MX (Masters Extra) programme
The Masters Extra (MX) programme is designed specifically for taught masters students in the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Business School and focuses on careers, and personal and professional development. This series of talks, networking opportunities and activities includes guest lectures from leading academics and experienced managers.
Through regular attendance, participants can enhance their career opportunities and earn a Certificate in Career Development. To qualify for a certificate, students must attend a minimum of four MX sessions in each semester.
MX is an integrated programme between the Business School and the University .
MX sessions after Orientation Week are presented on Wednesdays and include 30 minutes for Q and A. Usually, sessions are held:
- at 4.30pm
- in person
- in Gateway LR 3/4
Any variations to this schedule will be sent via email.
Outline schedule 2025-2026 Semester 2
-
Wednesday 4 February 2026
Cezary Sowiński, Public Policy Manager, Amazon
Session overview: This session explores how Amazon approaches customer trust as a core strategic and operational priority. The talk will cover Amazon’s customer-centric mission and principles, how trust is built and maintained across complex digital marketplaces, and the practical tools used to protect brands, buyers and sellers.
About the speaker: Cezary SowiÅ„ski is a Public Affairs professional specialising in e-commerce, competition and consumer law and intellectual property. He is currently Public Policy Manager at Amazon, Vice-Chair of the Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group at the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD, and a lecturer at the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH). Before joining Amazon, he was Senior Director of Customs and Regulatory Affairs Europe at DHL Express and previously worked in the Indirect Tax team at PricewaterhouseCoopers Poland and at the Ministry of Economy. He holds two master’s degrees and a PhD from the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH).
Why attend: Learn about how a global platform like Amazon puts its relentless focus on the customer into practice; how customer trust shapes decisions in large, complex online marketplaces. Hear about the challenges around protecting brands and customers from illicit marketplace activities, and how enforcement and cooperation work in practice across borders. There will be space for questions and discussion that go beyond the session topic and Cezary has wide experience and insights to share.
-
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Dorka Balla-Johnson, Internships Programme Lead, Talent Acquisition Service, NATO
Session overview: Join Head of the NATO Headquarters Internship Programme and University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Business School Alumna, Dorka Balla-Johnson, for a candid discussion on the nuances of global governance, where consensus is king and efficiency is defined by resilience. In the private sector, success is driven by the speed of action and the famous ‘bottom line’. In the world of international defense, success is measured by what doesn’t happen.
We will break down:
- The Efficiency Paradox: Visualizing progress in organizations where stability is the primary product.
- Radical Resilience: How to maintain personal and professional footing when the geopolitical landscape changes over a weekend.
Stay until the end for a briefing on NATO youth employment opportunities and how to get involved.
About the speaker: Dorka Balla-Johnson is an HR professional at NATO, where she oversees the NATO Internship Programme, selecting, supporting and developing international early-career talent. Since joining the organization in 2020, she has played key roles in supporting diverse talent, drawing on her background and degrees in Management and Psychology .
Previously, she managed large-scale events for the Honors and Scholars programs at The Ohio State University, one of the largest universities in the world and worked as an Email Marketing Specialist for the USA Today Media.
Her work is driven by a commitment to public service and to building inclusive, diverse pathways into international organizations.
Why attend: Learn how NATO works and what are the internship and job opportunities. Not a bad thing to add to a CV!
-
Wednesday 18 February 2026Andrew Dane, CEO, The Artisanal Spirits Company plc
Session overview: Join Andrew for an open and honest discussion on the challenges and opportunities of leading an organisation. Drawing on his own experience, he will reflect on the shift from CFO to CEO and what it takes to build trust across the whole organisation — moving from functional leadership to organisation-wide responsibility, and from peer to boss within an established executive team.
The session will also explore how the CEO role reshapes priorities and perspectives, including making decisions with incomplete information and relying on influence, alignment and clarity rather than formal authority alone. Andrew will discuss the practical tension between pragmatism and process — when to follow the rules, and when to challenge them — as well as what it means to lead a “40-year-old start-up”, balancing heritage with the need for innovation.
Alongside these themes, Andrew will share personal insights on leadership, highlighting the value of curiosity, hard work and maintaining an open-minded approach.
About the speaker: Andrew Dane is the Chief Executive of the Artisanal Spirits Company, which creates and sells limited-edition whisky and experiences, primarily through its principle subsidiary “The Scotch Malt Whisky Society”. Andrew has been the CEO since January 2023, and is responsible for: 
- Strategy: Developing and leading the company strategy
- Operations: Responsibility for the day to day operations, managed through the Senior Management Team
- Performance: Delivery of the key financial results
- Culture: Leading the global workforce of around 150 people, fostering a strong and positive workplace culture
Andrew was previously the Finance Director for the Artisanal Spirits Company (2020-2023) before promotion to the role of CEO. 
Prior to that Andrew was the Finance Director of Argent Energy, a pioneering renewable fuel producer, and spent 8 years working for KPMG, across Edinburgh, London and Toronto.
-
Wednesday 25 February 2026
Laurenz Apiarius, Founding Partner, Curiosity Capital
Session overview: Innovation is driven by both innovators that re-wire the status quo as well as the incumbents (both political and private) that force our hands as to how we want to see our future develop.
About the speaker: Founding Partner of Curiosity Capital, a pan-European and FCA authorized multi-strategy investment boutique, focusing on superior frontier technology and growth investments. As a provider of evergreen products, Curiosity Capital provides long-term outperforming asset allocations in digital assets and equities to its investors.
Previously he was founding partner of Blockwall, the first German Digital Asset fund, resulting in extraordinary returns for its investors.
He is also non-executive director in two family businesses. Previously, he had numerous active & passive engagements in PE and VC investments around the world. Laurenz was also involved in building various family business companies ranging from real estate, car manufacturing to banking.
Educated in Germany (EBS University), South Africa (University of Stellenbosch) and Scotland (University of St. Andrews).
Why attend: If you are curious about how innovative investment strategies interact with traditional markets, and how finance and investment are evolving in response to new technologies and changing market dynamics, this session is for you. Come and learn about the future. There will be time for questions and discussion beyond the core themes of the presentation.
-
Wednesday 11 March 2026
Tobi Hartmann, CEO, entrepreneur, and investor.
Session overview: In this session, Tobias Hartmann will draw on his experience as a technology entrepreneur and investor to discuss how tech founders and investors decide where to invest their time and capital. He will explore what tends to matter most when assessing opportunities at different stages of company growth, from early start-ups to more established tech firms. The session will also address how students can think about securing internships and early-career roles in technology companies, including what start-ups and scale-ups typically look for in candidates.
About the speaker: Tobi Hartmann is a six-time global tech CEO, entrepreneur, and investor with roots in both Germany and the United States. A lifelong builder, he helped shape the early digital era by creating the first standardized systems for electronic document exchange and digital court record storage in the early 2000s—technology still foundational in the judiciary today.
Since then, Tobi has led and scaled multiple companies around the world, including the global leader in trademark creation and online brand protection. His work blends innovation, operational excellence, and an instinct for transforming complex ideas into category-defining businesses.
Today, Tobi is developing a next-generation AI platform focused on safeguarding and wellbeing for K–12 schools and students worldwide continuing his mission to use technology to make meaningful, lasting impact in the world.
Why attend: If you curious about how to start, scale and sell tech companies, how Silicon Valley compares to Germany / EU, how tech investors spot interesting opportunities (for example – why analogue sells well to defence sector?) or how to get an internship / job in a tech company – the session is for you.
-
Wednesday 18 March 2026David Pennino, Founder and CEO, LogicSource
Session overview: In this talk, Dave will unpack the journey of scaling a business from a simple idea captured in just 16 PowerPoint slides into a company with a $500M market capitalisation and more than 400 employees.
Rather than a polished success story, expect an honest account of what it actually takes to build and scale a firm: the strategic decisions, the risks taken, and the moments when things nearly came apart. Hear how to deal with the ups and many downs that come with leading a growing organisation.
The session will explore how founders develop strategic judgement, cope with setbacks, and sustain ambition over the long haul.
Professor Anna Brattström will offer her reaction and kick-start a discussion with the audience. We will then continue the conversation informally over drinks and canapés – and perhaps wander out for another drink and an even deeper discussion afterwards.
About the speaker: David Pennino is the President and Chief Executive Officer of LogicSource as well as a founding partner of the firm and a member of the Board of Directors. David has over 20 years’ experience in the Services and Outsourcing industry including roles as a senior executive at Williams Lea Group, Scient, and Gartner. David received a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin & Marshall College.
Why attend: Expect high energy and some naked truth about the entrepreneurial journey and a networking drinks afterwards.
-
Wednesday 25 March 2026Carl-Georg Luft, PwC
Session overview: This session addresses the public interest underpinning insurance conduct regulation and its significance for the proper functioning of financial markets and the institutions operating within them. It highlights the growing complexity and ambiguity of the regulatory environment and examines how expert advice may support insurance undertakings in mitigating unintended risks and achieving competitive advantage. Particular emphasis is placed on the essential skills (future) consultants must bring or develop in order to be(come) trusted navigators for financial services providers.
About the speaker: Carl-Georg Luft is consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers Germany advising insurance undertakings and pension funds on risk and regulatory matters. He serves as a thought leader for insurance conduct and retail investment strategy, advocating for a dual-use and investor-centric approach to financial regulation. In his previous roles, Carl-Georg advised policymakers and supervisors across Europe on public pension reforms, behaviourally informed financial market legislation and retail investor protection. He is also an advisory board member of the Berlin Demography Forum and former Lambsdorff Scholar of the Naumann Foundation for Freedom. Carl-Georg studied or conducted research at the universities in Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Beijing, London, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, Munich and Oxford.
Why attend: If you consider a career in financial services consulting, this session offers thoughtful and personal insights into its professional mission and career benefits.
-
Wednesday 1 April 2026Farshad Nowshadi, VC advisor, Level39
Session overview: The session will cover the latest trend in how AI is changing Business and Finance and how to do to prepare for the changes. On the career front, Farshad will share his experience on how to become a better entrepreneur in finding VC investments (but think of it more broadly as ‘how to access resources’)
About the speaker: Farshad Nowshadi is a global fintech veteran with over 30 years of experience bridging the gap between legacy banking and radical innovation. A foundational force in the digital banking revolution, Farshad served as the ex-VP of eStrategy at Saman Bank and helped to establish Blu Bank, the largest mobile bank in the Middle East, which has scaled to 14 million users. His influence extends to the heart of London’s tech scene as a VC Mentor at Level39, where he has nurtured unicorns such as Revolut and Wise. He also serves as a perennial Judge for the Fintech Payment Awards.
Currently, Farshad is focused on the next technological frontier: Agentic AI payments. He curates the "AI in Business and Finance" series at Level39 and advises startups pioneering AI wallets. Combining the prudence of a banking executive with the foresight of an early pre-IPO investor in Google and Amazon, Farshad offers a definitive voice on the future of autonomous commerce. He is a published author, a Guest Lecturer at St Andrew’s Business School, and holds an M.Phil in Computing from the University of Sussex.
Why attend: Even if you are not planning a career in AI, finance, or venture capital, this session offers valuable insight into how new technologies are reshaping organisations and careers. The focus goes beyond tools to explore how ideas attract resources, how entrepreneurs and teams gain support, and what skills and mindsets matter in fast-changing environments.