Carolina Ferreria Seixas

What made you choose the Cass Full-time MBA?

After training as an architect, I worked in the real estate and construction industries in Brazil for 15 years. As my career progressed, I ended up working in a variety of business-related areas, including business development, contract administration and the public sector. While I had diversified and grown, I felt that there was a lack of variety in my role. I decided an MBA would broaden my knowledge and experience, and help me to move into consulting.

Cass Business School offered the best solution for me, as it provided the international experience I wanted. Plus, with its central London location, it would allow me to network with consultants and organisations that Cass is connected to.

One of the things that particularly appealed to me at Cass, is the fact faculty are active in industry, so there is a lot of practical teaching to support the theory.

With such a diverse cohort, Cass provides an energised environment where you get to know and work with everyone. Consequently, the debates during lectures were incredibly interesting which made the learning experience a lot richer.

What did you enjoy most on the MBA?

My highlight of the programme was the international business experience I gained during the electives in Dubai, Cuba and the consulting week in Iceland. We travelled as a varied group – all from different professional backgrounds – so we were able to share very different views on the same experience. My choice of electives allowed me to work in two very different geographies and economies – it was truly enlightening.

The professional development workshops I took were great, particularly the presentation skills course, which I was able to apply to my professional life, and the leadership training at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, which provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience officer-level training.

For my Business Mastery Project (BMP), I chose to do a consulting project with a construction company. Many of my classmates used the experience of the final project to immerse themselves in an industry they were looking to move into and went on to get jobs as a result of their projects. Similarly, for me, the BMP provided a strong indication of my capabilities as a consultant and acted as a springboard for my next career step.

What support did you get from the Careers team?

Once I decided on the direction I wanted to take, the careers team was instrumental in helping me to secure my new role. They supported me throughout the job-hunting journey, helping me to tailor my CV. Every time I had an interview, I would call my careers advisor to practice beforehand. It gave me the extra confidence to deliver a more polished interview. They also advised me that my skills and experience in real estate were transferable to other industries too.

Though I am not a natural networker, the careers team encouraged me to meet an EMBA alumnus at an event who alerted me to a great opportunity. As a result, I am now working at Mitie, in their consulting business section advising companies on their corporate real estate and workplace strategy. My new role is based in London, and was made possible due to my employer organising a sponsored work visa.

Thanks to the MBA at Cass and the networking opportunities it provided, I have moved from Brazil and embarked on a rewarding new career as a consultant.