Week 7 Michaelmas

The penultimate week of Michaelmas term's lectures. It has gone amazingly quick. As usual it was assignments galore with 2 handed in and one (big one) ready to be handing in tomorrow. Actually, the mood is very subdued with everyone concentrating on the final push.

On another note, it is also nice to see that some of those interested in banking have already been offered jobs which is a good indication that the market for MBAs is as promising as quoted in the press.

Silicoln Valley comes to Oxford
This was an excellent event where some important people from Silicoln Valley best (Google, Linkedin, Facebook to name a few) came to Said Business School to sit on a panel, give masterclasses and generally spend time with Oxford MBA's.

I attended the masterclass with Reid Hoffman, founder and CEO of Linkedin, a business network website. He talked about Web 1.0 (the original internet boom), the current Web 2.0 (internet post dot com crash) and how the future will be the power of networks. He also articulated the "Brand of you" where (due to job mobility) each individual is (in fact) their own small business and should treat themselves as such.

Presentation from Kent Brittan
On Wednesday a select few had a Q&A session with Kent Brittan, former VP and global head of Purchasing at United Technologies.
This was a talk on the changes (internet auctions etc) that he had implemented prior to his retirement. He is now at Exeter College studying Theology.

Paul Klempler
During our Managerial Economics lecture we were treated to 1 hr with Paul Klempler, Edgeworth Professor of Economics, Nuffield College, Oxford. Professor Klempler was the architect of the UK 3G licence auction and has forgotten more about economics than most of us know. A very interesting Q&A session followed.

Christchurch Regatta
What we had been training for all term. We had even grown stupid handlebar moustaches for the event to go with our "Top Gun" theme (blame the undergrads for choosing that one). We lost against Brasenose on Wednesday, but beat Trinity on Thursday to go through the the 2nd round. Unfortunately, due to extreme weather and poor river conditions the whole Regatta was cancelled on Friday morning. At least we managed to row (I heard that some crews didn't even manage to do that) and "retired" among the winners.
To be honest, it was great fun. So much so, I have decided to continue rowing next term.

The crew. I am at "bow" (the front of the boat)
The Top Guns
Hertford Guest night
Another black tie evening at Hertford. This time, we managed to arrange a decent collect of MBAs and had a very pleasant evening.

The 3 Graduate Rowers (Brandon, Martin and Me) with our fetching handlebars. You will be happy to hear mine has ceased to exist.
Brandon being adored by Faryal and Tass
Risa, Namiko and Maho Tony and Claire here
Tony and Claire came to Oxford on Saturday and it was lovely to show them around the school, take them to the college and walk them over the Bridge of Sighs. I really enjoy it when people come to visit, its gives us an opportunity to show them the parts of the university that they wouldn't normally be able to see.

I am still amazed that the term has gone so fast. Recently I have been involved in panel discussions and open days for the next class. I realise how much I had to do just to get here. As one of my new friends puts it "I never had to work so hard to get to the first day of school". I couldn't agree more. Good luck to all those thinking of taking MBAs next year.