribution to a global business is no doubt beneficial. “Saatchi & Saatchi is a pioneer in the industry and working with the company will definitely add weightage to my CV,” says Shaswati Panda, a LUMS MBA.
She adds: “Working closely with a global chairman is an invaluable experience. Kevin is inspirational and energetic.”
The company benefits from the MBAs’ input, too. “We are groomed to think like strategic consultants and to challenge ourselves at every turn,” says Shaswati, previously a senior analyst at Accenture. “This is exactly what we aim to do for Saatchi & Saatchi.”
This ties in with the ethos of the LUMS MBA. The program is structured around the “Mindful Manager” module, which encourages students to be more reflective, to improve their decision making.
Matt says: “The first thing Kevin said to us was, ‘The purpose of business is to make a difference’.”
He adds: “We were set many challenges. We had to find solutions to business dilemmas. The core feedback we received was how ethical our proposed solutions were.”
Critical thinking, a core competence of a “mindful manager”, is also brought to bear by the Saatchi & Saatchi chief, says Matt. “The ability to make adjustments [to your management style] is one of the key elements of the module.”
The Mindful Manager program was a key differentiator for LUMS when Matt, who worked in management for German retailer Lidl, was applying to MBA programs. “Its values and themes very much suited me and my way of thinking. To be able to delve deeper into that personal journey was a big draw,” he says.
Student Reviews
Lancaster University Management School
An exceptional educational establishment in the North West of England.
This university has been a fantastic life experience as well as a great academic one. I first decided to go to Lancaster University Management School due to its exceptional business education facilities and have not been disappointed. I recommend the university to anybody that wants to put themselves in a strong position for a career upon graduation.
Student Ambassador
Overall, the instruction is decent, however it also depends on your department. The people are friendly, in my opinion. The sporting events are enjoyable, and there is a good sense of community. Although the city is quite remote, it is nonetheless attractive.
Lancaster University honest review
The education system in the university is excellent especially that of the Management School. The campus has great facilities for students to study and live in a relaxed manner. The students can engage in various activities through the socities.
Great opportunities to think beyond
Lancaster University provides a lot of good opportunities to think beyond.There Entrepreneurship in residence program helps students to meet and seek guidance about entrepreneurship and the challenges.Their Work in progress program help to fabricate your startup idea and further to pitch to the potential investors.Apart from that there are lot of programs like Enactus, guest lectures and guidance from seniors to help and shape your career needs.
They provide lot of opportunities to shape up your employability skills.
A top university in the UK for management science!
If you’re interested in management science studies, Lancaster University is one of the top universities in the UK. The faculty is renowned and have a sterling reputation for research in management science. Candidates specifically interested in Forecasting would find the Centre for Marketing Analytics and Forecasting especially relevant to their field. Besides, the ROI is good as the overall cost compared to other universities is less.
Great university for academia – not great for 'entrepreneurs'
Please keep in mind that my review is nuanced by my expectations of an Entrepreneurship degree :) I came to Lancaster University because it was one of the top universities to have a course in Entrepreneurship. After 4 years in this degree, my most valuable experience has been my placement and not the actual course. The course is heavily focused on impractical elements, which is a bit odd for an Entrepreneurship degree. There are some modules that involve hands-on work but the faculty support for such things has not been great. My course also involved a lot of teamwork which has been fantastic and really prepared me when it comes to dealing with the diversity of opinions. In terms of career prospects, the management school does A LOT to host events, workshops and support sessions to help you build up your employability skills. Although, I wish there was more acknowledgement of SMEs/startups as a viable career option. The entrepreneurship team which is meant to support budding businesses is really stepping up their game with tons of guest speakers, workshops and pitching opportunities. The location is a concern if you're not in STEM, Law or Accounting and Finance. Business requires networking with the broader community. However, for Lancaster students, the best bet is a trip down to Manchester or London. On the flip side, living in Lancaster is much cheaper! Overall, if the purpose of your university experience is to receive top academic education and have great facilities at your disposal, Lancaster is a great choice. But if you want to be in business and entrepreneurship, I would look elsewhere.
