The Cambridge Advantage
Studying an MBA at Cambridge Judge comes with a certain level of exposure to fields and backgrounds one can only imagine. But for Mansa Shroff, immersion among these diverse minds formed the foundation of her MBA transformation. Mansa Shroff is an alumna of the Cambridge Judge MBA who graduated in 2024. Originally from India, she chose the Cambridge Judge Business School in the UK for her MBA degree. She emphasizes that the Cambridge Judge MBA interdisciplinary opportunities, diversity, and excellent resources stemming from Cambridge University are what made it stand out as a program.
Exploring Cambridge Judge MBA Interdisciplinary Opportunities
One of the factors that made the program exceptional to Mansa was its interdisciplinary and collaborative nature.
Mansa reflects, “At the heart of the Cambridge MBA is adaptability. What I mean by that is working across different disciplines to understand how to be adaptable. [This is] a reflection of what comes in the real world.” (00:20)
She notes her first-term Cambridge Venture Project. She recalls that they were placed in diverse groups to work on the project.
“I had a British accountant, an Indonesian consultant, a Peruvian banker, a Taiwanese influencer, and myself, an Indian pharma professional. We were working on a wind energy project. It required us to be adaptable, to think outside of the box, to [share our] learnings from our different backgrounds, and to break that siloed thinking.” (00:40)
Through cross-disciplinary case studies, students hone their teamwork, communication, and collaboration skills.
Mansa reiterates, “Interdisciplinary teamwork is at the heart of the Cambridge MBA. We have a lot of classes that focus on this.” (09:15) She says that the MBA goes beyond ‘diversity for the sake of diversity’. Students learn how to leverage true diversity to make a team thrive.
As Mansa points out, these types of projects mirror the real world. Building this business knowledge is an essential part of developing a global business career.
University of Cambridge Resources That Enrich the MBA
Outside of the MBA experience itself, studying within the Cambridge University ecosystem offers a wide range of advantages. Students have access to numerous research hubs and accelerator programs such as Accelerate Cambridge or Ignite. These programs foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Additionally, there are plenty of platforms that encourage dialogue and thought leadership such as the Cambridge Union and King’s Entrepreneurship Lab. They host events and invite renowned speakers such as Sam Altman and Peter Thiel to discuss a variety of topics.
This bustling atmosphere offers a rich foundation for personal, professional, and academic growth. There is plenty to be gained both within and outside of the MBA classroom.
A Unique College System
Additionally, Mansa notes that the college system is highly unique to the school. The school has 31 colleges. She humorously describes them as “Hogwarts houses”. Every college has its own unique offering.
For example, Mansa studied at King’s College, which is known for its entrepreneurship lab. This system creates a sense of community within the colleges, while connecting the school as a whole.
She further highlights that it is the diversity on campus that drives exchange. She underscores, “It allows engineers, scientists, business leaders, and philosophers to all come [together] in one town. It’s the proximity of ideas and people, that rate of collision, that drives innovation.” (04:29)
This unique environment allows for innovation to flourish across academic fields and industries.
Bridging Science and Business
Furthermore, Mansa was exposed to distinctive opportunities during her studies. During the MBA, she worked with the World Bank on their Health-Climate initiative. She also pursued a project with Novartis’ Global Health Institute. During her summer term, she had the opportunity to work with pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson in the U.S. on an oncology market assessment project for the UK market.
She partnered with Cambridge University Hospital for the project, working closely with the physicians.
She says about the project, “[We had to] understand their real world constraints. It helped us take a deep dive into a market research opportunity and get critical feedback. This helped us transform [J&J’s] commercial strategy. to assess a new market” (03:46)
Through the several-month project, Mansa learned what it takes to get a product from “the bench to the boardroom.” (03:57) She gained a deeper understanding of dealing with bureaucracy, restraints, and entering international markets.
This real-world work experience and the high-caliber industry connections she gained were invaluable additions to her MBA learning.
Enriching the MBA Experience with Extracurriculars
Beyond academics, there are plenty of extracurriculars to choose from at Cambridge Judge. In fact, there are over 700 student societies. (12:31)
Additionally, as a full-time MBA student at the Cambridge Judge Business School, you can lead special interest groups (SIGs). Mansa was the leader of the healthcare cohort. “It enriches the experience by fostering dialogue between communities, in and outside of Cambridge, and allows for people to learn from each other,” she says. (05:57)
Mansa also deeply enjoyed the formal dinners offered at Cambridge. They provide an opportunity to enjoy the rich history and tradition of Cambridge University. In addition, they are excellent opportunities to meet new people and expand your world view.
It was through one of these dinners that she connected with someone in archery. She ended up joining the Archery Club for the remainder of her studies.
The many sports events, such as MBAT, are another excellent opportunity to network and build new connections outside of the classroom.
Being Part of the Extensive Cambridge Alumni Network
The distinct advantage of being a part of the Cambridge Judge MBA program is that you’re part of the wider Cambridge University network and alumni community. This alumni network spans across the globe.
Mansa notes that there are numerous platforms for staying connected, from LinkedIn groups to WhatsApp group chats. The university also organizes CJBS Connects. This is a series of alumni events that take place every September, both online and in person.
She adds that she was exposed to many new opportunities through the Cambridge University community. She says, “It is through these relationships that I’ve usually found my projects at J&J, or at Novartis, or at the World Bank.” (07:56) Your “network” is truly your “net worth”, according to Mansa.
Her advice to future students is to start making connections early and deliberately. Making those connections during your studies can be a great way to enhance your network and career in the future.
Mansa emphasizes, “You get to belong to three communities: your college (to King’s College)… to your school (Cambridge Judge Business School), and the university itself.” (12:56)
This sense of community and access to a broad and diverse network were a highlight of her studies and alumni experience.
Blending Prestige and Tradition with Diversity
Ultimately, the Cambridge Judge Business School blends its rich history with a forward-thinking approach to business education. It fosters diversity that reflects modern workplaces. This diversity is reflected in the Cambridge Judge MBA class profile.
Mansa shares, “More than 50% of different nationalities are demonstrated and represented in our MBA cohort. We’re about 47% women, which matters to me, because I come from a STEM background, and I wanted to make sure that women are equally represented in class.” (13:27)
For her, studying at Cambridge Judge Business School was a fascinating and inspiring experience. There is a rich history to draw from. Being in places where Sylvia Plath, Stephen Hawking, and other notable figures have studied and lived is a surreal experience.
She reflects, “You realize that you’ve had beer in the same place where Watson and Crick announced the identification of the double helix of DNA, and as a complete healthcare nerd what could be better than that?”
The history, tradition, diversity, and Cambridge Judge MBA interdisciplinary opportunities are interconnected ‘golden threads’, as Mansa calls them. The Cambridge Judge Business School blends its rich history and tradition with forward-thinking practices. Moreover, it grants MBA students access to exclusive Cambridge University resources, a diverse global network, and the tools to elevate their international careers for meaningful success.
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