This blog delves into the reflections and experiences of students from the 2023/24 MSc Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship cohort. Led by Student Ambassador Omole Imosemi, it explores the hindsight they’ve gained since starting their academic journey. Join us as we navigate through the candid reflections, lessons learned, and invaluable wisdom shared by members of the cohort.
Embarking on a Master’s journey is a significant decision, one that often comes with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Prospective students strive to make informed choices to ensure a fulfilling and rewarding experience. However, despite our best efforts, there are always aspects we wish we had known beforehand – insights that could have potentially enhanced our journey.
“It’s okay to have impostor syndrome.” – Shriya Prasad
It takes time to settle in, to get used to the education system, and the overwhelm of living in one of the biggest cities in the world. But give yourself time to settle in. Check in with yourself and before you know it, you’ll feel comfortable enough to express yourself and contribute in class. And please contribute in class. It might take time to get there, but once you are there, don’t hold back.
“There’s way more to do, learn, and see than you have the time for.” – Omar Regalado
There are multiple angles to the SIE programme and content, so it may be helpful to map them out in broad categories: becoming a social entrepreneur, becoming a social intrapreneur, and working within a larger social context ( public, private, or international organisation).
LSE hosts events and talks related to each category and while it is important to keep an open mind on these options, having clarity on your core interest will allow you to select what you need and ignore what you don’t. This will also help you greatly when selecting your elective courses.
London and LSE can be overwhelming in every sense. There’s way more to do, learn, and see than you have the time for. Knowing what you care about is a good starting point to select what to do – and more importantly, what NOT to do!
“It’s a really diverse cohort.” – Antonio Barreda Hernandez
Understanding the diversity of the cohort would have been immensely valuable. Knowing the mix of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives my peers would bring to the programme could have greatly enhanced my preparedness for the collaborative and multicultural learning environment.
Secondly, familiarizing myself with the professors’ areas of expertise, research interests, and teaching styles could have allowed me to maximize my opportunities and better tailor my learning expectations as well as academic goals more appropriately.
“So many readings!” – Brian Shkodrani
The programme is heavily focused on academic research that required me to read a lot of academic papers and case studies. I would have prepared myself to set aside the necessary time to do all the readings. I also wish I had worked in a social enterprise before joining the programme, even if just for a short while. It would have helped to have a perspective from the real world of social enterprises to apply to theory.
“Arrive early.” – Hilwah Al Wyni
Adjusting to a new environment while trying to perform well academically can be hard. LSE expects students to hit the ground running. Had I known, I would have resumed about 1-2 months earlier to settle down before school officially resumed.
“Explore elective courses during the open window.” – Minjirmaa Namjinbaatar
I wish I had known the flexibility offered in selecting elective courses across a wide range of subjects. Students have a 2-week window to choose or drop these electives, making the first week of the (winter) term important for attending different classes. This period is a golden opportunity to assess the content, teaching style, and other aspects of each course. I would advise new students to take full advantage of this time to explore their options and choose the courses that best align with their interests and perhaps future career goals.
“Take advantage of career resources and student communities.” – Martin Aduko
I was not aware of the availability of part-time job opportunities accessible via the Careers Hub and Student Circus. Additionally, the existence of numerous student consulting groups, such as Castore Consulting and 360 Degree Consulting. Had I known, I would have engaged in consulting project work from the first term, potentially advancing to a project manager role in the second term, and then ascending to a principal position by the third term. As an international student, that represents invaluable UK work experience for my post-study job search.
“Travel and join societies.” – Luke Soto
I wish I knew that the first term is the best time to do short trips around the UK or Europe. It only gets busier as the year progresses and secondly, LSE has several societies in which I could have participated, had I known prior to enrollment.
“Your peers are invaluable.” – Chandni Shukla
SIE is a very practical field and I wish I knew the importance of prior experience. With a background in management, I felt quite confident in the first week. However, after a few weeks I found it hard to keep up. The take-home readings, new concepts and theories as well as an experienced cohort made me feel a bit out of place.
However, as with everything in life, you have to look at the positive side, and for me, the positive were my peers. I learnt so much from the experience they shared in class or during a quick-coffee run. My key takeaway from this experience is that if your mind stays curious, you will be able to overcome any challenging situation at the LSE. Get out there, be vulnerable and walk out of every conversation with valuable knowledge!
You can follow and connect with Omole on LinkedIn.
Learn more about the MSc Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship programme.
