We welcome back Charlotte Russell-Green, Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions at Cambridge Judge Business School for this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series.
After training in Drama and Theatre at Goldsmiths, University of London, Charlotte transitioned into marketing and has now worked in the MBA sector for over a decade. She began her MBA career at QS, managing marketing for the World MBA Tour events across North America, before joining Cambridge Judge Business School, where she has held roles spanning marketing, recruitment, and admissions. As Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions, Charlotte leads the strategy for attracting and selecting candidates for the Cambridge MBA. She is also a Leadership and Executive Development Coach, working with professionals to enhance their leadership effectiveness, self-awareness, and career development. Her professional interests include leadership development, building and growing high-performing teams, streamlining processes through new technologies, and recruitment and business development strategy.
Read on for Charlotte’s insights into admissions at Cambridge Judge, what stands out about the program, how they’re incorporating AI and more.
Clear Admit: What is one aspect of your MBA program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Charlotte Russell-Green: The Cambridge MBA offers a truly experiential and collaborative learning environment, underpinned by the academic excellence you’d expect from a world-class university. What sets it apart is its impact: the curriculum, shaped by feedback from recruiters, alumni, and faculty, is both rigorous and practical. Students apply their learning through two live consulting projects, a simulated executive board presentation, and a summer internship. A wide range of workshops further builds a portfolio of essential skills, from financial modelling and critical thinking to resilience and intentional leadership, preparing students for both immediate and long-term career success.
CA: Walk us through the life of an application in your office from an operational standpoint. What happens between the time an applicant clicks “submit” and the time the committee offers a final decision?
CRG: After the application deadline, each submission is reviewed by the Admissions Team and the Head of Recruitment and Admissions, who approves the interview invitations. All interviews are conducted virtually, and following the interview feedback, the Admissions Committee decides on offers, which are typically sent within 3 weeks.
CA: How does your team approach the essay portion of the application specifically? What are you looking for as you read an essay? Are there common mistakes applicants should try to avoid? What is one key thing candidates should keep in mind as they sit down to write?
CRG: We get this question a lot, but without giving too much away… the essays help us understand how applicants think, reflect, and whether they’re a good fit. We look for answers that directly address the question while showing capability, resilience, self-awareness, and a sense of who they are. Common pitfalls? Relying solely on AI (yes, we can tell), not answering the question, and accidentally naming another school – copy and paste with care!
CA: Could you tell us about your interview process? Approximately what percentage of applicants are invited to interview, who typically conducts interviews, and what should candidates expect in terms of interview style and format?
CRG: All interviews are held virtually and with a member of faculty or senior leadership, and the interview lasts 30 minutes. The format very much depends on who is interviewing but it is a professional conversation, which could be about their application, career history and goals, and why the Cambridge MBA. I recommend that people revise their application, prepare for the interview as they would a job interview and read up about the career goals in case they get asked a curve ball question! Around 50% of our applicants are invited to interview.
CA: Is there anything in particular international students should keep in mind during the admissions process?
CRG: 90% of our class is international so we do not envision any issues in admission. However, it’s important to familiarise yourself with our language policy, as you may be required to provide an IELTS test. The policy can be viewed here. It goes without saying that you should also look at the visa requirements as most international students need a visa to study in the UK. The university’s international students’ office has a useful website to refer to, here.
CA: Conversations about MBA value often center on jobs, salaries, and ROI. What are some of the other ways students benefit from the MBA experience that may be harder to quantify upfront?
CRG: While jobs, salaries, and ROI are important outcomes, some of the most valuable benefits of an MBA are harder to measure. Students receive constant feedback from a diverse and highly accomplished peer group, giving them unique insight into their personal impact, leadership style, and how they are perceived by others. This increased self-awareness allows them to adapt their approach, strengthen their interpersonal effectiveness, and develop leadership capabilities that serve them throughout their careers. The MBA becomes a laboratory for personal growth, helping students build the confidence, agility, and influence needed to lead effectively across different organisations, cultures, and stages of seniority.
CA: Are there any trends in the applicant pool, admissions process, or MBA experience that you are particularly focused on right now?
CRG: One of the biggest trends we’re focused on is AI and its impact across industries. In response, we’ve evolved the Cambridge MBA curriculum to include a core module in AI for Business and a concentration in AI Transformation.
We’re seeing growing interest from applicants across all sectors – not just technology – who want to understand how AI can drive innovation and organisational change. As a result, our focus is not only on AI literacy, but also on developing the strategic thinking, adaptability, and leadership skills needed to lead effectively in an increasingly AI-enabled world.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or admissions process?
CRG: One recent development we’re particularly excited about is the evolution of the MBA structure to create more opportunities for career development throughout the programme. We recognise that career exploration, networking, and recruitment are critical elements of the MBA experience, so we’ve intentionally designed the programme to give students greater flexibility and more dedicated time to engage with employers, alumni, career coaching, and professional development activities. This helps students make the most of the MBA year while remaining fully engaged in their academic and leadership development.
