A Journey Across Continents with Ellak Botos: ‘Sometimes you have to do things for the plot.’

Ellak Botos speaking at a KBC event. Photo credits: King’s Business Club.

There is a moment in every student’s life when they must make a decision before they fully understand the weight of it. For some it may be the decision of which module to take and for others it may be choosing which firm to apply to. For Ellak Botos that moment came more than once. From stepping into leadership at the UK’s largest business society to choosing a dual master’s degree spanning two continents, in this interview we explore his thought process behind all of this. 

“Sometimes you have to do things for the plot.”

How it all began 

The decision to choose King’s came naturally to Ellak. He was always attracted to the glamour and appeal of the “student London life” and fortunately, he was not left disappointed. While academics were important, it was the wider environment that left the strongest impression on him. He felt connected to everybody around him and their work ethics. 

“Being around other people who were locked in and applying to jobs.”

Some of his most vivid memories are rooted in the casualness of the everyday life at King’s. Long hours spent in Bush House, frequent visits to the eighth-floor cafeteria, KBC boat parties, and even, as everybody would agree, hating on Waterloo campus, formed the backdrop to this formative period in his life. 

KBC Boat Party with the Committee. Photo credits: Ellak Botos.

Reflecting on that time, he credits the UK with shaping the foundation of his career.

“The UK defined the whole starting point of my career.”

A central force in this experience came through his involvement in King’s Business Club. Ellak recalls joining KBC in a way that felt almost cinematic. During the summer of 2022, he received a message on LinkedIn from Aman Patel, then Co-Principal of King’s Strategy. What followed was an opportunity not only to expand his network, but to help build something from the ground up. 

Alongside Aman and Nish, Ellak became a key driver behind the KStrat Academy. He became closely involved in building the Academy and supporting the multiple consulting projects. The experience was more operational and gave him an insight into how things worked behind the scenes. A fact that was surely going to help him in the next part of his journey at KBC. Nish, who at the time was working alongside him in the initiative, would later go on to become President of King’s Business Club for the upcoming year. 

“It was a great opportunity to meet people and develop skills that would later be crucial for the VP role”.

The makings of a VP 

Further leadership emerged gradually. When asked by Nish if he wanted to run for Vice President with him, Ellak recalled the feeling of uncertainty and doubts. The responsibility seemed significant, and he was not immediately sure whether he wanted to take it on. 

It took a couple of days, but he said yes, a decision he now looks back on with confidence. Ellak found Nish to be a great people leader with a revolutionary vision. He was someone he was genuinely excited to work with and lead KBC alongside. 

Through the role, he developed a more nuanced understanding of leadership, something one can only gain through the experience. Balancing the need to achieve results while keeping team members motivated proved to be one of the biggest challenges. 

When asked about the most important lesson he learned from the experience, Ellak emphasised the importance of the people behind the organisation. 

“Overall, it is about people management.”

Without the individuals who dedicate their time and effort, a society cannot function or grow. Learning how to motivate people, adapt to different working styles, and step in with authority, when necessary, became defining aspects of his leadership experience. 

KBC Event with the Committee of 23/24. Photo credits: Ellak Botos.

The Master’s Path 

Interestingly, Ellak had not originally planned to pursue a master’s degree. In fact, he was hesitant about the idea. However, that changed when he came across a dual degree programme offered jointly by Bocconi University and Fudan University. 

True to form, the decision was made quickly. 

“I saw it at 1pm and applied at 3pm.”

With only five international students accepted every year into the programme, Ellak had no hope he would receive an offer and was pleasantly surprised to accept it once the email came in. It marked the beginning of a new chapter for him. 

Life in Milan 

The first year in Milan introduced a different environment. He traded the familiarity of London’s busy streets for the colour and vibrancy of Milan, and quickly discovered that studying at Bocconi required a different mindset.

The academic intensity was immediately clear. Traditional exam systems and strict grading standards now meant there was little room for error.  

“It was a reality check and a humbling experience.”

“Bocconi is a large cohort of hustler.”

Adapting to this environment forced Ellak to rethink his approach to studying and time management. Yet the challenge ultimately proved valuable, pushing him to develop further on these essential skills. 

Life in Shanghai

Shanghai, by contrast, required adaptability rather than endurance. While the academic environment in Fudan was manageable, it was the scale of the city that stood out the most. 

“China is special.”

“Like Disneyland, but for adults.”

Ellak describes Shanghai as a place where everything felt amplified almost. Adjusting to daily life meant learning how to navigate a completely different system. He found himself organising everyday tasks- from payments to transportation- through platforms he had never used before, such as WeChat. 

One of the biggest adjustments came from navigating the language barrier. Even simple interactions often required patience and creativity. 

“Because there is a language barrier, you put more effort into it.”

Yet what surprised him most was how welcoming people were. Despite the language differences, Ellak found that locals were more than often curious and eager to help. In fact, China consistently ranks among the countries with the highest levels of trust, with most of the locals willing to trust strangers, something he experienced first-hand. 

This open and welcoming environment made it easier for him to adapt and even travel around the country with confidence- something he currently looks forward to doing. 

Over time, these small adjustments of learning new digital systems and how to deal with the local authorities, became some of the most memorable parts of the experience. What initially felt unfamiliar, gradually became an opportunity to better understand how the country works in everyday life. 

Ellak Botos in China. Photo credits: Ellak Botos.

Choosing CFA early 

Alongside his studies, Ellak chose to pursue the CFA qualification, a decision driven less by external pressure and more by self-awareness. With time available and momentum already established, he decided to commit to this seemingly daunting task.

“Even though I studied economics, I felt a huge gap in finance. I wanted to make amends to that.”

Balancing CFA preparation with a demanding academic schedule required a change to his structure and his priorities had to be divided. Short breaks, written to-do lists, and visual planning tools helped him maintain consistency and sanity through the intense workload. 

“Comparable to a year’s worth of work at University.”

However, the effort proved worthwhile when he passed Level 1 in November 2024.

“It opened up new doors for me and I now had the courage to apply to more technical roles.”

Redefining Success

When asked how he defines success, Ellak avoids the conventional answers. Rather than focusing on qualifications or prestige, he frames success with the experiences he collected along the way and the lessons learned through them. 

“Sometimes you have to appreciate what you have achieved so far and enjoy life as well. Right now, I’m collecting stories I can tell my grandkids.”

Ellak is now enjoying post-masters, pre-employment life, exploring Asia. He will be starting at a prestigious management consulting firm in September.

So, to the person reading this article, take it as a sign to take the leap and do it for the plot. 

You never know where it might take you.