WINNER | Lia Turrini

Prior to undertaking her MBA at Harvard Business School, Lia worked in the Energy Industry for seven years. With a background in Earth Sciences, she started her technical career in Shell, assessing the hydrocarbon resource prospectivity of a variety of sedimentary basins around the world. In the last few years, while leading grassroots employee efforts to accelerate the energy transition in her company, Lia broadened from her scientific foundation to a commercially driven, business development role. As an Energy Transition Geoscientist in the Innovation & Performance team, she led opportunity evaluations aimed to identify disruptive technologies and new sustainable business models for Shell.

When did you start thinking about doing an MBA?

In the last few years, I have been exposed to buoyant start-up environments while evaluating their innovative business models and generating sustainable venture plans at the nexus of traditional subsurface engineering and the energy transition. This steep learning curve and exposure sparked a desire to learn more about how businesses work, appreciating their foundational components from operations, to value levers, and strategic growth mechanisms. This curiosity, paired with an aspiration to upskill from my technical background, and to have a meaningful impact in my industry faster, led me to apply to global MBA programmes.

What do you hope to achieve through your MBA experience?

Through an MBA at Harvard Business school, I aspire to acquire essential commercial acumen while building on my core technical preparation, and gaining the tools and leadership capabilities to be able to have a greater impact in the Energy Industry faster. I wish to broaden my skillset by learning the fundamentals of business, develop personally as a confident yet humble leader, and to build a diverse and multi-cultural, network of peers.

How will you use your MBA to further your career?

I see an MBA as the next logical step in my path to becoming an impactful business leader in the energy transition. To achieve this goal, post MBA I want to build on the core learnings of the HBS programme with hands-on experience of managing strategic change, leading communities of people, and being accountable for profit and loss. In five years’ time, I hope to be leading a purpose-oriented organisation, enabling the transition to Low Carbon Solutions and Renewables in my industry with a measurable positive impact on people and planet.

What are your hopes/expectations of being part of the SMF network after business school?

I look forward to joining a network of influential and brilliant engineers across the UK; working together to improve people’s lives and the performance of the UK’s and global economies while tackling climate change, one of the most momentous challenges our society ever had to face. I see the Energy Transition as an engineering challenge; thus, this network of peers can be a powerful springboard to enable my long-term aspirations through impactful alliances and business partnerships for the future.

How do you hope to support SMF after you graduate from business school?

Post MBA, I will be able to pair proven technical and leadership experience with high-calibre academic credibility as an ambassador for the SMF mission. I look forward to supporting SMF in as many ways I can, to unlock the future of other high-potential engineers that will be joining me in pushing the UK and the world forward in years to come. Particularly, I hope to be able to participate in mentorship programmes advancing women in business, enabling the growth and success of other high-potential female leaders.

How did you learn about the SMF scholarship?

I was specifically seeking sponsorship programmes for STEM professionals pursuing a business career, and the SMF website and presentation were particularly attractive. I found the programme aligned with my values and I felt an affinity to the fellowship network which I would later have the honour of being part of.

What tip would you give to someone seeking financial support to do an MBA?

Know your value and figure out how to tell your unique story. Seek financial aid based on merit to support your MBA journey: identify sponsoring organisations, like SMF, that value your professional profile, and submit applications that authentically relay your motivation and aspirations for the future.

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