Visiting the UK for Residential Week One

Four months into her Global Online MBA, Alejandra, a Category Manager at Rich Products Corporation Perú joined us on campus for the first of two Residential Weeks. Here she shares how the week brought the MBA experience to life for her. 

I have over 10 years of experience in brand management, where I have worked on how products and brands are positioned, brought to market, and experienced by consumers. Most of my career has been developed within fast-moving consumer goods companies in the Peruvian market, which has given me a strong appreciation for how brands grow in highly competitive and dynamic environments.

I chose Warwick Business School attracted by its strong academic reputation and its consistent recognition in the Financial Times’ Online MBA Ranking, where it is ranked third in the world and second in the UK. What really stood out was the opportunity to learn in a truly international environment and exchange ideas with professionals from different industries and backgrounds, gaining perspectives that I can apply directly to my work in brand management.

Getting to know the people behind the profiles

The first Residential Week in April 2026 was the moment when the MBA experience truly came to life. After months of interacting online, finally meeting my classmates in person and experiencing Warwick’s campus made everything feel much more real.

I had the opportunity to visit the UK for the first time in 2025, and that experience left a lasting impression on me. Returning this year as a Warwick student made the moment even more special, as I was no longer simply discovering the country, but becoming part of a community that I had chosen to be part of. What I valued most was getting to know the people behind the professional profiles: their journeys, interests, ambitions, and the stories that brought them to Warwick. These conversations highlighted the diversity of the cohort and reminded me that one of the greatest values of the MBA is the opportunity to learn from people with different perspectives.

Residential Week structure

The teaching sessions were highly engaging and interactive, and the four days went by very quickly. The first two days focused on Operations Management, with practical examples across different industries that helped me think differently about how businesses function and connect. The last two days covered Leadership and Development sessions, encouraging reflection on different ways of leading and working with others. 

One of the key insights for me was rediscovering the balance between structured learning and active interaction with others. The week reminded me of the value of combining focused academic thinking with spontaneous conversations that challenge your assumptions and broaden your perspective.

Connecting with my cohort

Connecting with the cohort was one of the most rewarding parts of the week. It felt very natural to move from online interactions to real conversations and quickly build relationships with people from very different professional and personal backgrounds. There was a strong sense of openness that made it easy to connect and learn from each other.

The social side of the week was especially memorable, particularly the dinner at the British Museum, which was a real highlight of the programme. Beyond that, what stood out was the warmth and approachability of the professors and staff, and the welcoming atmosphere at Warwick, which made the experience feel both professional and genuinely human.

Exceeding expectations

The Residential Week exceeded my expectations, not only because of the academic experience, but because of the people and the opportunity to be part of such a diverse community. Coming from Peru, it was inspiring to meet classmates from different countries and cultural backgrounds, each bringing their own professional journey, experiences, and way of seeing the world. Hearing their stories and understanding what brought them to Warwick was one of the most valuable parts of the experience.

My advice for future students

My advice to future students would be to embrace the opportunity to step into this kind of environment. The MBA is not only about gaining knowledge, but also about expanding your perspective, building meaningful connections, and learning from people who approach challenges in different ways.