This year we initiated an annual sporting event with Cambridge. We hosted the MBA students from Judge Business school for a day of sports, and it turned out to be an exciting event.
With the exception of rowing, we comprehensively beat the Cambridge team in all other sports. After the games, we had organised some drinks followed by a long night at OXford pubs.
A big thanks to the organisers !!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Cricket World Cup
The ongoing Cricket World Cup in West Indies is turning out to be quite a disappointment for the Sub-continent, with both India and Pakistan performing miserably.
Australians are the favourites again, the only challengers may be South Africa this year. The only good thing for me is that I won't be wasting much time watching matches :) ha ha !!
Australians are the favourites again, the only challengers may be South Africa this year. The only good thing for me is that I won't be wasting much time watching matches :) ha ha !!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Summer Consulting Project
The process for selecting the Summer Consulting Project (SCP) has been initiated. The SCP is Oxford's answer to the Internship programs at other 2-years B-schools. The difference here is that students work on a consulting assignment with companies as a team of 4 and not individually. The team is evaluated as a whole on the assignment, and the students are also expected to write a paper on the project.
The SCP is optional from this year, and the students in leiu of the SCP can opt for either two 'summer electives' or a thesis. The last option as per me is the worst unless you are supplementing that with an internship (another option at Oxford, which means you complete your MBA in 15 months). Students are becoming smarter, and doing this internship over the summers so that they still manage to complete the SCP in 12 months :) .
The project allocation process i very complicated. There is a Business Projects Office (BPO) that goes out to the companies for projects. These projects (with details) are put up on the BPO website where students have to show interest. Once there is decent interest, the companies come to school for a presentation, post which students have to form teams of four and pitch for the project, wherein you have to sell the experience and skill set of your team members, and convince the sponsoring company that your team is best equipped to do the project.
Will post more details over the coming weeks.......
The SCP is optional from this year, and the students in leiu of the SCP can opt for either two 'summer electives' or a thesis. The last option as per me is the worst unless you are supplementing that with an internship (another option at Oxford, which means you complete your MBA in 15 months). Students are becoming smarter, and doing this internship over the summers so that they still manage to complete the SCP in 12 months :) .
The project allocation process i very complicated. There is a Business Projects Office (BPO) that goes out to the companies for projects. These projects (with details) are put up on the BPO website where students have to show interest. Once there is decent interest, the companies come to school for a presentation, post which students have to form teams of four and pitch for the project, wherein you have to sell the experience and skill set of your team members, and convince the sponsoring company that your team is best equipped to do the project.
Will post more details over the coming weeks.......
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Private Equity Forum
One part of the MBA that I really enjoy is the opportunity to participate in 'forums' such as the one I attended today. This one was the annual 'Private Equity Forum'. Before coming for my MBA, I had never heard of this industry. Initially I was facinated with the way people were making huge money here. And now I want to be a part of it. Which obviously doesn't mean I will get a job in this industry, which as I understand it, is an uphill task. The professionals in private Equity have many years of experience as consultants with industry and functional experience, and are experts in M&A.
This is the third year this annual event was held. The panelists this year discussed very interesting topics:
This is the third year this annual event was held. The panelists this year discussed very interesting topics:
- Have Private Equity returns reached their peak?
- How the PE philosophy differs from other investment funds?
- Private Equity in emerging markets
- Is the public image of Private Equity fair?
I especially enjoyed the discussion on Private Equity in Emerging Markets, as I see that an opportunity area. A number of big Private Equity firms are now entering emerging markets such as India and China.
At Oxford, an event to attend for sure.
EP finished
After burning a lot of midnight oil .... we finally wrapped up our Entrepreneurship Project. We had a great final presentation, which was lauded by the panel....... We were told that it was a 'distinction level' effort... The panel of venture capitalists not only liked our idea, but also the effort we had made to make a comprehensive business plan. The few questions that we did face were answered well. The remaining Q&A time was spent in discussing how we could increase the scope of the business.
A job well done !! We celebrated with a round of drinks at the Oxford Retreat.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Easter with Priya
Had a great Easter ... (I have never celebrated this festival earlier) . In India, we have 'Lohri', which marks the end of winter. This seems on similar lines :)
My Dad's cousin, who looks more like my cousin visited us in Oxford. She is a German, working in London. We were blessed with great weather and took the opportunity to visit Port meadow, that is very close to Castle Mill (the place where I stay)
After buying all the ingredients for cooking a great dinner, to our surprise, we were greeted with the first power cut at Castle Mill since I have arrived at Oxford. After waiting for a couple of hours, we had a candle light dinner with food from a Chinese Takeaway.
A great day nevertheless !!
My Dad's cousin, who looks more like my cousin visited us in Oxford. She is a German, working in London. We were blessed with great weather and took the opportunity to visit Port meadow, that is very close to Castle Mill (the place where I stay)
After buying all the ingredients for cooking a great dinner, to our surprise, we were greeted with the first power cut at Castle Mill since I have arrived at Oxford. After waiting for a couple of hours, we had a candle light dinner with food from a Chinese Takeaway.
A great day nevertheless !!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Santa Barbara, California
Day 9 : Sunday
.
After leaving Vegas in the morning, we reached LA around 2 pm, had lunch and then dropped off Vandy at the LAX airport. We then headed to Hollywood
.
Day 10 : Monday
.
Went sight-seeing around Santa Barbara. Went to the Cliff road, the ranches on the outskirts
.
Day 11 : Tuesday
.
Took the scenic route to LA via the the Pacific Highway, which runs along the sea coast. It was a beautiful drive, and we stopped enroute at Malibu (where a number of Hollywood celebs have these awesome sea-facing properties). We also visited a nice place for meditation along the way. Took the evening flight back to London (which was close to 12 hours and totally left me exhausted).
Had a great trip overall !!
.
After leaving Vegas in the morning, we reached LA around 2 pm, had lunch and then dropped off Vandy at the LAX airport. We then headed to Hollywood
.
Day 10 : Monday
.
Went sight-seeing around Santa Barbara. Went to the Cliff road, the ranches on the outskirts
.
Day 11 : Tuesday
.
Took the scenic route to LA via the the Pacific Highway, which runs along the sea coast. It was a beautiful drive, and we stopped enroute at Malibu (where a number of Hollywood celebs have these awesome sea-facing properties). We also visited a nice place for meditation along the way. Took the evening flight back to London (which was close to 12 hours and totally left me exhausted).
Had a great trip overall !!
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Vegas !!
Day 7 : Friday
.
Thanks to delays ... reached LA around 1 am. Rashi and Ashu came to pick us up. I was too sleepy to notice much during the two hour to Santa Barbara. We all hit the sack soon after getting home. Woke up as we had been invited to a beach barbeque at Goleta Beach, organized by Kitty (Vandy's friend from school). Got to meet her kids for the first time, her husband Sohit, and her Brother & Bhabhi who were visiting them. Also met Kinmaya and Vishal, who work at Citrix along with Ashu, Kitty and Sohit. Barbeque was great, post which we left for Vegas. The weekend rush to the 'Sin City' delayed us a bit and we reached Vegas just before midnight. Stayed at Bally's ... right on the strip. Without losing much time, we hit the casino at Bally's and the adjoining Paris. Got back around 3-4 am.
.
Day 8 : Saturday
.
Spent the day exploring other casinos on the stip, including MGM Grand, Bellagio, Venetian and Caesar Palace. Watched the Water Show (The fountains) at Bellagio, which was simply awesome. I liked Venetian as well. I haven't been to Venice, but they had done a good job of replication the environment fit with a canal and gondola.
We went for dinner to a night club by the name of 'Rum Jungle' at Mandalay Bay. The club features the world's largest rum bar and one of Vegas' best dance floors. It a nice dining place till 11 pm after which it converts into one of the more happening night clubs. Having dinner here was the best way to beat the long queues outside the club.
I left the place early coz I had to pick up a t-shirt from the Hard Rock Hotel, which was surprisingly not on the strip, and required extra effort. I must have made the purchase at around 1:30 am, which I guess goes with the city. Also managed to catch the last show at Bellagio. It looked all the more beautiful with the lights. Gambled some more before retiring, and this time managed to recover some of the lost moolah :)
.
Thanks to delays ... reached LA around 1 am. Rashi and Ashu came to pick us up. I was too sleepy to notice much during the two hour to Santa Barbara. We all hit the sack soon after getting home. Woke up as we had been invited to a beach barbeque at Goleta Beach, organized by Kitty (Vandy's friend from school). Got to meet her kids for the first time, her husband Sohit, and her Brother & Bhabhi who were visiting them. Also met Kinmaya and Vishal, who work at Citrix along with Ashu, Kitty and Sohit. Barbeque was great, post which we left for Vegas. The weekend rush to the 'Sin City' delayed us a bit and we reached Vegas just before midnight. Stayed at Bally's ... right on the strip. Without losing much time, we hit the casino at Bally's and the adjoining Paris. Got back around 3-4 am.
.
Day 8 : Saturday
.
Spent the day exploring other casinos on the stip, including MGM Grand, Bellagio, Venetian and Caesar Palace. Watched the Water Show (The fountains) at Bellagio, which was simply awesome. I liked Venetian as well. I haven't been to Venice, but they had done a good job of replication the environment fit with a canal and gondola.
We went for dinner to a night club by the name of 'Rum Jungle' at Mandalay Bay. The club features the world's largest rum bar and one of Vegas' best dance floors. It a nice dining place till 11 pm after which it converts into one of the more happening night clubs. Having dinner here was the best way to beat the long queues outside the club.
I left the place early coz I had to pick up a t-shirt from the Hard Rock Hotel, which was surprisingly not on the strip, and required extra effort. I must have made the purchase at around 1:30 am, which I guess goes with the city. Also managed to catch the last show at Bellagio. It looked all the more beautiful with the lights. Gambled some more before retiring, and this time managed to recover some of the lost moolah :)
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