"Prior to starting my Executive MBA in January 2009, I was a strategy executive for Dominion Resources, a leading US producer and transporter of energy. Pioneering projects at Dominion included work on green energy strategies to reduce CO2 emissions and analyzing the potential benefits of plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles. I decided to do an MBA in March 2008. With 14 years of work experience, I wanted to develop new ways of thinking critically about business problems and executing solutions more effectively.
I was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Northern Virginia (where I currently live). I studied Economics and English Literature (double major) at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, graduating in 1995. Since then I have gained significant experience in the finance and energy sectors, including working as a Wall Street equity research analyst covering green tech companies at investment bank CIBC World Markets. I have also worked at the Financial Times (as an award-winning journalist) and as Executive Editor at the energy industry's top journal, Public Utilities Fortnightly.
Oxford University’s preeminent research tradition truly distinguishes Saïd Business School (SBS) from other MBA programs. SBS takes a more thoughtful approach to the study of business and the type of business leaders it hopes to develop. As an entrepreneur this was a key attraction. The school’s focus on entrepreneurship and its world-class business expertise has given me the confidence I needed to start my own green tech research, database and technology portal business (green-edison.com). The Executive MBA has given me real perspective on technology and innovation issues, pricing strategies, group behavior and the quantitative analytical approaches to energy problems that I am using in the development of my start-up business.
The Oxford network is infinitely useful. Co-students have connected me to green tech venture capitalists and I received extremely practical feedback on how to improve my company website’s service offerings. Furthermore some of my cohorts have expressed an interest in working with my start-up. I believe that the Oxford Executive MBA will teach me new ways of thinking critically about highly complex business problems and give me the ability to deliver long-term, sustainable solutions.
The future of business will be increasingly global and its leaders will have to be adept at working in international teams and be conscientious of global perspectives. SBS in its international outlook and diverse student body has created a microcosm of the business interactions that increasingly define the business world."