CMI successes at Nottingham Business School: celebrating alumni achievements

Lauren Pope, who graduated in 2024 with a first-class degree in International Business from Nottingham Business School (NBS), was named CMI’s Student of the Year 2024. A key factor in her decision to choose this course was the CMI accreditation, which she felt would provide her with an edge in the competitive business world.

Reflecting on this, Lauren says: "One of the primary reasons I chose the degree was for the CMI accreditation alongside the course, so it is surreal to be nominated, and shortlisted, for the awards."

During her placement year at Metric Search, a global executive recruitment start-up, Lauren’s career path took a unique turn. She became the world’s first ‘femtech’ recruitment specialist, a role that grew out of her university research project on women’s health technology. She also developed strong relationships with international business leaders and furthered her expertise in global marketing.

Lauren's time at Metric Search was marked by significant professional growth. She received a number of promotions and was awarded the ‘Top Rookie’ award. Despite her busy schedule, she continued her role part-time during her final year and will return to Metric Search full-time in 2025.

Her commitment extended beyond her professional work. For example, Lauren volunteered at White Rose charity, supported victims of genocide, and took part in extra-curricular activities to improve her skills. Commending her work, her tutors said: "we were impressed that she would source volunteering/charity opportunities, including donating 12 inches of hair to the Little Princess Trust in her first year."

Looking ahead, Lauren is currently pursuing a digital marketing course to further her career in personal branding and marketing. She is passionate about empowering women through her work in femtech and hopes to continue to challenge inequalities in the workplace.

Riwilo who completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with NBS in 2019 was named CMI Chartered Manager of the Year 2024. This was for his outstanding leadership in his role as Principal Permitting Manager at the Coal Authority. Since taking on this role in 2023, Riwilo has been instrumental in streamlining the permitting process, improving service efficiency and fostering stronger relationships with stakeholders.

Commenting on his approach to leadership, Riwilo says: "I also adopt democratic leadership styles, empowering others to take ownership; recognising good performance; giving people a sense of progress through feedback and updates; and helping people see how their work contributes to our organisation’s ambition."

Riwilo’s work has led to significant improvements in how the Coal Authority handles permitting. He co-ordinated a multi-functional team to review and improve the process, which has resulted in faster response times and more efficient service. His leadership has been widely recognised, and the team was awarded an internal ‘Shine Award’ for their efforts.

In addition to improving operational efficiency, Riwilo has also focused on making his team more diverse, achieving a 50:50 gender split. He has also been recognised for his inclusive leadership, receiving the Environment Agency’s ‘Value the Difference’ award for his work on improving recruitment practices.

Riwilo’s work has had a positive impact on several major infrastructure projects, such as the development of a £10bn AI data centre in Northumberland. His efforts have helped to make it easier for businesses to engage with the Coal Authority, while ensuring the safety and sustainability of projects in former coal mining areas.

Reflecting on his time at NBS studying the MBA, Riwilo says: "Strategic management and leadership skills learned at NBS have been useful as I had to apply I real life situations where it is critical to adapt to changing operational environments, influenced by a shift in customer needs, technology and inclusive culture."

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