Yaqing (Vicky) Wei, London Business School’s MBA Class of 2026
Age: 35
Hometown: Nanning, Guangxi, China
Undergraduate Institution and Major: BSc in Management, The Ohio State University (Dean’s List, Leadership Scholarship); exchange at Bocconi University
Pre-MBA Work Experience: I have over eight years of experience across management consulting, corporate venture capital, and entrepreneurship. After my 1st startup experience, I began my career at Accenture London, working on revenue growth strategy and corporate ventures. I then moved into industry at Uber Eats London as a Strategy & Ops Manager and P&L owner for an entrepreneurial UK & Ireland category. I later worked with a corporate VC firm on venture investing and portfolio value creation, and most recently founded an Antler-backed AI startup in the Nordics as a Founder.
Why did you decide to attend business school? Why now?
I have spent my career building, scaling, and fixing businesses, from advising senior-level clients to owning a P&L and founding startups. At this stage, I wanted to step back and deepen how I think about leadership, financing strategy, and long-term value creation. The MBA felt like the right moment to synthesise experience, sharpen judgement, and prepare for the next chapter.
Why London Business School and the One Year MBA?
LBS stood out for its truly global classroom, strong finance offering, and close ties to London’s business and investment ecosystem. The One Year MBA was a natural fit: I wanted an intense, high-impact experience that allows earlier access to electives compared with a traditional two-year programme, without stepping away from my career trajectory for too long.
What is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I care deeply about community-building and enjoy creating opportunities where people learn by doing together, not only within my own cohort, but across the wider LBS community, including MBA, MiF, MFA and MiM programmes.
I am highly proactive in campus initiatives and often help drive them forward. As Vice President of the Design & Innovation Club, Senior Speakers Lead at the PE & VC Club, Chief of Staff at the Finance Club, and a Student Ambassador, I have helped bring high-calibre speakers to campus and moderated multiple speaker sessions, positively influencing engagement across cohorts.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I almost never suffered from jet lag…but this superpower seems more and more gone now..
Post-MBA career interests:
Venture capital, Chief of Staff roles, or senior operating positions in tech-enabled or fast-moving businesses, particularly where strategy, execution, and growth intersect.
Advice for Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?Be clear and honest about why now. That clarity makes essays and interviews far more compelling.
When curious or in doubt, reach out to student ambassadors, current LBS students, and alumni for coffee chats – they are always insightful, and I have never regretted a single conversation.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Apply even earlier, there are significant advantages to doing so. I would also reach out for even more coffee chats earlier in the process.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Over-polishing applications. Treating the process like a structured project, with clear milestones and deadlines, helped me stay focused and efficient.
Done is better than perfect.
What is your initial impression of the LBS students/culture/community?
Truly international, organised, collaborative, social, and fun-loving.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I am actively involved as a Student Ambassador, Vice President of the Design & Innovation Club, Senior Speakers at the PE & VC Club, and Chief of Staff at the Finance Club, where I can contribute most through community-building, cross-cohort collaboration, and speaker-led contributions to the community.
What is one thing you have learned about LBS that has surprised you?
The sheer volume of events, initiatives, and extracurricular activities taking place on campus beyond lectures.
What is one thing you are most excited about as a new LBS student?
Learning alongside people who combine low ego with high ambition and executions, challenge my thinking and build on each other, and collaborating with them to build an exciting now and future.
