LSE Summer School '23 with Konstantina Georgieva

After successfully finishing this year's LSE Summer School, our scholar - Konstantina Georgieva - shares all about the London experience from a personal point of view!

Introduction

"My name is Konstantina, and I am a rising senior at the American University in Bulgaria, majoring in Economics and minoring in Finance. Thanks to the scholarship awarded to me by the Aleksander Foundation I had the pleasure to spend three weeks of my summer studying in the London School of Economics. The course I enrolled in was Entrepreneurial Finance. The course started on 19. June, and ended on 7. July 2023.

Academic experience - Entrepreneurial Finance

Some of the aspects of the course were focused on how start-ups manage their finances, seek funding, and measure their growth. The course was quite intense but also interactive and practical. One of our tasks was a group project for which we had to draft a start-up idea, create a business plan, and pitch it in front of the class. We also had a negotiation exercise where we acted as founders and investors agreeing on the terms for an investment agreement. During one of our lectures, we had a visit by a serial entrepreneur and investor who shared the lessons he learned throughout his career. The professors - Dr Juanita Gonzalez-Uribe and Daniel Paravisini, delivered the course material in an engaging and inspiring way and were extremely helpful to students. Though my course was in finance, it also leaned towards business and management (which I found great not having been exposed to these subjects before).  

Social activities and the LSE community

Except for studying, a huge part of the LSE Summer School experience are the new friends you make along the way. Thanks to the many social events at LSE, it is easy to meet new people. My favorite thing about the LSE atmosphere was that everyone was extremely friendly and open to a chat. I found it inspiring and motivating to interact with students from diverse backgrounds and with different career aspirations. I managed to make some friends with whom I went around London, explored some restaurants, and had fun with.

LSE Summer School - In a nutshell

Overall, I found the LSE Summer School an experience of its own. It broadened my horizons and made me feel more confident in my academic abilities. Having a chance to live in a big city such as London for a bit was also a valuable opportunity. The best thing about London for me was diving in its dynamic atmosphere. I would advise all future LSE Summer School students to get the most of their course, but also socialize with their classmates and explore the city."

- Konstantina Georgieva, Scholar '23