Meet Our 75th Anniversary Scholars Kyle Fraser-Allen on Making the Leap from Football to EMBA

Chicago Booth Executive MBA student Kyle Fraser-Allen has built a career defined by bold transitions—from competing as a professional footballer in the United Kingdom to shaping investment decisions at a leading asset manager. When he decided it was time to pursue the MBA he’d been considering for years, Booth’s global reach and rigorous, analytical approach stood out. Kyle ultimately joined the EMBA cohort in London, where he lives, as a recipient of the 75th Anniversary Scholarship.

In this blog, Kyle reflects on why he chose Booth, how his athlete mindset continues to shape his approach, and how the Booth experience has already changed the way he works and thinks. He also shares candid insights about balancing school with a demanding career and young family—and the advice he’d give to anyone considering following a similar path.

What were you doing when you decided to pursue an MBA?

I’m a vice president and investment analyst at an LA-based asset manager, where my job is to make recommendations on which companies to lend to. Before this role, I worked on product and product structuring in financial services. An MBA felt like the natural next step to accelerate the move into the type of analytical role I’m in now. 

I reached that goal earlier than I expected, but the MBA had been on my mind for six or seven years, and it was something I kept coming back to. Eventually I thought, “There’s never going to be a perfect time—just do it.”

What factors prompted you to choose Chicago Booth?

Booth stood out immediately for its global network and the fact that I could study in Hong Kong, Chicago, and London—where my home campus is just a short walk from my office. The admissions team was welcoming, responsive, and warm from the start. I got a strong sense of community even before I was a candidate, and that was very enticing. The stars just seemed to align.

You made a huge pivot early in your career. Can you talk about that?

Before I started working in financial services, I was a professional footballer—or “soccer player,” as you would put it. I played for a Premier League team in the UK and represented England nationally at the youth level. Transitioning from football to finance was a massive leap, and then starting an Executive MBA at Booth felt like an even bigger one. Receiving the 75th Anniversary Scholarship and joining such an impressive cohort of peers has been incredibly validating.

How has your experience in sports shaped your time at Booth?

The athlete mindset of teamwork, grit, resilience, and adaptability comes naturally when you’ve competed at that level, and I’m already drawing on that in the EMBA Program. Booth’s academic rigor is real, and there were moments of imposter syndrome early on. You look around and see CEOs, CFOs, doctors, and entrepreneurs—people who are brilliant. But through osmosis, you start absorbing everything. The global component has also been incredible. I spent a week in Hong Kong as part of the program, and it was stunning—the campus, the people, the culture. That global exposure was a huge reason I chose Booth.

Who are some of the faculty who have made an impact on you so far?

Even before I enrolled, I sat in on a financial strategy lecture in London. The professor was discussing telecom—part of my coverage area—and I was able to use what I learned the very next day at work. That was a turning point. I also had a fascinating dinner before the program began with Professor Christian Leuz. The way he facilitated a debate among people from wildly different backgrounds was mind-blowing. He had an unbelievable ability to synthesize ideas in real time.

And it’s surreal to be studying at the school where Eugene Fama teaches, because his work underpins so much of modern capital markets. The depth Booth brings to microeconomics, statistics, and analytical methods has already shifted how I think and how I respond. 

Booth emphasizes global collaboration. What has your experience with your classmates been like?

It’s been amazing. I wasn’t able to attend Kick-Off Week in Chicago, but my study group made sure I was part of all the discussions through Zoom calls and shared notes. We had never met face-to-face, but we already had a common goal.

My group has a mix of backgrounds: a nuclear scientist, a business continuity manager, a product manager, someone in private equity, and me in investment management. If one person struggles with a concept, someone else steps in. We’ve reached a stage where we’re talking about our families and our lives, and it feels authentic and natural.

The global cohort adds another layer. Being in Hong Kong with classmates who live and work in Asia gave me a deeper, more authentic experience than I’d ever get as a tourist. 

You’re juggling work, school, and two young children. How do you balance it all?

I have a very understanding partner—that’s the most important piece. After that, it’s discipline. I start earlier, I finish later, and I’m extremely intentional about study time. The athlete in me helps: You go into a kind of autopilot where repetition becomes your rhythm. And I remind myself that the challenge is part of the MBA experience. You’ll be tired, inspired, overwhelmed, and energized at different times. Knowing that I’m doing this for my kids makes it all worth it.

Has your workplace been supportive?

Very. I’m fortunate to be at a firm that gives people the autonomy to be professionals: Get the work done, and we’ll support you in whatever way you need. Colleagues have stepped in during busy periods, taken on parts of my coverage, or simply checked in to see how I’m managing. I’m fortunate to have a team that understands what the EMBA requires.

How is Booth helping you think about your longer-term career goals?

Initially, I pursued the MBA for optionality. Working as an investment analyst can be very technical and focused—you don’t always get the broader strategic or leadership exposure that prepares you to run a function or a business. Booth gives me that.

It’s also helping me reset some of my technical thinking. You can get used to doing things a certain way because they work, but revisiting the theory behind them—and seeing new perspectives—has been refreshing.

In the longer term, I’m passionate about social mobility and would love to pursue a venture that supports Afro-Caribbean regions. My heritage is Jamaican and Guyanese, and I’d love to give back in some form. The combination of Booth’s network, the technical foundation, and the leadership development makes that feel possible.

What advice would you give someone who’s considering applying to Booth?

First, have a conversation with your nearest and dearest—it really does take a village. Once you have that support, just do it. I haven’t had a single regret.

There’s a quote I love: “Procrastination is the arrogant assumption that you’ll get a second chance to do tomorrow what you should have done today.” If you’re thinking about Booth, don’t wait. The earlier you start, the more you’ll get out of it—and the sooner you can put what you learn into practice.

What did it mean to you to receive the 75th Anniversary Scholarship?

It was humbling and inspiring. To be selected among such an impressive cohort felt like a true validation of my journey. But more than anything, it made me want to give back. The feeling I had when I received it—that’s a feeling I want to give to someone else as a future alum.