Oxford Odyssey

Author: cowleycorporateclimbers

  • My thoughts on the rental market

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    Swedish economist Assar Lindbeck once said, “Rent control appears to be the most efficient technique presently known to destroy a city — except for bombing.” The reason for this stark statement is rooted in economic theory: rent control reduces the incentive for new housing developments. By capping potential rental income, landlords and developers are discouraged…

  • Travel tips from a consultant

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    If you are in consulting, you will probably more advice from the seasoned road warriors in your firm. That said, I’ve known MBB folks who got packed off for their first overseas assignment immediately after training, so it might be worth reading these beforehand.

  • Give your bosses not problems, but decisions

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    Don’t come to me with problems, come to me with a solution. – Boss Why didn’t you tell me earlier? – Also Boss I’ve heard these exact two lines uttered by the same manager (not mine, thankfully) and I was absolutely bewildered – so do I approach my boss when I’m stumped, or do I try…

  • Accounting: The subjectivity of hard numbers

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    When people hear “accounting,” they often picture dull number-crunching or meticulous cash counting. But accounting is far from the boring, mechanical process many assume. Beneath the surface of matching the debits and credits lies a fascinating world of interpretation, judgement, and subjectivity. At its core, accounting is using numbers to tell a story about the…

  • Tragedy of the Commons

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    The tragedy of the commons refers to a situation where individuals, acting in their own self-interest, deplete shared resources, leading to long-term collective harm. This concept highlights issues that arise when externalities—costs or benefits incurred by third parties—are not reflected in market prices. The inherent conflict between individual incentives and collective welfare often demands solutions…

  • Startup ecosystems

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    Oxford has a superb entrepreneurial ecosystem. Casting our eyes out, many exist overseas outside of the UK as well. You want to be in an environment that has people building together – just as peers who pressure-test ideas, suggest new avenues for resources, or just give you that motivation to survive one more day. You…

  • Startups and Intellectual Property

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    Intellectual property (IP) forms the backbone of a startup’s value proposition, often serving as the invisible yet invaluable asset that underpins its potential for success. Whether it’s proprietary technology, distinctive branding, or unique content, IP can provide a formidable competitive edge. Understanding and strategically managing IP is essential for budding entrepreneurs, as it can define…

  • The lean startup

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    Before university, I spent hours meticulously crafting business plans for ideas that excited me: edible insect farms, automated restaurants, and drone delivery networks. These plans were my prized possessions—backed up across multiple storage devices like precious relics of entrepreneurial ambition. Diving into new industries and dissecting the intricacies that made them commercially promising was thrilling.…

  • Debt – good or bad for a company?

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    Financial gurus will tell you to keep debt down. There are some quibbles over good and bad debt, where some will argue that you should take a mortgage because of the historical trend of appreciating property prices. Many would argue that taking a loan out to buy consumer items with little chance of price appreciation…

  • When Good Customer Service Becomes Complex – And Why AI Chatbots Can Be Frustrating

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    Contextual ServiceStarbucks is often cited as the epitome of a customer-focused business, inspired by Howard Schultz’s vision of fostering community around coffee. Sitting in Gail’s as I write this, I can’t help but reflect on how many of us equate good service with the cheery greetings and casual chats we share with baristas. However, good…