As Oxford and Cambridge rowing teams prepare to go head-to-head in the world's most iconic boat race, our MBA Esther Austin gives a front row view.
Esther, who is an MBA student and Foundation Scholar at Saïd Business School, will be part of the 77th women's team to take to the water, this Sunday, and follows in the footsteps of her sister who also raced for the Dark Blues.
For the last six months she has been busy juggling the demands of her academic work, alongside training for The Boat Race. Here, she explains what it's like to represent the school and the University, with the world watching on.
What does it mean to you to be representing Oxford in the world’s most famous boat race?
The race hasn’t even happened yet and it has already been an incredible experience and one that is like no other! I have watched previous races and saw my sister race for the Dark Blues in 2017, but I don’t think I fully grasped the magnitude of the race and the hype that surrounds it. The history of the race, and the traditions that are still entrenched makes it very special to be a part of. The mental and physical elements of the Boat Race are very different to any other rowing race I have done!
How do you find time to juggle your MBA and take part in competitive rowing at this level?
It has been a tough one to juggle, I haven’t missed anything from an academic perspective but I definitely have had to forego a lot of events/opportunities. With hard work, time management and organisation, it’s manageable! I am looking forward to having more time on my hands in Trinity Term to embrace more of the Oxford experience and to catch up with my classmates.
Has rowing helped you in your business career?
The characteristics mentioned above are just some of the many characteristics that have been transferable to business, but it would be amiss to bypass teamwork and communication. A rowing team is a group of individuals who come with differing levels of experience, who work to build one cohesive unit, this is something I found very useful in the working world too!
