For centuries, the University of Oxford has produced some of the most influential and respected people in business. Oxford Graduates are represented in every Fortune 500 company, country and government in the world. The University attracts some of the most powerful global business leaders to speak on cutting edge issues.
Attending the Saïd Business School gives you the chance to gain exposure to the top ranks of the business world. Regular seminars and guest lectures provide a steady stream of networking opportunities. As well as visits from individual guests, the Business School hosts a number of major conferences, including the leading annual forum for social entrepreneurs around the world and a gathering of movers and shakers from Silicon Valley.
Oxford Business Alumni
The Oxford Business Alumni (OBA) Network is the official global business alumni network of the Saïd Business School. Overseen by the Saïd Business School Alumni Relations Office, the OBA Network boasts more than 6,500 individuals living in 129 countries,making up a robust group of members who share a common interest in the world of business. Launched in 1998, the OBA Network has been set out to build a world class business and management network for the Saïd Business School and Oxford University. Frequent events, forums and reunions held by the Alumni Relations Office and OBA Chapters around the world (these include: Australia, Canada, China, Europe, India, South Africa, South America, South East Asia and the USA) give alumni and current students opportunities to meet, exchange ideas and support one another through the OBA Network.
For more information visit www.alumni.ox.ac.uk or www.oba.co.uk
Oxford Business Networks
Oxford Business Networks (OBNs) sit within the framework of the overarching OBA Network as industry-specific groups for students, alumni and academia. OBNs exist to promote the exchange of ideas and knowledge surrounding an industry. These sector-based groups create opportunities for worldwide relationship building and information sharing. OBNs are driven by a student-alumni partnership, where the students organise talks, workshops and company visits and benefit from a focused networking opportunity. The core OBNs supported by the Alumni Relations Office include:
- entrepreneurship
- social entrepreneurship
- finance
- managing consulting
- private equity
Additional OBNs may run each year, depending on interest, such as:
health care, consumer and marketing, energy and resources, and science
and technology.
Speakers on Campus
Regular seminars and guest lectures provide a further stream of networking opportunities. As well as visits from individual guests, the Business School hosts a number of major annual conferences, including the Skoll World Forum, the leading forum for social entrepreneurs around the world, the prestigious Oxford Private Equity Forum, and a gathering of key Silicon Valley business leaders. In addition, the Distinguished Speakers Seminar series brings CEOs and entrepreneurs to the School to give masterclasses.
Recent speakers at the School have included:
- Jimmy Carter, former president of the United States and Nobel Laureate
- Jody Williams, founder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Nobel Laureate
- Chris Sacca, Head of Special Initiatives at Google
- Reid Hoffman, founder and CEO of LinkedIn
- Matt Cohler, vice president at Facebook
- Philip Yea, CEO, 3i Group plc
- Guy Hands, Terra Firma
- Christopher Spray, Atlas Ventures
- Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, L'Oreal
- Sir John Rose, chief executive of Rolls Royce;
- Neville Isdell, CEO of Coca Cola
- Sir Tom Hunter, founder of Sports Division
- John Bird, founder of The Big Issue
- Roland Berger, founder of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants
- Sir Christopher Gent, Life President Vodafone
- Patrick de Smedt, Chairman of Microsoft, EMEA
- Kevin Sharer, CEO of Amgen
- Martin Sorrell, founder and CEO of WPP Group
- Richard Greenhalgh, Chairman of Unilever
- Neville Isdell, CEO of The Coca Cola Company
- Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder of Apple
- Damon Buffini, Managing Partner of Permira
to name but a few.