We caught up with Brittany from Bayes Business School to find out how she secured her place on a programme in one of the world’s best business schools and hear about the incredible experiences she has gained whilst studying.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
I moved from Trinidad and Tobago to London in 2016 for university. I studied law at Queen Mary’s University where I did my LLB, this led me to complete my LPC course. After just a year I realised that this wasn’t what I wanted to do and looked to change my career path. It was at this time that I became interested in pursuing further education and, after doing some research, I came to like the idea of studying towards a master’s degree in management. I liked that the programme sounded so broad and felt that it was a perfect starting point for someone, like me, who has no prior business background.
What stood out to you about Bayes Business School when applying for opportunities?
I’d heard brilliant things about Bayes from friends, so I already had a positive perception of the school. And, after doing my own research into the course, it took my interest particularly with unique elements such as their international elective. Obviously, with the pandemic, I did my international elective virtually, but this was still such a rewarding experience. The start-ups I worked with were based in Brazil and different parts of Mexico and, although I didn’t get a chance to go and work in the country with them, I gained vast international experience. In some ways, the fact that I had to work from zoom meant that I had more accessibility in terms of the number of global locations that were available to me.
Bayes’ reputation was definitely a key selling point to me, and the international opportunities they offer were the key differentiating factor.
How did you find the application process for Bayes Business School?
The application process was really straightforward. I simply had to submit a personal statement of around 500-600 words which was then reviewed by Bayes - a very similar process to applying to university.
What was a ‘normal day’ like on your programme?
The programme is split into three semesters, with the international section being the final one. In my first semester, I was able to attend in-person classes where I met new people, make new friends, and develop a solid foundation of knowledge in management. With Covid, things moved to Zoom but Bayes kept lectures engaging with more group projects and hands-on work.
My favourite term is my final one, I had much more freedom to do practical work including my international assignment and a consulting project. For my consulting project, I was placed with the global insurance company Bupa. This included attending meetings with them, understanding their needs, and offering solutions. I enjoyed networking with different clients and getting stuck into real-life projects, I learned a lot through this form of learning. I value that I had the opportunity to work with different people as I think this is such an important skill to have for future jobs.
What was it that drew you back to apply for your chosen degree and how does it align with your future career plans?
With my law background, the degree was a great starting point for a career in business as it didn’t require any previous experience – something needed by other schools. This, combined with the fact that the programme sounded so broad, encouraged me to apply.
The programme was a brilliant introduction into a new career field and, because I didn’t have much knowledge of business and quantitative measures, it really provided a solid foundation of information that I could build upon and grow from. The course is for everyone, no matter your background, whether you’ve got experience in law, engineering, history or art. The degree made me feel like I was in the same position as someone who had studied Business Management for three years before.
What piece of advice would you give to someone who is thinking of applying to Bayes Business School?
Do your research. There are so many opportunities at Bayes, this is one of their main attraction points, so explore what they have to offer and find a programme which is right for you. Use the information that you’ve found to tailor your personal statement and make it specific to the school and course you’ve applied to. This shows that you’re truly interested in the degree and that it aligns with your longer-term career goals.