Halfway through the looking glass of dreaming spires: How's it going?

I had three main reasons for enrolling in a full-time master's program. Firstly, I wanted to update my knowledge of business concepts and practices in a constantly evolving world. Secondly, I wanted to become a global leader by immersing myself in a reputable international institution. Lastly, I wanted to prepare myself for the next stage of my career. Now that I'm halfway through my MBA program at Oxford, I'm reflecting on how well my experience aligns with my expectations.

Unlearning to Relearn

The world is rapidly changing in all aspects, and the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of leaders being adaptable to uncertainty. While I stay informed through short courses, reading current affairs, and subscribing to the Harvard Business Review, I feel that fundamental shifts in the global socio-economic landscape require a deliberate effort to unlearn and relearn. Pursuing an MBA would provide a refresher on core business fundamentals and explore emerging business concepts while reflecting on my experiences thus far. A full-time program under the guidance of leading faculty and diverse MBA students from various fields would challenge my preconceptions and help me reframe my understanding of the world.

The course has helped me to reframe and gain a deeper appreciation for the impact and sustainability issues that affect business and society. Topics such as sustainability, the triple bottom line, ESG and social impact are often viewed as idealistic and not of primary importance, but Said Business School's strong focus on impact and sustainability has allowed me to engage with these topics from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Through well-designed project engagements with companies, such as the UK Infrastructure Bank and the UNDP's Global Resilience Partnership, we were able to work on complex and ambiguous problems related to climate resilience businesses in developing countries. My peers and I worked on projects with companies such as the Big Issue Group, Aviva Investors, Global Parametrics, and Pi Labs Venture Capital on their specific challenges. Working in diverse study groups broadened my perspectives and enriched my learning experience.

Aside from the foundational and customary MBA classes, we also had the chance to experience the Global Rules of the Game and Global Opportunities & Threats (GOTO) courses. These courses showed us the intricate and ever-growing sphere beyond the company's borders and equipped us with means and models to tackle "wicked problems" that necessitate cooperation and involvement with various non-traditional parties.

Immersion in a truly global institution

Oxford is the world's top university, and it naturally attracts brilliant students and faculty from all over the world to study a variety of subjects, including social sciences, engineering, and medical sciences. In the MBA program, I have just over 300 classmates from 64 countries, of whom 48% are women. This is one of the main reasons why the Oxford MBA was my first choice. The opportunity to learn from and share experiences with peers from all over the world in the MBA program and the wider university is priceless.

For me, it is not only the unique experience of being in a study group with an American, Egyptian, Indian, and Japanese student that has been enriching, but also the opportunity to actively engage with and be part of an African community. Fortunately or unfortunately, Africa is not a country, nor is it a singular nation, culture, or even people. It is a kaleidoscope of tribes, cultures, languages, traditions, and customs united by its geographic location and a shared history. Dialogues within the AfOx Leadership program, distinguished speaker series from the Africa Alliance, the AfOx Insaka and the University of Oxford Africa Society events have broadened my understanding and appreciation of the continent and the boundless opportunities it offers, despite its underlying complexities.
 

Preparing for the future

When preparing their applications, MBA candidates must answer three questions: why an MBA, why now, and what are your post-MBA plans? During my application and interview process, I reflected on these questions and, with the help of career narrative tools provided by our careers team, settled on a career vision of being a strategic advisor to African and global leaders, with a particular focus on bridging the gap between strategic planning/policy and its implementation through action.

While the MBA is a great time to reflect and learn, given that it is a one-year program, it is also important to start preparing for your next steps as soon as possible. As a transitioner, I am guided by my personal vision and my current skillset as I consider new opportunities. We are fortunate to have a careers team within the Business School that provides careers support throughout the academic year through individual coaching, careers engagements with potential employers, CV and cover letter reviews, and interview preparation resources. Having access to experienced MBAs in the class has also proved to be a valuable resource for gaining insights on organizations and industries they have worked in. The Consulting, Finance, Impact, Climate, and other student-led business networks provide communities through which we can engage with practitioners and discuss emerging trends in our areas of interest. I am not sure where I will end up in the next few months, but my eyes are set on joining a global organization with links to Africa.

The city of dreaming spires has a lot to offer, from its well-preserved architecture and traditions, a vibrant social life, and a dozen libraries. For a graduate student, there is not enough time to explore this wonderland, but six months into the year, there is no doubt that I would do this again. Is it all perfect? Not really: the weather thus far has not been the greatest, the cost-of-living crisis has made an already expensive livelihood even more so, most of the food is bland, and as an immigrant one must navigate and demystify an ambiguous British culture outside the Oxford bubble.