Meet my amazing Oxford MBA classmates

9 minute read
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This morning I was thinking: what makes Oxford, Oxford? Specifically, what makes Saïd Business School so different? Other business schools are known for educating their students to be excellent financiers or consultants. Oxford Saïd is known worldwide as the place for people who want to make an impact through global business. And it is very true. I have seen this in the application process, the courses, labs, and the teachers, among many other things. But where I really get to experience it, every day is with the people.

My classmates are incredible human beings, with great aspirations, and a common goal: to have a positive impact on the world.

Many people want to do an MBA to 'grow their network'. And while that approach seems highly transactional to me, I can say that the MBA has something incredible: you effectively grow your network... of friends.

With these seven incredible people, I play tennis, cook Mexican food, watch soccer, walk in the park, and discuss the existential problems of the world. People with different perspectives than mine. From all over the world. People that every day I learn from and who inspire me to be a better professional and person.

This is something I am sure I will cherish and be grateful for as my career progresses.

Meet seven of my amazing classmates (and friends):

Lindsay Strouse

Where do you call home? I grew up in Connecticut in the United States, but have called New York, San Francisco, and Singapore home.

What did you do before the MBA? I spent the last 8 years working at Google to launch new AI technology and grow entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, for the last 6 months, I took a sabbatical to travel to Central America while teaching yoga, doing humanitarian work, and running a podcast about life's big decisions.

What is a current world problem you want to help solve? Creating more inclusive and healthy societies and addressing the mental health crisis. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? First and foremost, hopefully, surrounded by loved ones...somewhere in the world! I also want to build a portfolio career with a platform that can drive real change. This includes running my own company, writing 1-2 books, or producing other forms of new media that inspire people to think differently about the world.

What has been your favourite part about Oxford? Definitely the people! I've been pinching myself over the incredibly thoughtful and smart folks here, and the conversations we've had. I'm so excited to see what the people in this school do next. As for the city... I love the quiet, green and sleepy mornings where the only sounds are my feet squishing through Port Meadow or clacking along the cobblestones. swoon

What is something you're passionate about? My longest-running passion has probably been having a movement practice. Yoga and dance are a big part of my life, and I love sharing them with others. 

Fun fact about you? I enjoy spending inordinately long periods of time walking, alone and with friends. I've walked across the length of Singapore twice, and most recently made a pilgrimage from Portugal to Spain on the Camino de Santiago.

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Lorenzo Pautasso

Where do you call home? My parents were born in Italy and Hungary, but I was born and raised in Germany. I consider myself European in the first place but try to explore and cherish the social and cultural heritage roaming from each of these backgrounds. This can lead to particularly interesting combinations - like cooking, and heartwarming pasta - while having an exceptionally dry sense of humour.

What did you do before the MBA? I was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where I focused, mostly on the life sciences and healthcare sectors. I have also done work in the global public health sphere, with McKinsey as well as other organisations like higher education institutions and foundations.

What is a current world problem you want to help solve? I am interested in solving the world’s biggest health challenges and - without having a background in their life sciences myself - I believe that my contribution lies at the intersection of three areas: improving the means and methods of preventative healthcare; catalysing systemic healthcare innovation through an engineering and design mindset; destigmatising healthcare issues across different cultures and societies.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I would like to think that by my 30s, I will have acquired sufficient knowledge and resources to support people’s health journey through my own projects, whether that’s in the form of a company or a different but comparably impactful set-up.

What has been your favourite part about Oxford? The MBA peer group. Every day when I go to school, I am certain that I will have a conversation inside or outside of class from which I will learn something new. The diversity of views that I’m interacting with on a daily basis is something that makes my Oxford experience unique. I am also endlessly amazed by the profound expertise that people have in their respective fields and how effectively they manage to integrate and communicate it as part of the MBA. Last, but not least, the team spirit within the cohort is something that makes me feel safe and part of a larger family.

Fun fact about you? I still access Netflix through my ex-girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend’s family account. If anyone wants to share a student access - hit me up.

Every day I am certain that I will have a conversation inside or outside of class from which I will learn something new.

Diana Murgulet

Where do you call home? Home-home is Romania, a cute little town in the middle of Transylvania. Home is London.

What did you do before the MBA? I worked as a data scientist for QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey.

What is a current world problem you want to help solve? Gender inequality and access to education.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hard one – I see myself working with a great team to solve the world’s problems that I am passionate about.

What has been your favourite part about Oxford? The community for sure. The MBA attracts an incredibly diverse cohort and I find it amazing how quickly I felt at home in this group.

What is something you're passionate about? I’m passionate about gender equity and social impact. At Oxford I get to learn more about both: I’m the co-chair of the Oxford Women in Business Alliance and take part in Impact Lab – a co-curricular designed for students who are committed to impactful careers and leading systemic change.

Fun fact about you? When I left for university, my parents 'replaced' me with a talking parrot. To this day they claim the timing was a coincidence.

Anderson Petergeorge

Where do you call home? Toronto, Canada

What did you do before the MBA? Operations in an Experiential Learning School (MBA Internship) and Private Equity / Portfolio Management at a Canadian Pension Fund (Full-time Role).

What is a current world problem you want to help solve? Ensuring financial literacy and resources are accessible to all regardless of socio-economic status.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? An innovator in the intersection of business and education.

What has been your favourite part about Oxford? Meeting inspirational like-minded individuals (like Andres!)

What is something you're passionate about? Access to education. As a first-generation post-secondary student in my family, I've first-hand seen the power education has in helping raise the living standards of myself and those around me.

Fun fact about you? After being a desk warrior for many years, I saw the impact it was having on my body. I became a certified yoga instructor over the pandemic to bring back daily movement into my routine. It’s been a big highlight being able to lead yoga classes for my MBA peers this year at the business school and to promote well-being.

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Natnael Araya Abraham

Where do you call home? Eritrea - a small nation in Northeast Africa. Population 3.5M

What did you do before the MBA? I was in the healthcare industry. I’m a pharmacist who worked from point of care (in the hospital) to national policy and strategic plans. Before I left Eritrea, I was a regulatory officer for National Medicines and Food Administration.

What is a current world problem you want to help solve? I want to work to impact access to essential medical products globally, especially in Low-Middle income countries. Many more lives can be saved from the technology we already have.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Working on my own firm, bringing equity and opportunities to underrepresented parts of the globe in healthcare.

What has been your favourite part about Oxford? The people - Oxford brings the best and brightest with diversity. I love discussing with people with diverse backgrounds and their viewpoints on common challenges.

What is something you're passionate about? Global health and football.

Fun fact about you? I’m an avid supporter of Manchester United. I’m a 1+1 student who just finished an MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine. I am a big fan of 80s music.

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Rebecca Keeley

Where do you call home? Darwin, in the far northern part of Australia.

What did you do before the MBA? I am a clinical speech pathologist but spent the few years prior to the MBA working on our state health aged care response to COVID, and its impact on our health systems.

What is a current world problem you want to help solve? I want to entirely redesign the way we deliver allied health services (speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietetics etc.) in geographically isolated areas, much like large parts of Australia!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully increasing allied health representation in top management teams & on boards throughout Australia. Or perhaps running my own company!

What has been your favourite part about Oxford?  This one is easy, the people. I cannot believe how kind and friendly everyone is. I was also amazed at how much everyone truly hopes for the achievement of their peers and will do just about anything to help them achieve it.

What is something you're passionate about? I am incredibly passionate about improving equitable healthcare access for those who do not live in cities. We have a significant divide in access and quality of care for those who live in regional, rural and remote parts of not only Australia but the world. I hope to make even a small difference to this divide, and I love being surrounded by other passionate people in the MBA hoping to make a change.

Fun fact about you? I love to cook and could spend many, many happy hours in the kitchen unwinding after a big day or over the weekend. In fact, I love it so much that years ago I signed up for MasterChef Australia and I cooked my way onto the show!

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I was amazed at how much everyone truly hopes for the achievement of their peers and will do just about anything to help them achieve it.

Tomer Amir

Where do you call home? Tel Aviv, but also Barcelona is a second home.

What did you do before the MBA? Working at Microsoft in Tel Aviv. I was a product manager and a software engineer at Microsoft’s cyber security solution for cloud applications.

What is a current world problem you want to help solve? While technology has fundamentally changed most aspects of our lives, there are still a lot of opportunities to upgrade the quality and accessibility of health care, in both first and third-world countries.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Leveraging tech to tackle the challenges humanity faces.

What has been your favourite part about Oxford? Going to formal dinners – it’s a great way to meet different people from all around the globe, in Harry Potter-like, beautiful dining halls.

Fun fact about you? I didn’t know how to tie a tie before coming to Oxford, so for the first few weeks, I had to ask Andres to fix my tie every morning.  

Oxford MBA

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