We know the prestige attached to the institution, but what is Oxford Saïd student life like? Susheel Siram gives us an insight into what happens outside the classroom that has made his experience at Saïd Business School so special.
High-flying aviation consultant Susheel Siram is boosting his career by pursuing an MBA from Saïd Business School at Oxford University. “I decided to join Oxford basically because I wanted to switch into more generalist consulting roles and explore other industries and functions to try to see if aviation is what I want to do long term, or if I want to experiment with other things.” (00:17)
Exploring different industries can be done through the courses you take, but it also takes place outside of the classroom by interacting with classmates.
Susheel began his time at Saïd Business School with a fixed idea of what student life would be. Part of his adaptation was balancing meeting all 300 members of the MBA course with nurturing a few stronger bonds.
With only one year for MBA students to make the most of their opportunities, Susheel advises future candidates to plan ahead. He says, “Engage with people that you’re interested in both from the perspective of forming a deeper relationship or from the perspective of professional growth. But really think about what you want from your classmates, what kind of relationships you want from them, and what kind of memories you want to form during your time at the MBA.” (12:51)
To facilitate these meaningful connections, Oxford Saïd actively promotes student interaction, creating an environment where students can thrive. The university’s esteemed reputation, ranking first in the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings, attracts high-achieving applicants. These individuals excel academically and bring diverse extracurricular talents, enriching the student experience.
Oxford Saïd student life is a fertile ground for experimentation, and that’s no accident. It combines a series of elements that encourage serendipitous interactions.
The Oxford colleges are groups of students from different disciplines and educational levels that make Oxford University student life more rounded. As Susheel puts it, “You’re not only part of the department, which is in our case the business school, but also a college. And the college is sort of the hub for all of your social engagements.” (04:45)
Among universities most famous collegiate events are the formal dinners in elaborate dining halls à la Harry Potter. Their pomp and ceremony hide the fact that these occasions are essentially social events with excellent food and intriguing conversations.
Susheel, for example, “had a chat with someone who was an astrophysicist who was talking about how he’s using machine learning models to try and map the universe.” These unique crossovers are challenging to find anywhere else in the world and are a way of broadening everybody’s perspective.
Additionally, Oxford University’s societies unite students from all corners of the globe to share their passions, talents, and perspectives. There are sports clubs from Aikido and American football to wheelchair basketball and windsurfing, with everything in between.
Outside of sports, there are eclectic clubs such as the Harry Potter Society, the Tango Society, and the Wildlife Photography and Film-making Society. There’s also the career-specific Oxford Business Networks (OBNs).
Perhaps you have come across the prestigious Oxford Union debates, which attract some of the world’s most prestigious figures. It is a center for lively speeches and Q&As that aren’t afraid to court controversy and are always enlightening.
The extracurriculars are an invaluable part of Oxford Saïd student life and a source of interactions that would not occur otherwise. Susheel shares with us two extracurricular activities that significantly enhanced his MBA experience.
Susheel was a podcaster before embarking on his MBA and even used the medium to research institutions. “It was a good way to get an insight into different programs,” he says. “So I tried to find podcasts that each of them had, and The Future of Business was the one that was run by the Oxford MBA program.” (00:54)
A product of one of those serendipitous conversations in a pub, The Future of Business hit the airwaves in the spring of 2018. The breadth and depth of conversations in the first few days of classes inspired the podcast.
Now in its fifth season, Susheel has joined a seven-strong team of Saïd Business School MBA candidates from diverse backgrounds. “We’re not just consultants, we’re not just bankers. Each of us comes from such a unique place professionally, and being able to highlight that is a real joy.” (03:39)
With the MBA lasting only one year, the podcast changes hands annually but retains the same formula. The team invites fellow students as guests who discuss far-reaching issues and untold stories from their unique backgrounds.
Susheel has released episodes on social impact and gender inequity within the art industry. But it was a colleague who led his favorite episode. “The episode is titled ‘Trash Talk’ and it’s actually about waste management in Africa and how the person who was being interviewed has operated within that space.” (02:58)
Tied into Susheel’s experience of Oxford Saïd are the Oxford Business Networks. Part social, part career-focused, these student-run communities help students expand their skills. Participation provides networking opportunities with industry professionals and unlocks new avenues for growth.
With a background in management consulting, Susheel himself is part of the Consulting OBN. He credits working with fellow students for helping him secure his post-MBA consulting job. Over a period of roughly three months, a small group met regularly for interview preparation, both technically and mentally. The drills meant that on the day of their interview, everyone was ready to put their best foot forward.
The OBNs go beyond the usual subjects and explore fields driven by students’ interests.
Speaking on a specific effort, Susheel tells us: “One of the objectives of the OBN this year is to actually hold a sustainability career fair where we’ll try to attract specialists in this field to come and interact not just with the MBA students but also with some of the other programs.” (11:03)
The OBN’s initiatives exemplify how Oxford University student life celebrates diverse perspectives and opportunities. Each OBN strives to blend traditional practices with new ones to address current challenges effectively.
To conclude, Oxford MBA student life offers a unique and enriching experience, combining academic excellence with diverse extracurricular activities and meaningful connections. Through the collegiate system, clubs and societies, and initiatives like The Future of Business podcast and Oxford Business Networks, students broaden their horizons and forge lasting bonds. The vibrant and inclusive environment empowers students to explore their passions, expand their perspectives, and prepare for a successful future in their chosen fields.
If you’d like to speak to Susheel and other current or past students of the Oxford Saïd Business School MBA, you can write to them directly on the MBAGRADSCHOOLS Ambassadors page.
