How career coaching at Saïd Business School helped me grow as a leader

When I joined the Oxford Executive MBA, I had a clear goal: to sharpen and strengthen my strategic leadership skills and grow in my role as a Senior VP at Richline Group – a leading manufacturer and distributor of fine jewelry and precious metals.

It was an incredible two-year journey on the programme – with brilliant teaching, amazing facilities, inspirational fellow students and unforgettable memories that will stay with me for a lifetime. But what I didn’t anticipate was just how important the School’s Careers team would be – not just to my career development but in reshaping how I lead, think, and show up for others.

Oxford Saïd’s careers specialists work tirelessly behind the scenes to support and champion students throughout the programme and beyond. They are, in many ways, the unsung heroes of the journey. The team’s work goes well beyond polishing CVs or prepping you for interviews. They help you become the kind of leader you aspire to be. And, in this blog, I’d like to tell you a little more about what they do and how they can support the Executive MBA journey – even for professionals already working at a senior executive level.
 

Overcoming barriers with sharper strategic thinking

Early in the programme, I took advantage of the group coaching sessions, which were very useful. When it came to booking my individual coaching sessions, I wanted to connect with a coach who would challenge me, not just cheer me on. Fortunately, I found a careers specialist who fitted the bill perfectly.

We met regularly during the programme. My career coach’s feedback was direct and honest. He encouraged me to confront the internal blockers holding back my professional development – frustrations I was holding onto and entrenched habits. He helped me refocus on what mattered, namely leading my team, delivering results, and stepping up with confidence.

Career development isn’t just about promotions, career pivoting, or changing roles – it’s about overcoming the personal barriers we often place on ourselves. For me, coaching helped me to become a more resilient and grounded senior leader.

Becoming a more empathetic leader

My career coach gave me the courage to advocate for my own career development. Our conversations empowered me to prompt deeper discussions with senior leaders at my company about future career development. This gave me the clarity and confidence I needed to move forward with purpose.

This coaching has also made me a better manager. I’m more empathetic, more thoughtful, and more willing to pause before taking action. I’m now able to offer better support to members of my team on their development paths, drawing on the lessons I learned from the Careers team.