AstraZeneca scoops coveted Cambridge Judge Business School Award

Big Biotech business AstraZeneca has won one of the major accolades in the treasured Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS) Recognition Awards.

The Cambridge-headquartered life science technology gamechanger has been a stalwart sponsor and supporter of key programmes at Cambridge Judge.

CJBS director Christoph Loch reveals that AstraZeneca has won the 360 Award. This recognises the company or organisation that has the deepest and broadest engagement with programmes, centres and research areas within Cambridge Judge Business School.

AstraZeneca is recognised for its substantial support within the Business School, including sponsorship of a series of business startup weekends (the Venture Creation Weekends) and providing mentors for the Accelerate Cambridge programme and the Venture Creation Weekends. 

AstraZeneca also engages with the Cambridge MBA programme and has hosted MBA students to work on targeted global consulting projects which provide real world experience, as well as supporting employees to participate in the Advanced Leadership Programme through Executive Education.

AstraZeneca also enabled a CJBS faculty member to undertake a sabbatical project, contributing to valuable cutting-edge research and understanding, and one of AstraZeneca’s senior leaders, Sir Mene Pangalos, serves on the CJBS Advisory Board.

Loch has announced the Award winners after a planned presentation dinner had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. He wanted to share “some positive news in the extraordinary and turbulent times we all find ourselves living through.”

He added: “Whilst the global pandemic remains at the forefront of our minds, we hope this good news provides a welcome change of focus.

“Although, we are disappointed that we could not announce these awards personally at an event this year, we are thrilled to share the news electronically and thank our collaborators for the many ways they have enabled or enhanced teaching, research and engagement here at Cambridge Judge Business School. Their involvement really makes a difference.

“With their help, the Business School is advancing real world research and training the business leaders of tomorrow, supporting thousands of entrepreneurs, offering targeted training for top businesses and engaging meaningfully with the key issues of our time.

“Their knowledge, energy, curiosity and commitment help Cambridge Judge to be truly transformative.”

The roll-call was extended to six awards this year as CJBS continues to increase its global business education influence.

The Student Champion Award was won by Monish Suri, Honorary Fellow and CJBS alumnus (MBA 1998), who was honoured for his outstanding support of Cambridge Judge students over the past 12 years.

His company, Prime Ventures, has hosted more global consulting projects than any other company in the history of the School. Monish also provides mentorship for students who are keen to enter or advance their careers in private equity and he has taught several courses at CJBS on private equity for the MBA and MFin programmes.

The Executive Education Elevate Award went to The Nature Conservancy. The accolade recognises the company or organisation that has engaged most closely and fruitfully with an Executive Education programme through a two-way learning journey that has enhanced research, teaching and professional development.

The Nature Conservancy is recognised for the collaborative work undertaken with CJBS Executive Education over the past 18 months.

The work has focused on strengthening connections, building confidence and high performing teams within the global Nature Conservancy leadership programme.

The One Conservancy Programme has made an impact on nearly 400 leaders across The Nature Conservancy so far, and we look forward to a continued collaboration with a wider cross section of TNC leaders.

Banking giant Santander won the Trailblazer Award for a collaborator that exemplifies the Business School’s commitment to innovation, thought leadership and real-world impact, and shares the School’s excitement about the business of transformation.

Santander is recognised for its commitment to education, employability and entrepreneurship, and their philanthropic support which is enabling small-scale internships based at UK SMEs with support from the CJBS Entrepreneurship Centre.

They also contribute to the Accelerate Cambridge programme, which helps start-ups grow through mentoring, coaching and seed funding, and supports the SME growth programme which helps larger, more established ventures grow.

Fadi Boustany won the Outstanding Alumnus Award, which recognises an alumnus/alumna who has gone above and beyond in support of the Business School.

Boustany, an intrepid CJBS alumnus from the first ever MBA cohort in 1991, is recognised for his support which has been hugely meaningful, both to the lives of the Boustany Scholars and for the School as a whole, Loch said.

He adds: “Fadi set a leadership example for the wider alumni community by providing a significant philanthropic contribution to help the Business School with our building expansion project, the Simon Sainsbury Centre, and he and the Boustany Foundation have provided MBA scholarships that have enabled students from a wide range of backgrounds to study at Cambridge Judge since 1997.”

The Deep Roots Award celebrates and thanks a person or organisation who has contributed enormously to the long-term growth and success of the School, enabling Cambridge Judge to establish a strong foundation, and whose impact will be felt for years to come.

The honour went to the incredibly supportive Judge Family after whom the world-renowned business school is named.

The award is made in recognition of Sir Paul and Lady Anne Judge’s transformative contribution in 1990, which along with a generous donation from Simon Sainsbury, enabled the School to come to fruition, and to refurbish the iconic Old Addenbrooke’s building, providing Cambridge with the beginnings of a world-class business school in the heart of the historical University of Cambridge.

Christoph Loch said: “The contribution from Sir Paul and Lady Anne was an integral part of the School’s transformation from startup to success story and has since enabled over 10,000 students to secure a first-class business education at the University of Cambridge.”