Alexander Russell, London Business School’s MBA Class of 2027
Age: 29
Hometown: Chichester, UK
Undergraduate Institution and Major: McGill University, Double Major in Economics and International Development
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Captain and professional rugby player for Canadian National Sevens Team, 6 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I had always intended on rejoining the finance industry after my professional rugby career and, to my mind, an MBA is the ideal platform to facilitate this transition. Rugby sevens is now an Olympic sport and therefore structured around four-year cycles. I decided to stay with the national team for the first year of the current Olympic cycle to provide continuity and leadership to the younger players following the significant exodus of experienced players after the 2024 Olympic bid, but my goal was always to step away at the end of the 2025 season to pursue an MBA and ultimately transition to a long-term career in finance.
Why did you choose London Business School? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose London Business School for three reasons.
First, its location. I wanted to be in London and the school’s position at the heart of the city provides unparalleled access to the financial hub, which is great for networking in and around class. One of the challenges of playing professional sport has been the limited time to build a professional network, and LBS’s proximity to industry leaders offers the perfect environment to establish those relationships.
Second, its diversity. My rugby career allowed me to travel the world and engage with different cultures, and I wanted to continue that experience in the classroom. The opportunity to collaborate with students from such a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds was a significant factor in my decision.
Third, the community. Speaking with current and former students showed me the depth of support and collaboration within the LBS community. The willingness of students and alumni to go out of their way to help prospective candidates made a strong impression on me, and ultimately made me feel it was the place for me long before I started.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
Coming from a non-traditional background such as sport offers me a unique perspective as I enter the program. I’m hopeful that the experience of leading on the field, where you have to balance the intense competition and competitiveness of teammates vying for a few coveted spots on the team, whilst at the same time all working towards a common goal, will be a significant asset, especially when it comes to group projects and case study competitions.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’m currently the subject of a documentary in production that explores my experience of living with a family member with epilepsy. During my rugby career, I became an ambassador for the British Columbia Epilepsy Society, motivated by my younger sister’s journey through multiple invasive brain surgeries. Advocacy became both a way of staying connected with her while I was away and a platform to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding epilepsy. Since then, I’ve helped raise over $900,000 to support mental health services for individuals living with epilepsy and have even involved my teammates, who have used their platforms to promote Purple Day (Epilepsy Awareness Day) on social media each year.
Post-MBA career interests:
Before my rugby career, I worked in finance at the Royal Bank of Canada and completed internships in private equity during my undergraduate studies. Post-MBA, I plan to leverage this experience, together with the skills and network I’m hoping to gain at LBS, to rejoin the finance industry in London.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Reach out to current and former LBS students. They offered me invaluable insight into what life is really like on campus, helped me address any gaps in my application and even helped me prep for the interviews and case study component of the application.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would start planning and working on my application earlier. Given that I had been out of education and in a very different environment for six years, it would have been helpful to have more time to prepare for the GMAT/GRE, network with students and learn more about how best to bolster my application.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
GMAT/GRE. I was travelling a lot for rugby, and so trying to balance revision with my training demands and travelling to different countries was difficult. Using online resources, such as GRE Mentor and the GRE Vocabulary Flashcards app, which I could access on my phone while travelling, was great, and then just staying consistent with a study schedule.
What is your initial impression of the LBS students/culture/community?
Amazing. Everyone is incredibly welcoming and open. I love that, regardless of your interest, no matter how niche it may be, there is someone else in the cohort who shares it and is keen to join. I also find the different backgrounds of my classmates fascinating. I’ve met people from a wide range of career backgrounds, from the military to undergrad entrepreneurs and consultants who have worked all over the world. Everyone offers such interesting insights to our classroom debates, which make the discussions so much more informative.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’ve joined the Private Equity & Venture Capital club, the rugby club and the Out-in-Business club, but I’m sure there are many more I’ll discover and be eager to join!
What is one thing you have learned about LBS that has surprised you?
Your entire LBS life is run on WhatsApp. I’ve never been in this many group chats. For any activity you might want to do, there is a group chat for it.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Joining the LBS rugby club on their annual trip to New York to hopefully win another MBA rugby world cup!
