A Glimpse into the Future for St Andrews Students’

From MCM

The conference encapsulated a rare synthesis of insight, professionalism and tangible possibility. With twelve speakers, an atmosphere of disciplined intensity and a sea of students all willing to sacrifice their weekend reprieve for exposure to the volatile frontiers of finance, energy and entrepreneurship, the summit transcended conventional advice – it offered strategic foresight. In a world that is increasingly shaped by complexity and competition, this conference functioned as a quiet yet potent catalyst – an impetus for students to not only envision the careers they might forge, but to begin interrogating the questions that will chase their trajectories.

St Andrews Steps Forward

The morning commenced with an address from Professor Frank Lorenz Muller, Assistant Vice Principal and Dean of Learning and Teaching. His presence conferred institutional gravitas to the event and his insights regarding the university’s evolving academic landscape were both reflective and aspirational. However, the true distinction of the morning lay in the calibre of student-led organisation. This was not merely a well-run event; it was an exemplar of peer-led excellence – demonstrating the synergy that arises when institutional support meets student ambition.

Beyond the Bubble

A resonant theme throughout the day was as the idea of “stepping out of the bubble” – a reference to the oft-insulated nature of St Andrews university life. Speakers and organisers alike challenged attendees to begin seeing beyond the cloisters of academia and into the dynamic, volatile arenas that make up the world of global finance and entrepreneurship.

From MCM

The university’s growing commitment to employability was made palpably clear. With the upcoming Business School and investments aimed at embedding real-world opportunities into every course. Events as such are pivotal in this strategy, creating these intersections where students encounter not only professionals, but in doing so, opportunities.

Lessons from the Professionals

From MCM

Among the many speakers, it was Jon Fitzpatrick, managing Director at Griess Energy, drawing from experience, delivered an impactful message. Speaking candidly about the reality of career fluidity – the necessity of beginning work somewhere and remaining open to change. Something as students we must face when we begin with our journeys into the ‘real’ world. His emphasis on cultivating a multi-dimensional skill set struck a resonant chord. Success, he argued, depends not just on knowing what you’re good at – your own skill set – but recognising what you’re not. It is this that people forget to attend to, and it is this that people fall at. Assembling a team that can complement your weaknesses with their strengths seems something we can’t deemphasise.

Fitzpatrick’s cautionary dictum, “never invest in something you don’t understand” – was a pointed reminder to a generation frequently lured by immediacy and spectacle. It underscored the necessity of discernment in an era dominated by financial volatility and digital speculation.  

Equally important were reflections on the psychological burdens of high-stakes sectors such as investment banking. There seemed to be a hint toward the culture of imposter syndrome and emotional depletion – not necessarily with discouragement, but with a frankness that demystifies the professional glamour often projected from the outside. It provoked a deeper question: what truly sustains motivation, and how can we foster environments where people are inspired to perform, not just pressured to continue.  In an age of burnout and existential fatigue, this latter consideration may be the most urgent of them all.

Why It Matters: What Students Took Away

The Conference offered not a prescriptive roadmap, but a lens. A reorientation. In a hyper-competitive environment where the pressure to secure internships and graduate roles can verge on existential panic, hearing from speakers who acknowledged the messiness of real-life trajectories was refreshingly humanising.

Moreover, students were invited to consider what distinguishes a good idea from a transformative one. Timing, market receptivity and courage to defy convention emerged as essential metrics. Doing something different, something that encapsulates originality and audacity, it seems are essential. Creativity and courage, it seems, are just as vital as competence.

From MCM

The conference also foregrounded the profound importance of mentorship. The presence of former St Andrews students who have gone on to thrive in the professional world, was more than inspirational – it was relatable. Having successfully navigated the leap from lecture hall to executive sphere provided a crucial dose of relatability, these were not distant luminaries but tangible role models, illuminating a path that felt plausible rather than mythical. Thus, essentially bridged the intimidating gap between the lecture theatre and the boardroom, making ambition feel not just aspirational but actually attainable.

The Beginning of Something

What MCM achieved through this conference was more than a single-day event. It instilled a mindset – an awareness that navigating the business and finance sectors demands more than technical knowledge. It requires intellectual agility, emotional intelligence and the audacity to think differently.

For many students the conference perhaps stands as a mental touchstone – a reminder that they’re not passive observers in the world of business, but participants in shaping the future of entrepreneurship – that is why I believe the turnout was so great – MCM and such conferences, give students motivation and realistic goals that perhaps they can’t get from simply reading about people and jobs online. By stepping into that room on a quiet Saturday morning, they just took their first steps beyond the bubble.

Written By Sylvie Plaskow