"Without London Business School, I wouldn’t have my job"

One thing that Jonathan Antor is not short of is dreams – and his are bigger than most. A player for The Bahamas U-17 national team and an alumna of one of Nassau’s most rigorous schools, Jonathan has always set his personal bar high. Hopes of an international career took him to the US, where he graduated from The University of Tampa in Florida. However, an appetite for greater global exposure and a role in international finance led him to London Business School and the Master’s in Financial Analysis degree, where he accomplished another dream: to live in Europe.

Now, at just 24 and with the MFA under his belt, he is working as an Equity Research Analyst at UBS after working with Credit Suisse in the same role. And, he’s already thinking about how he’ll play a critical role in reshaping economic systems, processes and outcomes in The Bahamas. “Back home, most people my age want to explore the world and live somewhere else. For me, that place was London and London Business School was the school that could make it happen.” But it wasn’t all plain sailing. Applying to London Business School, Jonathan was beset by imposter syndrome: the hard-to-shake feeling that he might not be up to par to secure a place in a top-tier school – but the admissions team clearly saw his considerable potential.

Then there was the weather: “Coming to London was shocking to me. Adjusting to the freezing weather, cloudy skies and unfamiliar environment was challenging. In my first week, I called my parents to say I was coming home. I just didn’t have enough sun!”

With the steel entering his soul – and his parents’ wily refusal to finance a flight home – Jonathan shortly began to realise the “beauty of London.” He says, “The melting pot of cultures, languages and people play into the fabric of the city. “I’d experienced an international high school, but this was a different level of diversity. On campus at London Business School I met people from every corner of the earth. And joining the Black in Business and Africa clubs opened me up to different points of view of being Black. Where in the US it’s about African American culture, London is about Africa and the Caribbean – Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Jamaica. This really gave me a different perspective of the Black diaspora.”

Learning with and from the crème de la crème was nothing less than awe-inspiring. In his peers he found intellectual support as well as friendship. When new concepts surfaced on campus, classmates would routinely discuss them, helping each other understand complex ideas. And the accessibility wasn’t limited to students.

“London Business School faculty members are brilliant, yet approachable. We had amazing professors, including Alex Edmans, who was firing on all cylinders academically. The professors have this incredible ability to break concepts down and use analogies that are so vivid and creative that the learning comes to life. “The teaching is brilliant – it’s rigorous but delivered so eloquently that it really stays with you.”

Staying in London

With the programme coming to an end and the world of work looming, Jonathan was clear that he wanted to stay in London. Finding a rewarding role in a major financial organisation was facilitated by dedicated career workshops run by the London Business School team, where peers supported each other in reviewing resumes, cover letters, interview techniques and more. “Even before you start, London Business School has a career centre that helps you understand the different worlds of banking, finance, consulting and other fields. You get a real sense of what you need to do to get a job and you’re in that environment which is geared to empowering you. Without London Business School, I wouldn’t have my job.”

Working in equity research with UBS and Credit Suisse has enabled the realisation of another dream: to work for a “bulge-bracket” bank (a top international investment bank) with all the opportunities to learn that this entails. His role includes a rotation programme that exposes him to different sectors in equity research. And his job affords him the chance to stay on in London.

“It’s a hugely international environment, working for a Swiss bank in London. Even the team that I work in is very diverse, with colleagues from all over the world,” he reveals. “Although it's challenging, what I learned at London Business School has provided a mainstay. I mastered the broad concepts that now come up in my day-to-day working life. And I gained the exposure to be part of every conversation. I have the language, the technical exposure and the confidence to be part of my team.

“When colleagues ask where I’m from, they usually gasp in shock and tell me how lucky I am. I wouldn’t change it for the world, but at the same time, The Bahamas is not only paradise. The people are extraordinary. Growing up there instils in you certain principles of success that you can carry wherever you go.” In the longer term, Jonathan would like to bring his experience, expertise and talent to bear on the Bahamian economy. Going home would be a challenge to change the make-up of the country’s GDP; a chance to help spur other industries and diversify the economy to build resilience to headwinds.

As the country is heavily reliant on tourism, the Covid pandemic hit the economy particularly hard. For now, he plans to stay in London and to continue experiencing everything the big city has to teach him. “There’s so much to learn here”, he enthuses. “Every day, you brush shoulders with experts in different industries and I want to continue to be exposed to this. Besides, being in London is great for your track record.” He has some words of advice for other ambitious young people, particularly those thinking of taking a degree at London Business School – the first two words being, “Do it!”

Leave your comfort zone

“London Business School is worth the investment, for sure,” he adds. “The people you will meet will be crucial in your life, so network as much as possible. But also this: cherish the time you have at London Business School. Don’t waste a moment. Go to as many coffee chats as possible because the people that come are phenomenal. Listen to their stories and refine your own to share.” As a young professional working in an organisation that has experienced significant changes in recent months, he is quick to advise others to build resilience to change by pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.

“I’ve already learned that in life everything changes – it ebbs and flows and things grow and die. The end of one chapter means the beginning of another. Yes, moving to London was uncomfortable at first, but it was critical in both my self-development and career development. “Adapting makes you become a stronger person. Changes are always hard, but with the right mindset you can turn the cards in your favour.”