Getting an 'Edge' in Your Career

Thinking about your next career steps? Want to learn how you can use your General Course experiences to get ahead?

In this panel discussion, the first in this year's series of General Course Edge events, alumni of the programme will share their insight into how to make the most of your time at LSE and offer practical tips on marketing the experience to employers. Coming from a variety of sectors and industries, our panellists represent the diverse backgrounds and career destinations of General Course students.

Whether you are a current student or recent alumni of the programme, come along to find out how you can use your General Course experience to get an 'Edge' in competitive job markets.

Meet the Speakers:

Mimi Gilligan (LinkedIn). Mimi Gilligan heads the Business and Legal Affairs team at Atlantic Productions Limited, a multi BAFTA and Emmy award-winning documentary film, television and immersive media production company based in London. Mimi's experience extends across both the commercial and legal aspects of Atlantic's diverse range of factual media content produced for distribution in over 150 countries worldwide. Mimi began her career in the investment banking industry, where she spent over eight years in various capital markets and corporate finance roles in London and New York with Merrill Lynch and Salomon Brothers. Mimi is a voting member of BAFTA and serves as a trustee of The Coronet Theatre in Notting Hill and a member of the Arts Grants Advisory Panel for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.  She is also a member of the Law School Counsel for the University of Chicago.  Mimi has a JD/MBA degree with Honors from the University of Chicago and graduated with a BA Magna cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Middlebury College, having earned a General Course diploma with Highest Honours from the London School of Economics. 

Robert Kirchner (LinkedIn). Robert is the Founder/Director of PSIMOS Deep Tech Startup Studio, an international research laboratory that develops, tests, patents and implements AI technology for the agriculture, energy, and biopharma industries.  Robert began his career in Washington DC before an MBA and joining the global energy industry in senior management and advisory roles across the US, UK, Europe and Africa.  In addition to his role as Director for PSIMOS Deep Tech Startup Studio, Robert also acts as the Director for Cornerstone Africa Energy, Managing Director for BCI International and Advisor to the Board for Energy Storage Africa.  Robert has an MBA in International Business and Finance from Columbia Business School and a BA in International Affairs from William & Mary,  having earned a General Course diploma with Highest Honours from the LSE. 

Christopher Thurn (LinkedIn). Chris joined LSE from Kalamazoo College to study on the General Course in 2005-6. He then made the transition from the General Course on to a full undergraduate degree, graduating with a BSc in Economics the following year. After graduating Christopher joined the investment bank Jefferies, leaving in 2008 to co-found a new capital markets boutique called ISM Capital. That business was sold to Stifel Financial in May of 2016. Christopher has since left and is the founder of Alacrity, a legal relationship management platform which helps organizations get the most value from their external law firms.

Josh Robinson. Josh joined LSE from Brandeis Unversity to study on the General Course from 2006-2007 before graduating with a degree in economics and business. After a summer internship at Fidelity Investments following the General Course, Josh accepted an analyst role with Bloombeg in 2008 in Princeton NJ and moved to London in 2009. In 2011, he joined the newsroom full time as an editor covering economic forecasts and surveys, and eventually managed global economic surveys for the newsroom. After two years in Amsterdam, he came to his current role as Managing Editor of the global economic data news team, where his team’s responsiblity includes breaking economic news on indicators, monetary and fiscal policy, and forecasts globally.

More about General Course Edge:

Between 21-25 March we are hosting a series of themed and sector-specific events, including 'Meet an Alum' sessions for industries including Data and Tech, Banking and Finance, and Business and Entrepreneurship; a workshop to help hone your CV skills; and a 'Pursuing Graduate Study' session where you can learn more about why you should consider developing your academic portfolio further.

Browse the full list of events on the General Course Edge homepage.