My MBA 30 experience: Social activist Patrick Hutchinson
Social activist Patrick Hutchinson describes how the MBA 30 for black entrepreneurship aided his business.
Many people will recognise Patrick Hutchinson from the iconic photograph taken when he rescued a far-right counter-protestor during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in London in June 2020.
But Patrick’s journey from a South London council estate has encompassed far more than one single decisive moment of heroism. He has worked as a personal trainer, an athletics coach, a martial artist, a motivational speaker, an ambassador for several charities, including Black British Initiative (BBI), and is co-founder and director of his own business, pHKind, which supports men in taking proactive care of their health.
Somehow, Patrick managed to take four weeks out of his busy schedule to take the MBA 30 course at SOAS University of London. He also managed to spare a few extra minutes to share his thoughts and experiences about his return to studying.
Why the MBA 30 when you were already running a successful business?
“Our business was doing OK, but there was plenty of room for improvement, and so much still to learn. The MBA 30 offered the opportunity to formalise my experience while learning alongside other seasoned business leaders.
"Initially, I found it challenging, but once I had my note-taking system in place, I started to enjoy it. Rather than being a barrier, my maturity became an asset that contributed to the collective learning experience.”
What were the most valuable insights you gained from the MBA 30?
“For me, it was everything marketing. The programme taught me that successful marketing isn’t about having the biggest budget, but about understanding your target audience deeply and creating authentic connections, whilst leveraging the story behind your brand.
“The programme provided structured approaches to decision-making and risk assessment. The networking opportunities have also been invaluable, sharing the same space with some serious industry leaders who are now just an email or phone call away.”
Ultimately… entrepreneurs: Nature or Nurture?
“I believe it’s a bit of both. The MBA 30 reinforced this view - entrepreneurship involves learnable skills like strategic thinking, financial literacy, and leadership. While some people may have natural risk tolerance or creativity, the fundamental business competencies can definitely be developed through education and experience.”
MBA 30
The MBA 30 is a dynamic, fast-paced, mini MBA aimed at Black entrepreneurs, and run by the School of Finance and Management at SOAS University of London. The programme is designed to deliver practical business insights in the shortest possible time, recognising the fact that time and costs are barriers to small business development.
The programme is supported by Black British Initiative in association with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation.
