Meet The Oxford Saïd MBA Class Of 2017

Ndakuna Fonso Amidou

University of Oxford, Saïd Business School

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I am ambitious and persistent.

Hometown:  Bamenda, Cameroon

Fun Fact About Yourself: Before primary school, my dream was to become a fisherman.

Undergraduate School and Major: Brunel University, BEng(Hons) Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

NHS, England, Mental Health Nurse

System Engineer, United Nations

IT Specialist, Problem Manager, IT and Telecom Project Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I founded a healthcare clinic in Cameroon, in 2008. The clinic provides cheap and affordable healthcare and has delivered close to 3,000 babies today. It focuses on basic health issues such as disease management (e.g., HIV-AIDs), vaccinations, maternal clinic. It currently employs eleven nurses and works with two visiting doctors.

Designed a £11M COMMs System for UN agencies in Afghanistan.

I was also delighted to be awarded the UK Best Black student of the year (2016) award, by the UK Houses of Parliament and Rare agency.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Take your time to make a compelling application. It’s not a race. Define a strategy that works for you, not what others do. Play on your strengths and remember GMAT is only one of many data points for MBA admission. Invest the time to visit your chosen B-schools before making a final decision. Take your family and friends on the journey. They need to understand why you have suddenly become so busy; then, they will support you. Get your essays reviewed by people around you. Make sure you apply early if you are interested in scholarships. Approach the interview like an exam in which you aim to get a distinction. There are standard questions (irrespective of the B-school) every candidate must anticipate, such as motivations for the course and B-school and how the B-school complements your vision.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I visited Said Business School three times before making my 1+1MBA application. The 1+1 MBA is unique to Oxford, and it has enabled me to study business in conjunction with a Social Science of the Internet MSc. I chose Said Business School (SBS) for many reasons. One of them is the social entrepreneurship aspect of the programme. Also, the breadth, return on investment and depth of the 1+1MBA Programme at SBS were just unmatchable by other B-schools. Whether you do an MBA or 1+1MBA at SBS, you are first and foremost part of the wider university network.

The Pershing Square Graduate two-year Scholarship also drew me towards the School, and I was delighted to be one of five students to be awarded the Scholarship this year. It is a life-changing opportunity that has given me the chance to greatly expand my skills in an unparalleled learning environment.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? My dream employer would be one that understands, articulates and embeds the meaning of purpose, ownership and governance in its strategy. It would be an organization with values (e.g., trust and honesty) that reflect modern times, such as acknowledging and taking care of the environment where they operate. The business of business isn’t just business.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?   That I taught them something they didn’t know, especially about Africa.