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Welcoming the Executive MBA Class of 2027: a global cohort of senior professionals

At the start of the year, we welcomed a new and dynamic cohort of executive professionals to ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Business School’s Executive MBA programme. The Class of 2027 brings together 31 experienced professionals – 42% of whom are female – from a wide range of industries, backgrounds and countries. With an average of 15 years’ work experience across healthcare, finance, consulting, technology, media, government and real estate, and 19 nationalities represented, this eclectic mix creates dynamic classroom conversations. 

Over the next 23 months, our executive professionals will enhance their leadership capabilities through a rigorous and tailored curriculum. Through conversation and collaboration, the Executive MBA will interweave the most up-to-date knowledge of emerging technologies with fundamental business topics to further enhance their careers.

Why senior professionals choose ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s Executive MBA

In our discussions, the new Executive MBA Class of 2027 chose our programme because they:

• Are established in their careers and are ready to make a lasting impact as a leader.
• Would benefit from a flexible, blended learning format that fits around an executive schedule and limits time away from the office.
• Want to see the impact of learning in real-time, applying learning from Saturday into their business on Monday.
• Are looking to strengthen self-awareness and strategic thinking skills.
• Want exposure to global business settings and challenges through international residencies.
• Are keen to explore the intersection of STEM, technology and business and how it is shaping organisations.
• Want to advance their careers, supported by the most up-to-date business insights.
• Value a diverse, multidisciplinary learning environment, learning alongside executive professionals from multiple industries.
• Want access to a global network of experienced professionals.
• Seek lifelong learning opportunities to stay up-to-date and create lasting impact.

We recently met with some of our business leaders from the Executive MBA Class of 2027 to discover the people behind the programme, from their career journeys to their motivations and why they ultimately chose to study with us.

Akin Akinyemi

Nationality: British
Company and job role: Bloomberg LP, Global Head of Quality Methods & Insights
Education: MEng Electronics & Electrical Engineering with Business Studies, University of Strathclyde; Engineering Doctorate System Level Integration, University of Edinburgh

How has your professional journey across industries prepared you for leadership?

My journey has been more diverse than I ever anticipated. I started at the intersection of healthcare and AI, researching machine learning for computer-aided medical diagnosis, before transitioning briefly into the energy sector as a software engineer.

For the last decade, however, I have worked in financial services in various data leadership roles. Today, I lead a function at Bloomberg where we are embedding industrial engineering techniques into our data manufacturing processes.

Why did you choose an Executive MBA at this stage of your career, and why ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ?

I’ve reached a pivotal point where my role has shifted from managing specialists to driving large-scale organisational transformation. While my technical foundation is solid, leading a transformation function at a global firm like Bloomberg requires a broader, multi-dimensional toolkit. I see the Executive MBA as the bridge to the next decade of my career, providing the intellectual rigour and diverse perspectives necessary to move from functional leadership to high-impact business leadership.

Having hired several ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ engineering alumni throughout my career, I was already well-acquainted with the calibre of the community and the strength of the brand. I wanted to be part of an ecosystem that does not just teach management in a vacuum but understands how to harness technical innovation to solve real-world business challenges.

What are the benefits of balancing an Executive MBA with full-time work?

I view my organisation as a laboratory for the frameworks I’m learning in the classroom. Beyond applying strategy and design thinking to my own projects, I see my role as a 'multiplier'; taking the tools and insights gained at ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and sharing them to develop the talent around me. For instance, I’m already viewing our philanthropic initiatives through the lens of the Corporate Sustainability module, allowing me to contribute more strategically to our firm's broader social impact.

Ella Dehghani