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My learning Journey
“The faculty and guest speakers were nothing short of inspiring – visionary thinkers who challenged conventional perspectives.”
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Natasha Shafi
CEO, Mr & Mrs Smith
With a degree in history of art from UCL, Natasha began her career in the 2000s at the travel company Mr & Mrs Smith. At the time, the business was a publisher of hotel and travel guides, characterised by beautiful photography, distinctive editorial. Over the course of Natasha’s time with the company, it pivoted into a booking platform, and grew into a celebrated global travel operation, rooted in boutique hotel experiences. Natasha’s leadership journey has seen her work her way from office junior to CEO – the position she occupies today.
As her role evolved and the company grew, Mr & Mrs Smith was acquired by Hyatt Hotels, propelling the business into a new chapter of expansion and opportunity. In September 2023, she joined the Senior Executive Programme (SEP) at London Business School.
To best understand a business, I believe you should experience it from the bottom up. My perspective has been shaped by my joining Mr & Mrs Smith in a junior role not long after the company was established. I have literally grown with the organisation – from office manager to managing a portfolio of self-catering villas and apartments, advancing to chief of staff, working closely with the founders, gaining insights into how to run a business and drive value. I was appointed managing director in 2020 – a key milestone in my leadership journey.
I think experience is my most valuable asset. After 15+ years in the business, I was looking to build on those instinctive, self-taught skills I’d acquired through the chapters we had already gone through. As a born and bred Londoner, going to school in Marylebone, I was already aware of London Business School and the respect in which it is held. One of the founders invited me into a powerful women-in-technology network she had co–created. A contact in that group was an SEP alumna. I was immediately captivated by what she shared about the diversity of the attendees, their unique perspectives and their thought-provoking insights. The benefits she described, including the chance to gain new skills, resonated with me. The SEP came at exactly the right time for my transition to the next stage in my career.
Participating in the programme was transformative. The faculty and guest speakers were nothing short of inspiring – visionary thinkers who challenged conventional perspectives. Being immersed in an environment of intellectual rigour within an exceptional cohort enabled me to reimagine Mr & Mrs Smith through a more holistic and strategic lens. This enhanced perspective was pivotal as we prepared for integration and expansion following the acquisition of our business, without losing sight of the competitive edge we had established over these years.
The diversity within my cohort was extraordinary – a convergence of great minds from different industries and backgrounds. Their insights, experiences, and responses to the programme’s challenges consistently broadened my thinking and sparked new ideas. I left the programme energised.
The experience also gave me something deeper – the confidence to communicate with greater assurance and the vocabulary to articulate my vision. Stepping away from my day-to-day role allowed me the mental space to recalibrate and draw up a new route map for our business – a strategy that was significantly shaped by the dynamic interactions and challenges that the programme gave me.
What I loved most about the SEP was its grounding in practical realities. It seamlessly blended high-level theory with actionable insights, ensuring that every lesson could be translated into real-world impact. This balance of inspiration and pragmatism has had a lasting effect on both my leadership approach and the trajectory of our business.
Since completing the programme, I’ve come to fully appreciate the immense potential of teams and businesses working cohesively and truly collaboratively. The lessons I brought back to Mr & Mrs Smith have influenced how we approach business at a critical junction, fostering a culture of active listening, challenge and pragmatic thinking that has enhanced our efficiency and streamlined operations.
As we embark on a new phase of business integration, I’ve embraced the ‘why kid’ mindset I rediscovered during the programme – a relentless curiosity that drives me to question assumptions and seek innovative solutions through exceptional teamwork.
My ambitions have become sharper and more focused. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with passionate, original thinkers and purpose-driven individuals who constantly push boundaries. Together, we’ve navigated unpredictable and high-pressure situations, cultivating agility and resilience along the way.
Even so, stepping into the role of CEO has been an entirely new level of responsibility. The Senior Executive Programme at LBS has served as a powerful catalyst in this transition, helping me develop the broader perspective required at this level of leadership. The support and insights from both the faculty and my cohort were instrumental in building my confidence, ensuring I’m equipped to lead the company into a new chapter, with vision and purpose in a constantly evolving business landscape.
Challenge your thinking and reignite your ambition with our flagship executive development programme, designed for senior leaders with a minimum of 12 years' management experience.
