Silvia Fernandez Mulero

There’s one thing that Silvia Fernandez Mulero can’t stand, and that’s boredom. Naturally curious and highly ambitious, she was the first person in her family to go to university. After two decades as a high-achieving medical doctor, she felt it was time to fast-track her business skills with an Executive MBA. When Silvia joined London Business School’s (LBS) Executive MBA Dubai in 2023, it was the start of a journey of self-discovery.

I’m not your typical ‘business’ student. I trained as a medical doctor and, before joining LBS, I was a clinical physician working as a Consultant in anaesthesiology and pain treatment at the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi. I was also an Associate Professor at the Case Western Reserve University, which has ties with Cleveland Clinic. When I moved to the UAE, I was tasked with helping to set up a high-complexity hospital based on one of the most successful US systems in Abu Dhabi, the first of its kind, which meant we were essentially setting up a new clinic from scratch. The role required advanced knowledge of healthcare systems and strategic vision but also a range of business skills which I hadn’t previously been exposed to as a clinician, researcher and professor.

Because of the demands of my new role, securing formal training became paramount. I had found myself adapting quickly to the experimental environment and enjoying the new challenges, but I knew I was lacking the formal skills and knowledge to excel. I also knew that I wanted to study at a European school alongside my full-time job. London Business School resonated with me, from the diverse representation I found on their website to the exceptional alumni stories. I met alumni from a few different schools and the ones from London Business School were a cut above the rest – enthusiastic and interesting. There were rational reasons to apply, of course, but it was the emotional connection I made with the School’s ethos and alumni which convinced me to apply.

The support for women at London Business School is second to none. I was amazed by the proportion of scholarships that were specifically designed for women, and I was awarded a scholarship from the Laidlaw Women's Leadership Fund, which helped me enormously. There are clubs devoted to women in business which provide great networking opportunities as well as access to invaluable resources. I remember one in particular – a networking event in Dubai on ‘Career Strategy for Women to Thrive in Executive Leadership’ by Playbook. The support for women at LBS isn’t just words on the website, it's something you really get to experience.

I picked the modules that would be most beneficial to me in my full-time job and was surprised to find that I really enjoyed the finance classes. I found myself enjoying lectures and readings on corporate and entrepreneurial finance. As soon as I started the Financing Entrepreneurial Business module, it sparked something in me that made me think ‘this is what I want to do’ – so much so that the idea of setting up my own venture started to form. The Faculty are amazing. Of course, they’re experts in their respective fields, but they’re also approachable. A lot of effort goes into making the classroom experience enjoyable and they are always ready to adapt their approach to ensure the whole class can grasp the material.

Coming from a non-business background, going to a top-tier business school was a bit intimidating. But the discussions were rich, and it was compelling to be exposed to such a variety of ideas. We were a diverse group of people: lawyers, engineers, economists, and financiers from around the world. This created a dynamic environment full of different perspectives, which added depth and dimension to the programme. The diversity of opinions prompted many friendly debates, sparked creativity and was so enjoyable that I really looked forward to my block weeks. I thought it would be challenging to juggle studying on top of my work – and of course, it was demanding, but also worth it. Having previously completed a PhD, I knew how to thrive in an academic environment, but, with so many new areas of study, I had to take a step back and focus on enjoying the learning experience. There is a lot of support available to help you make the most of your experience, from the Programme Office to your study groups. The main thing to remember is to prioritise.

The idea of starting my own venture in the UAE started to crystallise during my Global Experience. I chose to take my Global Experience elective – ‘building the city of the future’ – in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It gave me an opportunity to see the city I’d been living in for the last nine years from a different perspective and gain a deeper understanding of the economic outlook. Through this experience, I was able to network with people in the region and build relationships with innovation hubs – connections I am sure will be invaluable in my entrepreneurial journey.

I met my business partners through the LBS alumni network. One of them is a healthcare strategist and the other one is an engineer, and both of them are successful entrepreneurs. The three of us have a lot of combined experience in the UAE. Our vision is to support Health Tech start-ups hoping to launch in the region. When it comes to healthcare, every country has different regulations, and our combined expertise could prove invaluable for these young companies. We’re still in the early stages of our entrepreneurial journey, but it’s certainly an exciting new chapter of my career.

Studying at London Business School has changed the way I see the world and the way I see myself. Meeting different mindsets, cultures and backgrounds has helped me realise that I have transferable skills and that many careers are open to me. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue being a clinician or not. With everything I’ve learnt, I’m keen to develop more skills that could be useful in my entrepreneurial journey.