WBS student named among world's Best & Brightest Executive MBAs

Google Delivery Executive Luke Parker has been included in Poets & Quants Best & Brightest Executive MBA list for 2026. 

The former British Army officer is among 71 graduates who are part of the US publication’s annual Best & Brightest Executive MBAs cohort. 

The class of 2026 is the 12th incarnation of the series, which honours the top Executive MBA graduates from the world’s top business schools, with 39 women and 32 men selected from 62 leading programmes. 

Luke, who helped shape the UK's COVID-19 data response and now leads major public sector transformation programmes at Google Cloud, said: “I am honoured to be included in the Class of 2026 Best & Brightest Executive MBAs. 

“Reading the profiles of the other 70 leaders across the globe - building start-ups, driving crisis response, and leading major global teams - it is great to see the quality of winners. To be included within their ranks makes it so much more special. 

“Huge thanks to the faculty, mentors, and especially my cohort at Warwick Business School for the shared momentum over the last two years.” 

The 35-year-old won a 100 per cent scholarship to do the Executive MBA through Heropreneurs, a mentoring programme delivered by the Forces Employment Charity that WBS has partnered with. 

As well as a scholarship worth up to £69,980, there is substantial support for runners-up. Open to veterans, serving personnel, reservists, and immediate family members who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit, the Heropreneurs partnership has seen WBS establish itself as a route for ex-military to transition into professional roles. 

 Luke added: “As the recipient of the Heropreneurs scholarship, I sought an environment that didn’t just understand the military-to-business transition but actively championed the entrepreneurial spirit of veterans. 

“Throughout my 12-year Army career, I was known for challenging rigid processes - a trait that can be a ‘double-edged sword’ in a military hierarchy. WBS stood out because it promised to harness and refine that innate desire to challenge the status quo. I wanted a programme that would transform my ‘disruptive’ instincts into a toolset for driving innovation in the UK’s public sector. 

“At Google Cloud, I have used the financial management tools I learned on the MBA to ensure our technology delivery is not only operationally successful but commercially sustainable. It means that as we drive change in the public sector, we are doing so with a model that is as fiscally resilient as it is technologically advanced.” 

During his Executive MBA, Luke was elected cohort representative, became a mentor within the School's Founders Hub and served as a Technology Network Ambassador. He also founded Ante-Bellum Angels, the UK's first defence-focused angel investment network designed to support emerging defence technology ventures. 

At work Luke has also led a series of career workshops for military personnel, veterans and their families, culminating in Google's first Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Veterans Career Week.  

And while serving as a Major in the British Army, Luke played a vital role in the UK’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading three teams in the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) responsible for monitoring and forecasting infections.

By analysing a host of data from across the country, his teams were able to spot infection flare-ups, with these insights informing England’s Covid tier policy, which saw different levels of restrictions applied according to risk.  

Executive MBA drives career progress

Hossam Zeitoun, Professor of Strategy and Behavioural Science and Course Director for the School's Executive MBA, said: "Luke embodies the qualities that define our Executive MBA community. He combines outstanding professional achievement with genuine social purpose, using his leadership experience to drive positive change across government, technology and the veteran community.  

“WBS is for the Change Makers, where bold thinkers turn their ambition into action. Luke embodies this. His entrepreneurial mindset, commitment to mentoring others and ability to translate learning into real-world impact make him thoroughly deserving of this international recognition." 

The Executive MBA, which can be taught at Warwick or at WBS London at The Shard and is ranked number one in the world for career progress by higher education analysts QS, has, Luke says, played a pivotal role in his professional development. 

"Being nominated and included in the Best & Brightest list is incredibly humbling because it reflects the support and commitment of so many people around me, from my family and colleagues to the Warwick community,” says Luke.  

“As a veteran, I'm particularly proud that it also shines a light on the value that service leavers can bring to business, entrepreneurship and innovation." 

Discover Warwick Business School’s Change Makers.