MX (Masters Extra) programme

• Week 2 – Working for the European Central Bank: what the ECB does and how it hires

  Monday 21 September 2026

  

  Cristina Checherita Westphal, Senior Team-Lead Economist; the European Central Bank

  Session overview: This session will walk students through what the ECB does – from its main mandate of maintaining price stability to printing the (newly-designed) euro banknotes. Cristina will also talk about her academic and professional development and her experience at the ECB, including how her research agenda blends with policy work. Finally, with support from the ECB Talent Acquisition team, she will talk about how the ECB hires (EU nationals) under different programmes, particularly master and PhD internships and the Graduate Programme.  

  About the speaker: Cristina Checherita-Westphal is Senior Team-Lead Economist in the European Central Bank’s Fiscal Policies Division within the Directorate General Economics. Her research interests are in the areas of debt sustainability, fiscal-monetary policy interactions, economic convergence and growth. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bucharest Academy of Economic sciences, a master’s degree from Columbia University and a PhD from George Mason University.

   

• Week 3 - Building a Career in the Age of AI: how to stay useful when the tools keep changing

  Monday 28 September 2026

  

  David Woodcock, Corporate Vice President - Client Services. WNS - Part of Capgemini

  Session overview: AI is changing the tools of knowledge work faster than it is changing what employers actually value: better decisions, better outcomes and trust. In this talk, David will look at how organisations are deploying AI, why most AI programmes fail for organisational rather than technical reasons, and what that means for graduates. David will draw on his own unplanned career - from a St Andrews Chemistry PhD to commercial leadership and AI transformation.
   
  About the speaker: "Dr David Woodcock is Corporate Vice President, Client Services at WNS, since 2025 part of Capgemini. He has deep expertise in data analytics and AI, supporting some of the world's best-known brands in turning data into strategic insights and initiatives. WNS was bought by Capgemini to deliver “Intelligent Business Operations” which essentially means using agentic AI in every process where it makes sense to do so. David’s team have built a suite of agents to support the people selling agents!

  He completed both undergraduate and postgraduate studies at St Andrews, including a PhD in Chemistry, he’s also done an Executive Education short course with us in the business school on AI. Across his career he has held research, analytics and data leadership roles in manufacturing, consulting and financial services."

• Week 4 - Trains, Planes… and Toilet Cleaners

  Monday 5 October 2026

  

  Hamish Taylor, Inspirational Speaker, Advisor and Moderator

  Session overview: Hamish will outline his career since leaving St Andrews and share lessons from his time as a senior executive and CEO. In recent years he has become a global leader in “Customer-led Transformations” and believes the lessons and principles within this are very relevant to those about to start a career in terms of both decision making and personal development.
     
  About the speaker: "With a CV that the London Times described as “takes some beating”, Hamish Taylor has an award-winning record of driving innovation and change in a number of very different environments. He is the go-to person worldwide for organisations, teams, leaders and individuals who want to create breakthroughs by placing their customers (internal and external) at the heart of all activities. 

  Hamish was trained in Brand management at international consumer goods giant Procter and Gamble, a Management Consultant at Price Waterhouse, Head of Brands at British Airways, CEO of International high speed railway Eurostar, and CEO of Sainsburys Bank - all before he was 40! In each case, he left behind a record of significant growth/turnaround triggered by a willingness to challenge industry/organisation norms and place the customer at the core of all activities. 
   
  Regularly featured in broadcast media, today Hamish acts as an adviser to some of the world’s largest companies (and Governments).  Over 500 organizations in 48 different countries have sought Hamish’s inspiration. 
  The Inspired Leaders Network even gave him the title of “master thief” due to his record of stealing ideas from one environment to use in another."

• Week 5 - Living and Working in the AI Era: Insights from 12 Years at Google

  Monday 12 October 2026

  

  Christoph Scherf, Engagement Manager, Google

  Session overview: Join St Andrews alumnus Christoph Scherf, Technical Engagement Manager at Google, for an insider’s perspective on building a global career, navigating life at the company, and thriving in the AI era. This session offers practical career advice, a first-hand look at day-to-day work and career pathways at Google, real-world examples of enterprise AI applications, and the essential skills needed to succeed as AI transforms how we live and work.

  About the speaker: Christoph is a Technical Engagement Manager at Google, where his team builds custom technical solutions for the company's largest advertisers. He has been with Google for 12 years, working in various roles across Germany, Ireland, and Japan. Christoph holds an MLitt in Marketing from the University of St Andrews, where he was awarded the Macallan Marketing Prize.