Jim Strang

Jim Strang talks about how Edinburgh became home, his love for his degree and his wide and varied career after graduation.

Your time at the University

I actually went to school in Edinburgh but lived a ways outside so I actually got to move in and live in the city whilst I studied. This was a bit of a bonus as I actually knew my way around somewhat. I actually enrolled to read a very different degree from what I ended up with! I started out on the computer science and management science course but pretty quickly realised I preferred the business studies course to the computer lab. I think I was immensely lucky not only with the courses and lecturers that taught me (not to mention the fantastic flexibility the degree structure allowed me) but also the people I met along the way. I learned how to learn from them.

In fact I loved it so much I signed up for a part-time PhD supervised by my undergraduate lecturers after graduating in 1993. That was another journey in itself but thanks to the support and encouragement from my supervisors I made it through that also.

I actually enrolled to read a very different degree from what I ended up with! I started out on the computer science and management science course but pretty quickly realised I preferred the business studies course to the computer lab.

Tell us about your Experiences since leaving the University

“Varied” would be the short answer to that! I ended up spending my PhD years working in asset management in Edinburgh (which was relevant to my thesis). I then joined a strategy consulting firm called Bain and Company (along with another lady from my Edinburgh PhD programme) and spent several years there before embarking on a career in private equity.  I now run the European investment operations for an American based firm called Hamilton Lane.

Alumni wisdom

Make the most of the city. It’s an amazing place with so much to offer and you need to have a good balance to the years you spend in Edinburgh. In terms academic life I suppose my big learning was it was a momentum game. Try and get off to a good start. The rest will follow!