Associate Director of MBA Recruitment at Oxford Saïd Answers 5 Questions
In our latest installment of the MetroMBA “5 Questions” series, we speak with Mariel Kessel, the Associate Director of MBA Recruitment at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School. Kessel talks about the role of research at the school, introduces a new professor of finance and Global Opportunities and Threats module, and offers advice for prospective MBA candidates.
1. What opportunities outside of the classroom does Oxford Saïd offer MBA students?
“In addition to our core courses and extensive elective offerings, MBA students have the opportunity to further their learning through a variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular options, including the Oxford Saïd Finance Lab, Social Impact Lab, or Seed Fund—a student-led initiative that allows MBA candidates to gain first-hand investment experience.
International electives will see students learn in real-world scenarios in the U.S. or Africa, and the entrepreneurship and social impact opportunities offered by the Skoll Foundation, Oxford Foundry, and Entrepreneurship Centre are limitless. Outside of the business school, students will be part of the wider University of Oxford community and can meet fellow students from a great variety of disciplines and backgrounds.”
2. In what ways does research play an integral role in the Saïd MBA program?
“A great example of research playing an integral role in the Oxford Saïd MBA program is through an online workshop for women leaders called ‘Owning your career,’ which takes place during the school’s activities around International Women’s Day this year. The module draws on research findings from interviews with female CEOs, undertaken as part of Oxford’s CEO Research Project and focuses on one of the three themes identified in the article based on that research: self-acceptance, self-development, and self-management.”
3. Are there any new programs, initiatives, faculty, or events that you can share with us?
Mariel Kessel, Associate Director of MBA Recruitment
“We are very excited to have Renee Adams join us as a Professor of Finance. Her work highlights organizational design problems to which seemingly inefficient governance mechanisms are the solution. Her research also highlights the role selection plays in understanding corporate leaders.
Our Global Opportunities and Threats: Oxford (GOTO) module focuses on the future of energy this year and is designed to create a collaborative community that can tackle world-scale problems. Each year, students are tasked with a different problem to solve and assigned tutors from across the broader university who aid and assess their work. The module culminates in a summit, at which select groups present their findings to a panel of leaders from both industry and academia.”
4. What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective MBA student?
“My best advice is to find the school and program that feels like the right fit for you. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity (and commitment) so don’t get caught up on one aspect (i.e., fee, rankings, one specific elective). Instead, talk to alumni, staff, current students, visit if that’s an available option for you and, finally, go with your gut and you will end up at the right school for you and your career goals.”
5. What’s a great nearby restaurant or location for networking?
“We have a fantastic common room, gardens, and canteen at Oxford Saïd, so students don’t need to travel far to find great locations to socialize and network. However, Oxford is of course blessed with a fantastic variety of restaurants and pubs, including the historic Turf Tavern, which first opened in 1381 and counts CS Lewis and Stephen Hawking among its former clientele.”
About the Oxford Saïd Business School
The University of Oxford Saïd Business School blends the new and the old. The business school was founded in 1996, but the University dates back 1,000 years and is regarded as the oldest English-speaking university. This creates a unique dynamic at the school where tradition meets innovation. On the school website, they state, “We create programmes and ideas that have global impact. We educate people for successful business careers, and as a community seek to tackle world-scale problems.” They do this through delivering cutting edge programs including a One Year MBA, Executive MBA, 1+1 Program, Masters in Financial Economics, Masters in Law and Finance, and a Masters in Major Program Management.
“A transformative experience. Saïd Business School reframed my mindset and gave me an invaluable network.” —Nadine El Sharif, MBA student
Learn more about the University of Oxford Saïd Business School by visiting the school website.
UVA, Oxford, CEIBS Rise in All-New Financial Times 2019 Ranking
The latest Financial Times MBA ranking is officially out, with several international schools rising closer and closer to the top in 2019.
Oxford Saïd MBA Employment Rises Alongside Tech Industry Interest and New School Research
There’s no doubt that the tech industry and the MBA are becoming cozier. From fintech to well-known tech firms, MBAs are chasing after jobs at tech companies and vice versa. And this shift has definitely been felt and reflected at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School.
Over the last several weeks, the school has been talking up the importance of tech. It starts with the release of the latest Oxford MBA employment report, revealing that the employment rate had risen to 91 percent. It continues with the revelation that more MBAs are heading into the tech industry than ever before. From there, Saïd released a new research report, “Understanding Chief Digital Officers” to find out about this new position and how people can succeed in this new tech role.
As we said, it’s been a few busy weeks. So, we’ll take you on a brief deep-dive of the latest Oxford Saïd MBA tech news
Oxford MBAs Exhibit Mobility, Capability, and Interest in Tech
Although the UK is still facing a challenging economic environment, Oxford Saïd MBAs are overcoming. This year, the employment rate rose to 91 percent, and the average salary increased to £71,550, both of which are reliable indicators that Oxford MBAs are well set for their future careers. As Stuart Jagot, the Director of Career Development says, “Results demonstrate the international mobility and capability of the Oxford MBA.”
Jagot calls it a “tech revolution” with a significant number of MBA graduates launching successful tech careers. And much of that success is due to the school’s relationship with the industry.
For example, MBA student Daniel Peach worked in consulting before he took a year out to study at Oxford Saïd. From there, he built upon his tech credentials and analytical roles until he eventually landed an internship with Google. “Oxford Saïd’s relationship with Google was extremely helpful,” says Daniel. “The careers team also gave me some great preparation for the interview—particularly on behavioral aspects.” And he’s not the only success story.
MBA student Marla Woodward made the successful transition from product manager to a tech sector internship at Cisco. And William Ou made the transition to the fast-evolving world of fintech, thanks to his MBA at Oxford Saïd.
“When I arrived in Oxford there was so much going on with blockchain technology which, honestly, I had never heard of. In one of the many company presentations at the School, I met the people from Blockchain.info, the world’s most popular bitcoin wallet, where I eventually did my Summer Internship and got into the cryptocurrency/blockchain world.”
The new Digital Marketing Pathway for tech-minded students has been an enormous help. The pathway provides access to General Assembly online curriculum, which helps students develop the tech skills they need for their future careers. There’s also the Oxford Saïd Careers Academy, which helps MBA students with career development planning, guidance, practical exercises, and 1-1 coaching in their career of choice. Together, these programs have helped Oxford Saïd students become successful in tech careers. (Learn more.)
Oxford Saïd Goes Inside the Role of Chief Digital Officer
For the aforementioned “Understanding Chief Digital Officers” paper, the business school interviewed 41 Chief Digital Officers (CDOs) in 13 countries to understand who they are, what they do, and how they can be successful. Researchers found that the role was full of “challenging contradictions” with a severe lack of clarity around the role and a wide range of tensions.
Lead author Gillian Brooks says:
“The CDO role has typically been created by large, established companies who can feel under threat from digital disruption in their markets as well as being excited by the opportunities that new technologies can offer. But there is no consensus on the ideal background or qualifications for a CDO, where the role should sit in the organizational structure, or even what a CDO does.”
The authors explain that CDOs are forced to do their job and define it at the same time with other C-suite executives having no understanding of what a CDO does. This makes the CDO role highly dependent on the goodwill and support of the CEO because if they’re not on board with their position, then nothing gets done. At the same time, while a CDO’s role is transformative, it’s also transient, since many times they can end up making themselves redundant.
Author Michael Smets, Associate Professor in Management and Organization, says:
“We discovered that, whatever their background, the most successful CDOs were those who are comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. They embrace complexity and paradox by finding ways to make seemingly incongruent, contradictory elements of their roles fit together.”
The combination of Oxford Saïd’s MBA curriculum, which supports tech, and the School’s tech-centric research and career development have made the tech industry attractive for Saïd MBAs. And it doesn’t look like that interest will wane anytime soon.
You can learn more on the school’s website and check out the full report here.
Oxford Saïd Appoints 6 New Faculty Members
In early July, Oxford University’s Saïd Business School announced six new faculty appointments with a range of teaching and research expertise. The new faculty come from a variety of backgrounds including gender diversity, sustainability, real estate, and more. Each new faculty member will join the school to engage in innovative research, scholarship, and academic excellence.
A recent press release from the school introduced the six new faculty members to the Oxford Saïd community. We recently had the privilege of interviewing three of the new appointments to gain additional insight. Continue reading…
Top MBA Recruiters: Breaking Into Personal Care Empire L’Oreal
Considered by many as the world’s top beauty brand, L’Oreal is well known for its well-known fragrances, hair, nails, makeup, and skincare products, with a portfolio boasting legendary brands like Maybelline, Garnier, Redken, and Ralph Lauren. Headquartered in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, the company has also become a surprisingly strong top MBA recruiter. Lets take a look at what business school students need to know about the personal care empire.
The 5 Important Things You’ll Need to Know When Getting an MBA
If you’ve gone through the rigamarole of an MBA application, chances are you’re feeling a bit taxed (no pun intended). Don’t slow down now! Sometimes when you have your life and education under the microscope it’s helpful to get a gentle reminder from a reliable source—like us—of what you hoped to get out of the degree in the first place. Here are a few tips that might help calibrate your b-school compass:
Practice On The Field
Cliff Oxford, founder of the Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs, wrote in the New York Times that certain traditional MBA programs are “like having athletes studying game film but never practicing on the field.” This is why many schools encourage students to apply for internships during enrollment or summer semesters. These opportunities can be competitive—especially if you have your mind set on a large company—but don’t let that deter you.
There are many ways to stay connected with the global marketplace, where you will be employed in only two years. For starters, keep applying and remain alert to positions that may have a greater potential for longevity. Interviews that don’t lead to an internship are still essential experiences. If your chosen program doesn’t have adequate outlets for students to engage with employers, ask for them.
Let A Mentor Set The Pace
Mentorships reinforce the idea that there’s no substitute for experience. For students too intimidated to reach out to a professor, consider that mentorships may be the most rewarding part of their job.
Many schools offer a mentorship program built into the curriculum. Large schools like the University of Oregon and the University of Miami pair students with local professionals to “meet regularly throughout the academic year to discuss everything from study habits to career choices.” Schools have reported that these connections are pivotal for students in achieving their ideal positions and cultivating life-long relationships in the field.
Mentorship is also a staple of the career path designed for students at powerhouse business schools like the Yale School of Management, which recently revamped its WE@Yale program.
Change Your Perspective
When under pressure, remember to give yourself a break. Exercise and meditation are steadfast options, but use your imagination. Jerry Seinfeld reportedly displayed images from the Hubble Space Telescope on the walls of his writing room to calm his nerves. ”I don’t find being insignificant depressing. I find it uplifting.”
Completing your MBA is a personal exploration above all else. Don’t forget your true entrepreneurial spirit while finding your footing. After all, changing ones career is the second most common reason, according to students, that they pursue an MBA in a first place.
Experiment With Electives
Special projects and electives are a chance to step out of your comfort zone. These courses are updated on a yearly basis, meaning that they cover cutting-edge topics that can open up new worlds and help you garner skills that separate you from the rest.
For example, the Stern Signature Project at the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights recently led students to create a business plan “focused on sustainable employment and profit” for a private Kenyan social enterprise.
The NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights launched in 2013, focusing on various issues like manufacturing, sustainability, and much more.
Get To Know Your Pack
A drive to succeed doesn’t mean that you have to be the lone wolf on Wall Street. Every MBA program has students who come from unique backgrounds, cultures, and histories. These are your future colleagues. They’re also hidden mentors who may be your most valuable supporters.
Many schools, like the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, actively acclimate their students together with unique Olympic-like events, helping bridge the various cultural gaps of the incoming students. Not only are these events fun, unless you hate being outside or sack races, but they are potentially powerful networking events for you and your peers.
