Yohann Sequeira

Yohann is a Senior Consultant at Dalberg Advisors.

I would describe my SPP experience as fulfilling, transformative, and energizing. Before joining the SPP I worked with Dalberg, a strategy consulting firm focused on international development, in Abu Dhabi. I felt that the MPP would build upon my professional base by framing the problems within academic frameworks and case studies, strengthening my policy analytics and formulation skills to help me take a better-informed approach. The MPP would take my learnings from my BA in Economics one level deeper, tailored to my professional interests. I felt that the MPP would help me find the balance that would tackle the root causes while navigating the political economy of these problems. 

The LSE SPP met and exceeded what I was looking for in a program. First, it gave me the ability to tailor my time at the MPP to my professional interests while meeting my educational objectives within nine months. Second, the programme had a multidisciplinary approach: pulling in expertise from the departments of government, political science, and philosophy, among others. And finally, all of this was delivered through a world-class institution with professors and peers from all over the world, who would complete the experience and provide a unique and diverse set of learnings. 

 What made me feel a part of LSE was the ability to take classes alongside other departments, engage with faculty from across the university, and the multitude of events on current affairs and alumni. Building new friendships during the complicated world of COVID-19 led to many a walk in the park and masked conversations on campus that brought us closer together. The bonds we made during a pandemic are a testament to the network and friendships that this program builds! 

After the MPP I joined Dalberg London, refreshed and better-equipped to tackle problems the developing world faces. I've enjoyed engaging with international development from a strategy consulting perspective. This has provided me with a platform to work with UN agencies, development banks, governments and impact investors, engaging with issues in contexts ranging from peace and security assessments to climate strategies. I'm conscious that such problems are defined by their impossibility and difficulty to be solved. But I've always been driven by the need to create economic opportunity and improve quality of life for beneficiaries of our work.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to create sustainable and scalable impact, while growing professionally and personally. The MPP was part of that growth journey, where the faculty and my peers provided fundamental expertise and skills that I could tailor to my career. It strengthened my knowledge base and built expertise to tackle many of the problems the world faces.

For those considering the MPP programme, it is well-positioned for those who want to engage with the public sector and development. The programme builds relevant public policy skills while helping you build your network in surprising ways. I found that the MPP can help open doors and place you within the right networks.  For those who do pursue the programme, know that what you get out of the programme and the bonds and networks that you build are a direct factor of what you put in yourself. 

 Yohann is happy to connect via LinkedIn.