Dan Yates, London Business School’s MBA Class of 2026
Age: 32
Hometown: London, UK
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University College London, BA Archaeology & Anthropology. Imperial College London, MSc Management
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Primarily entrepreneurship. Recently co-Founder of Greener, a climate tech startup. 8 years’ experience in total.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After spending most of my early career as a technology entrepreneur, I reached an inflection point. I took a step back to reflect on what I’d enjoyed in my work so far, and which areas I wanted to explore more deeply. I decided that I wanted to move towards the investor side of the tech ecosystem. To achieve this, I knew that I needed to broaden my perspective, develop additional skills, and strengthen my credentials as more than just a founder.
Around the same time, I became a father, which gave me even more reason to think seriously about what kind of career and life I want to build. This felt like the right moment to pursue an MBA, as it would give me a chance to reset, grow, and think more strategically about the future I want to create.
Why did you choose London Business School? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
London itself was a huge selling point. There are few cities in the world which present the range of opportunities that London does. Whether you’re interested in tech, finance, climate, or pretty much any sector, London is a global leader. On top of that, with a young family, the idea of relocating abroad was exciting, but ultimately introduced more uncertainty than we wanted to take on at this stage.
Beyond the city, LBS is an exceptional school with a genuinely world class faculty and a truly global alumni network. If you want to live and work in London, it is the best school for you.
I was also drawn to the chance to join LBS’s inaugural One-year MBA programme. It felt like a unique opportunity to help shape something new, and I really liked the idea of contributing to its success and becoming part of its legacy.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
My real-world experiences of building and operating technology startups, including the trials and tribulations of VC funding, give me real, practical knowledge of how things get done in startups. This is true not just of the successes that I achieved, but also of the challenges and failures which I had to contend with. This perspective allows me to contribute meaningfully to class discussions and, at times, offer a slightly different view of startup dynamics.
I also found that my experience working in climate tech gave me a deeper understanding of sustainability challenges (which is a key pillar of LBS’s curriculum). I’ve found that many classmates are curious about how climate tech operates in practice, and I enjoy being able to share that perspective.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
My career plan was originally to become an archaeologist (being more than slightly inspired by Indiana Jones), which I why I chose my undergraduate degree. However, there turned out to be a lot less treasure hunting and a lot more paperwork than I had hoped… But the curiosity that led me there never disappeared. Staying curious about the world, and how we have all arrived at this point in our shared history, is a big part of how I approach both life and work.
Post-MBA career interests:
I’m very interested in switching sides of the table and moving into venture capital, ideally with a focus on climate tech. I’d love to use my experiences as an operator to support early-stage companies tackling big sustainability challenges.
That said, I’m keeping an open mind. I’m not ruling out the idea of becoming a founder again one day, but the stars would really have to align for me to dive back into that world in the near term.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
You have to talk to current students at the schools you are considering! You can read every brochure and scroll through all the rankings, but until you speak to people on the ground, you won’t get a real feel for what a school is like day to day. I spent a lot of time chatting with current students and recent alums from every school I was considering, and those conversations played a huge role in shaping my decision.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have started GMAT prep earlier. If, like me, you aren’t used to standardised testing, then the GMAT/GRE really is a monster that you need to battle. It takes time to build up the skills and approach to tackle it properly.
I eventually got the score I needed, but I could have saved myself a lot of stress (and probably performed better) if I’d started earlier and taken a more gradual approach.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
If I could have skipped one part of the process, I would have loved to skip the GMAT! Unfortunately, it’s part of the game if you want to study at a good school.
What got me through it was a combination of stubbornness, and support from the people around me who helped me keep perspective on the bigger picture.
What is your initial impression of the LBS students/culture/community?
I’ve been thoroughly impressed with LBS so far. My one-year cohort is full of genuinely impressive people, and I already feel myself being pushed and motivated by the high standards of the group.
What stands out most is how clearly the LBS culture comes through. There really is a sense of purpose and mission to shape the well-rounded business leaders that the world needs. Particularly as we find ourselves facing an ever-increasing series of complex socio-political and environmental challenges.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
One of the biggest challenges of the one-year format is needing to be really selective about how you spend your time, so I’ve tried to focus on the things that align most closely with my goals and interests.
I’ll be joining the Private Equity & Venture Capital Club and the Entrepreneurship Club, both of which tie directly into my career plans. Outside of that, I’m hoping to get involved with the Expedition Club. I’ve always loved the outdoors, and I’m excited about the chance to get out of London and go on some mountaineering trips with classmates.
What is one thing you have learned about LBS that has surprised you?
One thing that’s surprised me is how much emphasis LBS places on personal reflection. In a one-year programme, there isn’t much time to figure things out slowly, so it’s been refreshing to see how actively the school encourages us to think critically about our goals and priorities from day one.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am especially excited to study topics I have encountered as a founder but never had the chance to explore in depth. Venture capital is a great example. I have raised funding before, but now I am getting the opportunity to learn about the investor perspective directly from people who have worked in the space.
This experience is already helping me rethink how I approach my own career planning. It is exciting to connect my practical experience with structured learning and use that to make more intentional choices about the future.
