In March, we were delighted to welcome the latest cohort of the Bayes Modular Executive MBA  to our Finsbury Square campus for their in-person induction.

Reflecting the international nature of both London and the Bayes community, this year's class brings together 17 accomplished professionals representing 12 nationalities. Students are based across England, as well as in Colombia, Croatia, France, Libya and Scotland, bringing a wealth of different perspectives and experiences to the cohort.

Each year, we strive to build a diverse class in terms of gender, nationality, industry and professional background, and the Class of 2028 is no exception. Students join us from a broad range of sectors, including aviation, consulting, education and non-profit, energy, engineering and manufacturing, finance, IT and telecommunications, pharmaceutical and healthcare, retail and FMCG, and supply chain.

Together, the cohort brings an average of 15 years of professional experience, with an average age of 39. Women make up 47% of the class.

Outside of the workplace, the class is equally varied. Students have a wide range of creative interests. Some are learning guitar and performing live, DJing electronic music – including one student whose mix has been broadcast on German radio – or writing and acting in a short film. Others enjoy painting, crafting silver accessories and designing costume jewellery.

Adventure also features strongly across the cohort. Hobbies include snowboarding and ice-water swimming, while one student has even taken an introductory trial flight over Clarkson's Farm.

The class also includes some remarkable professional and personal experiences. One student previously worked on a cattle station spanning more than 9,000 square kilometres, managing around 60,000 cattle. Another took part in an international wildlife rescue operation that relocated 25 lions from Bolivian circuses to a sanctuary in the United States – an extraordinary conservation effort documented in the film Lion Ark.

We also welcome a member of the Honourable Artillery Company Army Reserve, alongside padel and chess enthusiasts, a Level 1-trained yoga instructor and a student who hosts an annual marathon game of Dungeons & Dragons. Several students also speak up to six languages, adding another dimension to the cohort's international outlook.

With such a wealth of professional expertise, global perspectives and personal experiences, the Class of 2028 is already shaping up to be an inspiring and collaborative community. We look forward to following their journey over the next two years.

Meet the Modular Executive MBA students

Name: Ricardo Fajardo

Job role: Head of Business Intelligence and Insight

Company: City of London Corporation

Nationality: British and Colombian

What attracted you to Bayes and the Modular Executive MBA?

What first drew me to Bayes was how closely the programme is connected to the real world. I wasn’t looking for something purely academic; I wanted something that felt relevant to the challenges I face in my day-to-day work. The emphasis on applying ideas to practical situations, rather than simply learning them in theory, really resonated with how I approach problem-solving.

The Modular Executive MBA format also made a big difference. Being able to step into an intense learning environment once a month, while continuing to work, felt like the right balance for me. It means I can immediately connect what I learn with the challenges I face professionally, rather than treating the MBA as a completely separate experience.

Location played a role too. Being based in the City of London, surrounded by global organisations and constant change, reinforces the sense that you are learning in the middle of where business actually happens. Combined with a diverse, international cohort, it creates an environment where you are constantly exposed to different perspectives. That mix of practicality, flexibility and global outlook is what ultimately made Bayes stand out.

What do you hope to gain from the programme?

At this stage in my career, I felt a growing need to step back and broaden my perspective. I have spent a long time developing expertise in my field, but I increasingly want to understand how all parts of an organisation connect, from strategy and finance to leadership and decision-making. The MBA feels like an opportunity to build that wider lens.

More than anything, I want to grow into a more rounded and confident leader. That means being able to engage in bigger, more complex conversations, not just from a data or analytical standpoint, but from a strategic one. I want to feel comfortable navigating ambiguity, making decisions with incomplete information, and understanding the trade-offs that come with them.

I am also hoping to learn as much from the people around me as from the programme itself. Being part of a cohort with different backgrounds and experiences has already challenged my thinking. It pushes you to question your assumptions and see problems in new ways.

Ultimately, I see the MBA as a chance to stretch myself. It is about building new skills, but also about reshaping how I think and preparing for the next phase of my career with greater clarity and confidence.

Name: Juraj Krnjevic

Job role: Senior Director People and Corporate Brand

Company: Pharmaceutical company

Nationality: Croatian

What attracted you to Bayes and the Modular Executive MBA?

Ten years after graduating from university, I was ready to make my brain sweat again. I knew I wanted to do an Executive MBA for its intensity and exposure to a genuine diversity of opinion. Bayes ended up being my choice for its global reputation, its position at the heart of one of the world's leading financial centres, and the calibre of its alumni.

What do you hope to gain from the programme?

I hope to be challenged to discover perspectives and possibilities I didn't know existed, broadening my horizons and forging lifelong friendships along the way. After ten years in the workplace, I'm well aware of what I'm good at, but I believe this course will help me find out what else I'm capable of. By the end of the programme, I hope to feel like the world is a bigger, richer place than when I started.