29 April 2026 - Samantha Kamanzi, Sustainability and Energy Transition & Corporate Strategist and student on the Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Business shares a day in the life of her workshop in Cambridge.
My journey began at Entebbe Airport in Uganda, carrying a mix of professional excitement and a mother’s heavy heart. Leaving my husband and three children, the youngest only a year old, was difficult, but I comforted myself with the knowledge that this week in Cambridge is a powerful example for them that education is a lifelong, joyful journey. The trek was long. A 5-hour Qatar Airways flight to Doha, a 3-hour layover where I sat reflecting on my preparatory notes about Design and Technology, and then a final 6-hour leg to London Heathrow.
Stepping out of the terminal, the brisk 1:15-minute train ride from King's Cross St. Pancras to Cambridge felt worlds away from the tropical Ugandan sun. After a short cab ride, I arrived at Robinson College. The warm reception at the Porters' Lodge immediately made me feel at home. After settling into my cosy student room, I took a quick cab into town for some Chinese food, a perfect reset before resting for the day ahead.
My day begins with…
A moment of reflection in my room at Robinson College before heading down for a hearty English breakfast at the Garden Restaurant. Nourishing the body is essential for the mental marathon ahead! By 8:30 AM, I start my 20-minute walk to the West Hub. The crisp morning air and the beautiful green scenery of Cambridge are a sharp contrast to home, and I find myself looking out for the possibility of snow, hoping for that "White Christmas" experience I’ve never had in Uganda. Along the way, I often bump into fellow students, and our conversations quickly shift from morning greetings to debating the "essential preparatory notes" we reviewed the night before.
The workshop starts with…
A deep dive into high-level strategy and systemic "whys." We heard from world-class thought leaders, who framed our challenge of moving from the "why" of climate action to the "how" of systemic transformation. We studied the "Sustainable Design Staircase," learning how to move from just making products "less bad" to creating entire Product-Service Systems (PSS) that prioritise access over ownership. These morning sessions were provocations. Lecturers acted as "doctors for the planet," challenging us to rethink the core DNA of business models and to use metrics beyond GDP, such as the Genuine Progress Indicator.
Between sessions we…
Buzz with high-energy networking. During the breaks, the room is filled with "consultants" and "business owners", blurring the lines of their professional identities. I found myself discussing the trade-offs of carbon pricing with a structural engineer while reaching for the "secret weapon" of the workshop, those incredible, thick chocolate chip cookies! These interactions are the heartbeat of the program. Connecting with peers from finance, consulting, and industrial engineering confirmed for me that the appetite for nature-positive change is universal across all sectors.
After lunch we…
Transition from theory to intense, collaborative practice. After a sustainable, plant-forward lunch of seasonal grains and greens, the learning format shifted into a "Design Process Workshop." My group worked on the blueprints for a Zero Waste Furniture Factory. We had to apply a rigorous "What, How, Who" framework, realising that for circularity to work, we had to involve process engineers long before the architects. It was inspiring to see other groups take different paths. One applies the "Double Diamond" method, while the other focuses on social equity by hiring adults with learning disabilities. We were constantly reminded not to just "put flowers on a data centre," but to design for deep, systemic integrity.
After sessions finish, I have the opportunity to...
Breathe and process the immense volume of information. On some evenings, I’ve taken a cab into town to explore the local food scene, but most nights are spent back at Robinson College. I use this time to reset, check in with my family back in Uganda, and reflect on my literature review. I often find myself looking at my research through a new lens, wondering how to integrate nature and equity into governance structures better. It’s a time for social and academic "incubation."
After a day of learning, I feel…
Exhausted but intellectually electrified. The depth of the challenge, like the "rebound effect" where efficiency gains are lost to increased consumption, can feel overwhelming. However, being surrounded by such honesty from both business leaders and professors makes the struggle feel shared. I feel a sense of collective responsibility. The module has shifted my perspective from seeing sustainability as a technical "add-on" to seeing it as a fundamental leadership requirement.
I am excited by…
Return to my context and challenge the traditional "client brief." I am inspired to advocate for models that integrate nature and social justice into the core DNA of business rather than treating them as externalities. I want to take the "map and compass" I’ve been given here in Cambridge, the technical frameworks, the RAG technology insights, and the leadership courage, and use them to drive genuine, nature-positive transformation in my work and beyond.
