Henley Alumni Stories - stories from our community

Yash Kothari, Henley Business School graduate, reflects on his journey and how Henley shaped his career and mindset.

Being an alumnus of Henley Business School has genuinely been a turning point in my journey. Before joining Henley, I had already spent five years working with Coca-Cola in India. Walking away from a stable job to go back into academics wasn’t an easy decision at all. I had a lot of doubts. But looking back, it was one of the best decisions I have made. 

The year at Henley was challenging in a very real way. Every day felt like something new to figure out. One of the most valuable parts was working with three different startups across the UK and Europe. It wasn’t just classroom learning we were actually dealing with real business problems, especially around scaling, strategy, and operations. That experience made me much more practical in how I approach challenges.

Another big shift for me came from the people I studied with. Being surrounded by such a diverse group pushed me to think differently and more globally. It changed how I look at problems and opportunities. Henley didn’t just teach me business it helped me grow as a person. It gave me the confidence to take risks again.

After completing my MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, I decided to come back to India and focus on building and scaling my own business using everything I had learned. I can honestly say Henley helped shape a new version of me - someone who thinks bigger, adapts faster, and isn’t afraid to start again. 

What is one piece of advice you would share with a current student at Henley to inspire them in their career journey?

My advice would be: take risks, trust yourself and stay open to learning. 

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