About eighteen months ago, I was sitting in my office in Sydney on a particularly sunny day at the end of 2022, looking out at the glistening Harbour and daydreaming. Unexpectedly, I received a call from Joe Parton, Business Development Executive for the programme, about the endless possibilities offered by the Executive Diploma in Global Business at Oxford Saïd. Initially, I thought it was a scam - how could a simple guy from Australia be of the caliber to study at such a renowned university?
Fast forward eighteen months: after traveling over 136,000 km, writing more than 15,000 words, and participating in an Oxford debate, I have graduated with Distinction. Looking back, it has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from inspiring academics and peers and to make lifelong friends from every corner of the world.
Mari Sako, Professor of Management Studies, and her academic team inspired the entire cohort to share their unique ideas and perspectives, which was invaluable in helping me find my voice. It also validated that my corporate experiences in Australia are equally relevant to peers from around the world.
Reflecting on an incredible year, it has been an immense privilege to study alongside a remarkable cohort from Africa, Asia, North America and Europe. Our journey was filled with discussions on corporate strategy, global risk, corporate diplomacy, and emerging markets. My journey has been as much about personal growth as it has been about academic and professional development.
During the year I was inspired to conduct research into global challenges and opportunities around AI. This combined with dynamic discussions and diverse perspectives, have fuelled my passion for understanding and addressing complex global issues with learnings that can be directly applied in my role.
I will be forever grateful for the guidance from the exceptional Mari Sako and her academic team, who have made this past year so rewarding. A special thank you to my employer, Infosys Consulting, for supporting my studies and helping me achieve my dream of becoming an Oxonian and applying these learnings every day.
