Charlotte Drache-Lambert

“Curious, tenacious and passionate. I am always seeking new challenges and find the most growth from outside of my comfort zone”

Hometown: Toronto, Canada

Fun Fact About Yourself: I look like a city girl but I love hiking! My most recent treks were the Bruce Trail Peninsula in Ontario, the GR20 in Corsica, as well as the Inca Trail in Peru. I am planning a trip to Patagonia to hike the Torre del Paine at the end of the year.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Toronto (Hon. B.A.), University of British Columbia (Master of Landscape Architecture)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Director of Programs and Customer Engagement at OPEN Technologies

What has been the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?
Successfully pivoting my career into climate technology! Working in a mission-driven startup making a positive impact in one of the highest-emitting sectors (buildings and construction) is a decision I am very proud of.

Before returning to Canada last year I spent the last ten years working in Paris, Berlin and Shanghai which brought me incredible experiences, challenges and new perspective that continue to guide me in my career today.

When you think of your school, what is the first word that comes to mind?

Innovative, disruptive, progressive. UCL has a long history of doing things differently and this ethos runs through the entire university. This definitely rings true in the UCL School of Management where current business perspectives are challenged and students are encouraged to be forward-thinking.

What are one or two key aspects of this program that led you to choose the program, and why were they so important to you?

I was looking for an academically rigorous MBA program that would integrate key current issues such as big data, artificial intelligence and climate change into a business context. The UCL MBA fit these criteria perfectly and was tailored to working professionals in mid-career such as myself. The added benefit of a flexible online format with live classes and twice-yearly immersion events in London would also allow me to develop my career without boundaries and to collaborate with students in a truly global cohort.

What course, club, activity, or experience excites you the most and why?

UCL’s Sustainability Lab is a fantastic student-led initiative that generates cross- disciplinary dialogue on sustainability while also building relationships between students and industry through various projects. In my first term of the MBA I was lucky enough to participate in a panel on sustainability in the built environment during a Case Competition event organised by the Sustainability Lab. As a judge I was blown away by the quality of the student presentations as well as the enthusiasm and interest in sustainability at UCL and the high- calibre industry partners involved.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to other prospective MBAs? 

I am a regular listener of the podcast Pivot to stay on top of the latest technology and business news. As an MBA student I feel that it’s important to broaden your knowledge of different industries and understand the trends and technology to help inform your strategic decisions or career path. I would also suggest reading The Culture Map by Erin Meyer if you are working cross-culturally and How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates which focuses on concrete solutions to the climate crisis.

What are two things you have learned that have surprised you so far – one academic and one non-academic?

The power of a learning mindset in negotiations completely transformed the way I approach negotiating. When you switch to an open and information gathering approach you avoid the pitfalls of ‘bounded awareness’ where critical information is ignored or left unseen when making decisions.

Otherwise, I have been so surprised how seamless the online learning experience has been and the connections I have built with my fellow MBA students!

When you are applying for the MBA at UCL, let your unique background and experience tell a story about who you are. If you are able to connect your goals going into the MBA with your unique career path and a plan for applying those learnings after graduation, you are sure to have a compelling application.

CLICK HERE TO MEET THE MBA CLASS OF 2025 FROM THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT