Weitao Li MSc

The course

Why did you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh Business School (UEBS)?

I chose the University of Edinburgh Business School for its academic distinction, international community, and its proximity to one of Europe’s most established financial centres. Edinburgh’s ecosystem - spanning global insurers, asset managers, banks, and emerging fintech firms - creates an environment where academic theory and industry practice are closely intertwined.

What was it about the degree programme that particularly attracted you?

The MSc in Finance, Technology and Policy stood out for its recognition that the future of financial services would be shaped not by a single discipline, but by the interaction between finance, technological innovation, and regulatory evolution.

Rather than preparing students for the industry as it existed, the programme encouraged us to anticipate structural change - developing the analytical range required to interpret disruption and translate it into strategic opportunity.

That orientation strongly aligned with my ambition to work at the forefront of industry transformation, supporting organisations as they adapt to an increasingly digital and regulated landscape.

Your career

Can you tell us about your career before and after graduating?

Following graduation, I joined EY’s financial services practice, where I worked on large-scale transformation programmes across the insurance sector. Operating within a global consulting environment provided early exposure to complex delivery models and senior decision-makers, accelerating my professional development.

Over time, I developed a specialism in insurance transformation - supporting initiatives ranging from operating model redesign to core technology modernisation. These experiences refined my ability to bring structure to ambiguity, align diverse stakeholder groups, and help organisations translate strategic ambition into executable change.

I recently joined Baringa Partners as a Senior Consultant within the insurance practice, where I advise insurers on high-impact change agendas shaped by regulatory pressure, shifting customer expectations, and rapid technological advancement. My work increasingly focuses on bridging strategy and execution - ensuring transformation is not only well conceived, but durable.

I support financial institutions through complex transformation, ensuring strategy is not only envisioned – but successfully realised.

How did your degree prepare you for your career?

The MSc in Finance, Technology and Policy cultivated both analytical rigour and strategic perspective - capabilities that remain central to my work.

Consulting demands the ability to synthesise complex information quickly and provide clear direction. The programme strengthened my structured problem-solving approach while developing fluency across financial, technological, and policy considerations.

Just as importantly, it fostered intellectual confidence - enabling me to engage constructively with senior stakeholders and contribute meaningfully to consequential discussions.

It equipped me not merely with knowledge, but with a way of thinking.

Masters of Change

What notable changes has your degree enabled you to make in your professional or personal life?

The MSc served as a catalyst for my transition into the UK’s financial services sector and established the trajectory of my consulting career.

Beyond technical capability, it instilled a mindset centred on adaptability and continuous development - essential qualities in an industry defined by constant evolution.

The strength of the University’s global alumni network has been an enduring advantage, offering ongoing opportunities for insight, collaboration, and professional growth.

What are the changes you have been able to make in your chosen field, of which you are most proud?

I take particular pride in contributing to transformation programmes that strengthen how financial institutions operate - enhancing resilience, improving customer outcomes, and positioning organisations for long-term competitiveness.

On a personal level, progressing into a senior consultant role within a specialist firm reflects a deliberate commitment to deepening my expertise rather than broadening superficially.

It represents an important step in what I view as a long-term leadership journey within the industry.

How did your studies at the Business School help you to make those changes?

The programme sharpened my understanding of the UK financial ecosystem while reinforcing the importance of global context - both critical when advising large organisations.

It also strengthened my ability to connect macroeconomic trends, regulatory developments, and technological innovation to practical business decisions.

Today, that perspective underpins how I support clients: combining rigorous analysis with pragmatic recommendations that enable confident forward movement.

What key things that you learnt at the Business School do you still rely on today?

Two lessons remain particularly enduring.

First, the importance of relationships. The connections formed during the programme continue to provide perspective, support, and intellectual exchange.

Second, the discipline of structured thinking - approaching complex challenges methodically, communicating with clarity, and guiding stakeholders toward aligned outcomes.

These capabilities sit at the heart of effective advisory work and scalable leadership.

Course highlights and advice

What are your best memories on the programme?

The collaborative intensity of the programme remains a defining memory. Many projects required close coordination among individuals with varied strengths - an experience that closely mirrors the realities of consulting.

Working collectively to solve technically demanding problems reinforced an early leadership lesson: the strongest outcomes are rarely produced in isolation.

What one piece of advice would you give to current students and recent graduates?

Your time at the Business School is more than an academic milestone - it is a formative period during which you establish habits of thinking, standards of excellence, and professional relationships that will compound over time.

Stay intellectually curious, seek environments that challenge you, and invest in capabilities that will remain valuable as industries evolve.