Max Rath

Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford

“A medical doctor with a love for challenge, knowledge, and people, and who is obsessed with changing the world.”

Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa

Fun fact about yourself: I love to paint.

Undergraduate School and Degree:  

University of the Witwatersrand – Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBCh)

University of the Witwatersrand – Master of Medicine (MMED), in internal medicine

Colleges of Medicine South Africa (CMSA) – Fellowship of the College of Physicians (FCP)

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Consultant in internal medicine (internist) at Mediclinic South Africa.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? N/A

Where will you be working after graduation? Not yet confirmed: Start-ups/entrepreneurship/VC – most interested in working at the intersection of tech and biotechnology.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Leadership Roles In Business School:

1. Co-chair of the Healthcare Oxford Business Network

2. MBATs committee

Co-curricular Roles:

1. Creative destruction lab

2. Oxford Seed Fund Venture Scout

School Awards

1. Dean’s list

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I would say making Dean’s list.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Qualifying as a specialist in internal medicine.

Why did you choose this business school? The Oxford University context: incredible people and experiences – it is something that is very difficult to measure.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Agni Orfanoudaki: She is brilliant, witty, and engaging. She challenges the class daily. I find her healthcare focus in her research particularly enriching to my studies.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Machine learning for business. A challenging course that teaches the massive impact of AI on business now and in the future and teaches transferrable skills that will only grow in utility as AI advances.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Matriculation – less of an MBA tradition but rather an Oxford tradition. The matriculation ceremony signifies the start of the academic year. It reflects centuries of history and tradition and creates a powerful sense of belonging when we start at Oxford.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Probably try make more time to play sport for Oxford.

What is the biggest myth about your school? That this year was going to be one of the best in my life, which I thought was a suspicious comment. Turns out its no myth, it really will be one of the best.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Oxford’s colleges and history.

What surprised you the most about business school? The people (my classmates). We have a class full of truly brilliant people who are hungry to succeed yet compassionate and engaging. I am not sure if it is because Oxford selects such people or if our year is lucky. Either way, I am very grateful for the friendships I have formed during the MBA.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Adam Hegedus. Adam is a truly dynamic individual. Adam enriches his MBA experience with his non-profit work, volunteering in the local community, Spanish lessons, DJ’ing, and surfing.

His dedication to making a difference in the world is inspiring. This dedication is something Adam will not tell you; his humility is also something I really admire.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Found my own start-up that makes an impact on the world’s health problems.

What made Max such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Max’s blend of experience prior to joining the programme allows him to draw on his healthcare and entrepreneurial knowledge and expertise. His ability to bring his career context together with his high achievements in the classroom demonstrate that Max will go on to be one of South Africa’s inspiring leaders in Healthcare. The opportunity for others in the cohort to learn from someone who has real-world experience of driving major change is invaluable. His clear motivation to change the world for the better leaves us in no doubt that he is a fantastic candidate for the Best and Brightest class this year.”

Tom Parnell
Associate Director
MBA Programme Delivery

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024