Oxford Odyssey

Author: cowleycorporateclimbers

  • Why formatting is important

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    “Investment Banking/Consulting is about moving the logos around a slide for the thirteenth time at 5am”. Formatting seems like the tired, brain-numbing manual labour that juniors get put through just because they’re paid an above market salary. Being in consulting, this “low-value” work annoyed me to no end initially. With bigger, more strategic challenges on…

  • Exploring the boundaries of cutting-edge science and technology in Oxford

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    Despite the courses in Oxford being quite specialised, the sheer concentration of deep-tech talent in the form of DPhil candidates and advanced research institutes make for an abundant setting of science research. It’s so easy to dabble in the different aspects. While everyone looks in awe at AI, here are some other areas of science…

  • Oxford Travel Grants

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    Travel for free? This is something I wish I knew about a lot earlier. You can receive funding to go abroad – although taking a gap-year to travel might be difficult for those seeking to start their career ASAP, there are many options to seek funding for 3 month stints abroad. While Oxford is nice…

  • Renting in Oxford as a student

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    Tips for living outside college I loved living in college, because I was perpetually surrounded by a great community and it was so easy to meet friends at a whim. I wanted to get the experience of living out though, so I moved out for second year. Having gone through the whole process, I can…

  • The Beauty of Behavioural Economics

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    Behavioural economics is a fascinating field that bridges psychology and economics, offering insights into how people actually make decisions, often in ways that deviate from traditional economic models. In this article, I walk through some of the main branches of behavioural economics that are covered by the economics department at Oxford: nudges and inertia, as…

  • The Innovator’s Dilemma in biotechnology

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    The Innovator’s Dilemma is a concept popularised by Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen. The dilemma refers to the challenges that established companies face when they have to decide between focusing on improving their existing products and services or investing in disruptive innovations. Established companies’ management face strong pressure to focus on their existing, profitable…

  • Political resources and competitive advantage

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    The resource-based view (RBV) of firms posits that competitive advantage is rooted in the possession of scarce, valuable, and non-substitutable resources. While this framework traditionally focuses on tangible and intangible business assets like intellectual property, skilled labor, or unique technology, political connections can also be seen as a vital resource. The ability to influence, navigate,…

  • The Paradox of Risk: Gambling vs. Risky Investments

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    Disclaimer This article is for general educational and informational purposes only. It reflects the author’s personal views and should not be treated as investment, financial, legal, tax, or other professional advice. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results, and examples mentioned…

  • The evolution of marketing

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    The philosophy behind marketing has been evolving over time, adapting to the surrounding economic and technological structure. Of course, some industries will remain laggards, while others will be more advanced in their progression. This is a general guide as to how marketing has changed. First Era: Product Focused “Build it and they shall come.” In…

  • Why employees slack off (rationally)

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    Elon Musk famously claims to sleep and live in his factories to work longer hours and drive his companies forward. This relentless dedication has paid off for him; he is now one of the wealthiest people on the planet. However, the same can’t be said for everyone. Take Nico Murillo, for example. He followed a…