We are delighted to announce that Raymond Xiang Zheng, from our Full-time MBA Class of 2025, has been named one of Poets & Quants' 2025 Best & Brightest MBAs!
This prestigious accolade celebrates Raymond's outstanding leadership as Student Council President, his academic excellence, and his impactful contributions to the MBA community.
From embassy to MBA
Before pursuing his Full-time MBA, Raymond served as Senior Trade and Investment Officer at the British Embassy in Beijing, where he led high-profile capital markets initiatives and helped attract major Chinese firms to the UK.
Leading with purpose
At AMBS, Raymond was elected Student Council President, where he led a team of peers to create a more connected, inclusive MBA experience.
He launched the Student Council Award Scheme and supported student participation in international competitions. He also co-led cultural and well-being events, from diversity celebrations to initiatives like Well-being Donut Day, which fostered community and support across the cohort.
Innovation and impact beyond the classroom
Raymond also played a leading role in co-founding PurFetch, a start-up idea for pet services that was named a finalist in the Venture Further Awards 2024, hosted by the University's Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.
Raymond credits AMBS's practical, 'learning by doing' ethos as key to his growth: "The consultancy projects offered a powerful opportunity to apply strategic thinking in real-world contexts and build the leadership skills needed for global business."
Beyond the MBA
Following a successful internship at Eli Lilly UK, Raymond will join the company's MBA Programme post-graduation.
Reflecting on his contribution, Naomi Blackwell, MBA Assistant Director, said:
"Raymond has shown outstanding commitment to the MBA community through his leadership as Student Council President. He's proactive, thoughtful, and a pleasure to work with.
"His classmates clearly value his contribution, as reflected in his top rankings across multiple categories of our MBA Citizenship Scheme. His recognition by Poets & Quants is a testament to his impact and the respect he’s earned across the programme."
Congratulations, Raymond, on this well-deserved honour!
You can read Raymond's profile on the Poets & Quants website.