Diversity Inspires

 

Diversity Inspires

I was given the opportunity to reflect on my thoughts back when I was entering the MBA programme, recipe through a class project that a group of friends were completing for their digital media class. They asked members of our class to complete four statements, prostate to get a snapshot of how our cohort is feeling as we draw to the end of the MBA program. These were:

  • A year ago I wanted to…
  • But back then I felt…
  • My favourite moment on the MBA has been…
  • Diversity inspires…

My responses at the time were limited to a couple of words – however, with more time, I have reflected more deeply on how my courses and interactions here at Oxford have enhanced my experience.

A year ago I wanted to find ways to apply my public sector experience in order to continue to improve the lives of Women and Girls, but through working on innovative solutions in a private sector role. I wanted to work on issues affecting Women and Girls in developed nations as well in sub-Saharan Africa. I expected that the theories and frameworks explored in my courses would help me to build my skills in order to make this transition. I planned to look at consulting in teams who worked closely with the public sector, NGOs and civil society around issues related to equality. The courses that have helped me feel most prepared for this step post-graduation are Strategy, Strategy & Innovation and Corporate Turnaround & Business Transformation. The content allowed me to deepen my knowledge around how incumbent markets can be disrupted by nascent innovations. I was able to explore how the market responds to ‘new entrants’ and ‘substitutes’ through the application of Porter’s 5 forces framework. The latter course provided strategies on how to bring around transformation in hostile environments and ensue that stakeholders and employees buy into the new vision that is proposed.

Back then I felt unprepared. I felt that I knew a lot about my field and was able to progress at a grassroots level however I knew very little about finance and how the numbers which describe the country’s economic state fit together. How that has changed! I have not become a finance guru in the past year by any means. However, I have developed a sound body of knowledge through courses such as Corporate Valuation, Mergers and Acquisitions and Real Estate. These courses have prepared me not to feel lost in conversations about finance and the economy, but have informed me, to the point that I feel I can ask relevant questions. I recently sat next to a man on a commute to Paris who had helped set up a hedge fund in South Africa. We talked finance for the entire journey from hedging, commodities, and the impact of China slowing down, to the big short and financial crises on the continent. By the end, I was surprised at my ability to articulate myself and to understand his role. This was a conversation that I would have been completely lost in a year ago.

My favourite moment has been meeting all the babies and families. Family is a big part of the Nigerian community I belong to. While a student in undergrad I remember feeling disconnected from the real world due to the lack of families and children in my immediate community. Then, I was able to find solace through my church community, which was filled with people of all ages – from children and babies to great-great grandmothers. During the MBA it has been refreshing not to feel disconnected in this way. It is important to find ways to be connected to the things that are important to you, and I recommend establishing routines early on in the journey. Through my interactions with the peer supporter network at Oxford Saïd, of which I am a part, I have been able to maintain balance. Kurt April’s MBA Launch session on ‘Self-Care and Leading Through your Personal Narrative’, the themes of which were also picked up on in my Leadership Fundamentals course, further developed my ability to focus on my personal development. The idea of delivering pitches and presentations which allow me to embody authentic leadership that is based on my personal story was core to helping me stay connected to my values.

Our diversity inspires a level of fortitude to try new things. I have learned so much from my fellow classmates, professors and the wider Oxford community. They have given me the courage on days where I was not sure where to turn. They have pushed me on the days that I wanted to give up. They have encouraged me on the days that I felt confused. They have celebrated and captured great moments even when my phone battery died. They have opened their hearts to me by sharing their world, their hopes, their struggles and their dreams.

These are my thoughts – please take a look at the reflections of some of my fellow classmates in the “Diversity InSpires” video.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ekzcnzbtXDE