Half Way Mark

Time speeds up. It is a simple fact so it it comes as no surprise that it only seems like yesterday that term resumed and yet I have actually passed the half way mark in Trinity term. The MBA is a very different beast from October last year when I stuggled through every minute of my quantitative courses.

The courses this term are proving very interesting and creative with assignments ranging from advising Starbucks on its strategy for China, to developing a consumer insight focus group for Spanish shoemanufacturer Camper, through to discussing the merits of developing a nation brand for Thailand.

Last week I finally made good my promise of using my lecture free Tuesday or Wednesday to head to London for meetings. I met with an Australian Oxford MBA alumnist running a sports medicine business, an old law school colleague working in the legal department of a global bank and a recruitment agent specialising in UK and European sports management roles. Tomorrow I fly to Ireland and on Wednesday I will meet with the HR manager of a global sports media rights company, a legal recuitment consultant, a managment contact at the International Rugby Board and will end the day attending a networking event at the EMEA headquarters of internet giant Google.

Tomorrow also happens to be the birthday of an old school friend who lives in Dublin so the timing of my visit, though I am embarressed to admit inadvertant, proved impeccable. On Wednesday night I fly back to London very late and will stay at a backpackers because early on Thursday morning I take the Eurostar to Paris for the MBA Olympics at HEC. Although I am listed to play a number of sports I am captaining the sevens rugby team and bringing home the silverware for Oxford on Sunday will be my main focus.

Between finishing Trinity term and departing Oxford to go on my merry way, I have the small matter of an 8 week strategic consulting project to complete. The process of forming teams and bidding for projects is well under way and there are many interesting projects on offer cutting across a range of industries and based in various parts of the world. To name a few companies you would have heard of Vodafone, Yahoo, IBM, Macquarie Bank, Cisco Systems, Volkswagen but there are also countless start up and spin off companies seeking the services of 4 MBA students for the summer. Presently, my top 5 choices would be:

1. Williams Formula 1 - (Oxfordshire) for pretty obvious reasons - how cool would that be!

2. Climate Change Capital - (London with possible trips to Spain) a boutique funds managment & investment advisory firm focused on the renewable energy and carbon emissions trading market.

3. Nokia - (Oxford & Helsinki) unlike many of the other big corporate projects on offer this project involves time spent in the global headquarters of the company.

4. Bamboo - (Oxford & London) a boutique 'innovation' consultancy owned by the Altran Group who owns amongst other things Renault Formula 1.

5. Cobra Beer - (Oxford & London) the fastest growing beer brand in the UK.

Anyway, that is about it from me. I can't remember what social events I have been to but the ones I took my camera to are depicted below. Enjoy and farewell till next time.

Cheers,
Doug.