Surayyah Ahmad

Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford

“A dynamic entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for diversity and inclusive growth.”

Hometown: Katsina State, Nigeria

Fun fact about yourself: I am a mother of 3 beautiful children, but look 16

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Hertfordshire, Business & Economics Degree

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Sabou Capital (Previously Aduna Capital)

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? N/A

Where will you be working after graduation? Sabou Capital, General Partner

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Co-Chair, Oxford Africa Business Alliance

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of the work we are doing at the Oxford Africa Business Alliance to demystify Africa, providing people with opportunities to engage with and learn about the continent. We are actively building partnerships across the globe to support individuals looking to return and contribute to Africa’s growth, as well as those aiming to launch ventures and create impact.

Additionally, we have worked closely with faculty to bring local and African perspectives into classroom discussions by inviting relevant organizations to share their stories, enriching the learning experience with real-world insights.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am proud of the work we have done in supporting founders and entrepreneurs in underserved areas of Northern Nigeria, especially women. Many of these founders have successfully raised additional capital, scaled their businesses, and contributed to economic growth in their communities. Seeing their progress and impact reinforces the importance of fostering inclusive entrepreneurship and unlocking opportunities for underrepresented talent.

Why did you choose this business school? I went through the websites of different business schools and one thing that resonated with me was Oxford Saïd’s focus on making a difference, unapologetically. Both the content of the MBA and the thought process made it feel like home for change makers.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Howard Jones. I believe that nobody is perfect, not even our professors. But for Howard, taking student feedback seriously and watching his classes become highly effective is what stood out for me. He is happy doing the job he is doing, is keen to make sure we get it and also keen to act on feedback.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? One of the best modules I did was the Impact Investing Bootcamp which lasted over the weekend but provided a ton of resources for people looking to get into impact investing. It explained everything from not a theoretical but Industry perspective.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favourite Oxford tradition are the college dinners. The college tradition means you cannot have dinner in a college where you are not a member unless you are invited by a student who is a member of the college. This means that every college invite we get is different and fascinating. There is a tapestry of culture, history and uniqueness that each college possess.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would take the warning to “drop everything before starting the MBA” much more seriously. Many of us initially viewed the intensity of the MBA as a hypothetical, but in reality, it is both demanding and highly competitive. The experience teaches prioritisation in a very practical way—you are presented with countless opportunities and being deliberate about how you spend your time becomes essential.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Oxford is truly a magical city that gives you a closer feel to nature. It has a great culture of environmental conversation and that is evident in the way we are encouraged to live our lives doing less damage to the environment. The buildings mostly thousands of years old, allows one to go back in time.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Saïd Business School has equipped us to view AI not as a threat, but as a powerful tool to enhance efficiency in our work. We have been provided with clear guidelines on how to leverage AI effectively—targeting specific tasks and integrating it into our academic and professional work—without diminishing our intellectual capacity.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I admire AISHA RAHEEM who co-chairs the Africa Business Alliance with me. Aisha’s passion for change and her ability to use every opportunity she gets to make impact is highly inspiring. Her sense of honesty and ethic are hard to find in today’s business environment. I am lucky to have her as a friend.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? To close our fund by the end of 2026 and expand our impact from 3 African countries to the whole of West & Central Africa.

What made Surayyah such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Surayyah is an outstanding leader, investor, and entrepreneur who has made a significant impact both within the Oxford MBA community and beyond. As the Founding Partner of Sabou Capital, she is deeply committed to empowering underserved founders, particularly in secondary cities across West and Central Africa. Through Sabou Capital, she combines strategic investments with tailored technical support, ensuring that SMEs not only access capital but also receive the mentorship and resources needed to scale sustainably. Her focus on investing in outstanding founders—especially women—demonstrates her dedication to fostering inclusive economic growth.

Surayyah’s professional journey is a testament to her resilience and vision. She successfully built and exited an e-commerce and fulfilment company in Nigeria and later founded an AI-driven technology company in the UK, further establishing herself as a leader in innovation. Recognizing the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing capital, she co-founded TTLabs, an accelerator supporting diverse and underserved founders in Northern Nigeria, extending her impact far beyond her own ventures.

At Oxford, Surayyah is a Laidlaw Foundation and Mastercard Foundation scholar and has been an integral part of the MBA community. As an Investor on the Oxford Seed Fund, she has worked hands-on with early-stage ventures, providing strategic investment guidance to promising startups. In her role as Co-Chair of the Oxford Africa Business Alliance, she has brought together influential business leaders, policymakers, and investors to drive conversations on Africa’s economic future. Her leadership has not only elevated the Alliance but has also inspired her peers, fostering a deeper understanding of investment opportunities in emerging markets. She is a mentor to fellow students, a collaborative leader, and a powerful advocate for diversity in business. Surayyah’s impact at Oxford is profound—she exemplifies the values of the MBA programme, combining academic excellence with a passion for real-world impact. Her work in entrepreneurship, investment, and inclusive growth makes her a truly exceptional candidate for this recognition. There is no doubt that she will continue to be a force for change, shaping the future of business and investment in underserved regions.”

Amy Major
MBA Programme Director

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