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Unique challenges, exciting opportunities, and the potential to make a real impact on society.
As the world becomes more complex and interconnected, career opportunities in Diversified Sectors are increasingly attractive for job seekers.
At London Business School, we consider Diversified Sectors as industries outside Finance, Consulting and Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT). Some of the most interesting and diverse sectors include Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Retail, Industrials, Healthcare, Luxury Goods, Energy, Government and Social Impact. Each of these industries offer lucrative and fulfilling career opportunities in a range of exciting roles for ambitious and talented professionals.
A cosmopolitan center of trade, finance and culture in a time zone that overlaps with most world cities. London gives you access to leading multinationals, start-ups, luxury and fashion retail, NGOs and beyond. Take advantage of the city's opportunities by placing yourself at the heart of it and join some of the best talent in business.
Diversified sector companies have reach beyond just London. Many Industrial and Energy businesses are based in other significant cities in the UK such as Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle to name but a few. Opting to work outside of London also has its advantages. In addition to cultural and historical attractions, the cost of living is significantly reduced, disposable income increased, and the job market is less competitive for some business areas.
Of the 18 British multi-national companies listed on the 2022 Fortune Global 500, 11 are within diversified sectors; 8 have their headquarters based in London and 3 in other parts of the UK.
revenue in 2023 by 14 diversified companies, out of the top 20 UK companies
(Statista, 2024)
revenue in the UK Luxury Goods market in 2023
(Statista, 2023)
jobs supported across the UK Energy sector
(Energy UK, 2024)
So, what makes careers in these industries attractive? There are several factors that can make these roles particularly appealing.
Be exposed to new perspectives and global connections. Our Global Experiences take you out of your comfort zone to examine different business approaches and cultures in international settings like Johannesburg, Paris, Tel Aviv & Ramallah, and Lima.
Led by expert faculty, each Global Experience follows one of the following themes: Sustainability & Social Impact, Luxury, Technology, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Strategy or Finance. You will spend an intensive, immersive week, gaining an in-depth view of a country’s business culture via company visits, expert panels, workshops and guest speakers. You’ll interact meaningfully with major corporations, micro-entrepreneurs, faculty, alumni and others in the LBS global community.
Debate the risks of doing business in a frontier market, support a micro-entrepreneur with a business plan or help a tech start-up tackle a pressing business issue.
The Walpole Luxury Leaders of Tomorrow programme complements London Business School’s MBA, MiM and MAM programmes to develop a select group of students aiming to take up global management positions in the luxury sector upon graduation. Walpole member companies and their senior executives provide networking opportunities and one-to-one mentoring to the students that join the programme.
Alejandra Caro (MBA2014), Marketing Director at Harrods, discusses her time on the programme below.
Our student clubs are at the heart of campus life. They exemplify the spirited and creative thinking that runs throughout the School. With over 80 active clubs, there’s no shortage of opportunities to extend your outlook, collaborate with extraordinary people, and expand your network with over 1000+ events and initiatives hosted annually.
Conferences, events, treks and forums offer unbeatable networking opportunities, as well as the chance to hear from and debate with high profile speakers and industry practitioners. The School hosts and participates in many highly anticipated events, including the Retail & Luxury Forum, run by top European Business Schools, Global Energy Summit, the Social Impact conference, the Women in Business Conference, the Entrepreneurship Forum and international summits including the Africa Business Summit and the China Business Forum. There’s even TEDxLondonBusinessSchool, one of London’s premier thought leadership events.
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I joined the MBA with the sole intention of pivoting into the luxury industry and the projects I worked on with Walpole and the British Fashion Council allowed me to build my experience, knowledge and presence in the industry. In fact, it was conversations with very generous and inspirational mentors that helped me land a role at LVMH, a French multinational luxury corporation, in 2014 as a Corporate Strategist. I spent the next three years commuting from London to Paris – an exhausting but exhilarating experience that allowed me to get my first break in the industry. After three years in Paris, I returned to London to work as a part of a newly appointed management team at Thomas Pink as Merchandising Director. It was a fascinating project, I was there for three years before deciding to take some time away from work for maternity leave.
In January 2021, I became Marketing Director for Harrods, a role that I secured after working on the Harrods shop floor during my time at LBS. When I was setting up the programme with Walpole, I worked closely with Michael Ward, Walpole’s Chief Executive who was also Managing Director at Harrods. He knew I wanted to break into the industry, and thought that working on the shop floor would be a great way to build my knowledge. It gave me the opportunity to understand the customers, products and get an insider’s view of how the business functioned. I kept in contact with Michael after graduating from LBS and when I was coming to the end of my maternity leave, he told me that they were looking for a Marketing Director, I can’t express how grateful I am to Michael for all the opportunities he has given me through my career.
”
Alejandra Caro MBA2014,
Marketing Director, Harrods
THINK AT LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL
LBS Career Centre’s Alyona Segline reflects on how changes in the retail and FMCG sectors translate into opportunities for job-seekers
THINK AT LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL
Sundar Bharadwaj MBA1998 and Roy Masamba launched a multi-billion-dollar startup to grow bamboo on a huge scale across Africa
THINK AT LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL
Sloan Fellow Henrique Drumond SLN2022 initiated the democratisation of solar energy in Brazil. Now he’s considering his next step
Head of Diversified Careers at London Business School
Experience
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Over the last five years, between 10 and 20% of the cohort chose to diversify their career interests by exploring other sectors outside consulting, technology, and finance, rising to over 40% for our Leadership programmes.
In our employment reports you will see that a lot of graduates ventured into other sectors, with healthcare, consumer goods, retail, and energy highlighted as top destinations.
In 2023, we held our first Diversified Career Fair, giving students the opportunity to network with over 20 leading companies from the energy, luxury, retail, healthcare, construction, automotive, mining, chemicals and social impact sectors. Opportunities on offer ranged from graduate programmes, internships and full-time positions, in addition to valuable networking with key industry contacts.
LBS works closely with leaders across the industries to ensure that labour market insights are captured and students get access to networking opportunities as well as recruitment. Within diversified sectors we are seeing increased interest from companies to employ students for project work, both full-time over the summer holidays and also part-time during the term. These projects not only provide a chance to build CV skills and add tangible value to the businesses but also an opportunity for students to explore the companies and sectors close-up before deciding on the next steps in their career.
Healthcare has emerged as one of the most popular diversified sectors for LBS students. With the increasing importance of healthcare in today's world, students are exploring various roles in the sector. Many students have secured UK and International roles in the pharmaceutical industry, medical device manufacturing, and healthcare consulting with companies like Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Danaher, Roche to name a few. LBS provides its students with a strong foundation in healthcare management, which enables them to apply their skills and knowledge in this sector.
Consumer goods, luxury and retail are also popular. Our students have joined industry giants like AB InBev, Nike, LVMH, Unilever, Nestle, and Procter & Gamble in various roles ranging from marketing and supply chain management to strategy and operations.
Despite the challenges facing the energy sector, students are successfully securing roles in renewable energy, oil and gas and supporting industries. We work closely with many global energy companies, focusing on recruitment in renewable energy and sustainability in line with students’ interest.
If you're considering a career in one of these industries, it's important to do your research and understand the specific roles and opportunities available. A Masters or MBA degree can be a great way to gain the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in these sectors, as well as to build a professional network and gain exposure to different industries and companies.
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Download our employment reports to explore the industries and destinations of our most recent graduates, along with typical salary levels and the types of companies our graduates have gone on to work at.
Download the MBA employment report
Download the MiF employment report
Download the MAM employment report
Download the MFA employment report
Download the MiM/GMiM employment report
In FMCG, Retail, and Healthcare, marketing and sales roles are crucial for driving revenue and building brand awareness. These roles typically involve developing marketing campaigns, building relationships with customers and clients, and analysing sales data to identify areas for growth.
Our graduates accept job offers across a broad range of sectors. Discover endless opportunities to propel your career to new heights and find out how our Career Centre experts can help you achieve your goals
