Shradha Kapoor

Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford

“Constantly pushing comfort zones, saying yes, dancing, exploring cafes, and learning a little of everything.”

Hometown: Mumbai, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m terrified of heights, so instead of pinching myself after getting into Oxford, I went skydiving to make it feel real.

Undergraduate School and Major: BSc Economics and Finance, Singapore Institute of Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: EAMOT, Business Development Associate and Apollo Global Management, LP Reporting Analyst

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Oxford Saïd’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? After visiting several business schools, Oxford was the place that truly felt right. There was a sense of belonging I couldn’t ignore. What drew me to Oxford Saïd was the way the experience is designed to shape you as a person. Inside the classroom, learning is deeply collaborative. People challenge each other, support one another, and celebrate collective success. The competition is healthy and internal, driven by personal growth rather than comparison. Outside the classroom, Oxford feels almost magical. The history, traditions, and quiet moments around the city create an environment that constantly remind you that you’re part of something bigger than yourself. I wanted my one-year MBA to be intense and transformative but also filled with memories and moments that I would carry with me long after the program.

What course, club, or activity has been your favourite part of the Oxford Saïd MBA experience? The Finance Lab has been one of the most defining and energising parts of my Oxford Saïd MBA experience, and something I genuinely look forward to every Monday. My journey with the Finance Lab began even before the MBA officially started. While the program begins in September, the selection process took place in August, requiring early preparation and a level of commitment that immediately set the tone for what was to come.

Preparing for the lab included completing a Wall Street Prep course, learning leveraged buyouts, building financial models, and working through discounted cash flow valuations. But what truly brought the experience to life was the classroom itself. Learning directly from real-world practitioners, engaging in open discussions, and working through live cases made every session feel relevant. It sparked a deeper curiosity, pushing me to continue learning beyond the classroom through reading and podcasts.

The sessions are intense and fast-paced. Cold calling is common, which keeps everyone fully present and forces you to think on your feet. As part of the Lab, we also took part in an Investment Banking Challenge, where we unpacked the rationale behind a major acquisition and debated whether it was the right decision. Altogether, the Finance Lab has been one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of my MBA experience.

What is the most “Oxford” thing you have done so far as a full-time MBA student? I’ve been keeping a scrapbook, one page for each college in Oxford. My intention is to visit every college, attend a formal dinner, and capture each experience through photographs and handwritten reflections. I ask classmates to guide me through their colleges, sharing the traditions, hidden corners, and personal stories that give each place its soul.

These visits often unfold into long walks and thoughtful conversations, with moments and words I carefully note down when they resonate with me. This way, it feels like I am creating a keepsake I can return to long after the MBA ends, preserving moments with classmates for years to come.

Oxford is known as a place where world collides, be it in the classroom or the dining hall. What has been the most interesting interaction you’ve had so far as an Oxford MBA student? One of the most interesting interactions I have had at Oxford started with something very small. In class, there was a student who eagerly answered almost every question, to the point where the professor jokingly asked him to give others a chance. Curious, I struck up a conversation with him afterward to learn more about his story.

I was surprised to learn that he did not come from a traditional finance or quantitative background. Instead, he worked at a company that helps deploy and support seaweed farms in near shore waters. Yet his understanding of finance, markets, and industry dynamics was impressive. What stayed with me even more was the passion with which he spoke about his work.

That conversation made me pause. It reminded me that no matter how much experience or education you have in a field, there is always more to learn. Sometimes, all it takes is one honest conversation to see things differently and broaden your perspective. Moments like these are what make Oxford feel special to me, a place where people, ideas, and experiences naturally come together.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of my biggest professional accomplishments came while working on investor reporting for more than 3,000 investors across 120+ funds. The process required creating and merging large volumes of quarterly reports, where precision was critical and even small errors could have significant implications.

Recognizing the need for stronger controls and greater efficiency, I took the initiative to upskill myself by enrolling in an advanced Excel course focused on VBA. I began developing automation tools to reduce manual intervention and minimize the risk of error. Working closely with my manager, I incorporated feedback to continuously improve the system.

What started as a partial automation quickly evolved into a fully automated, end-to-end process. The final solution reduced processing time by approximately 45 hours per quarter and significantly improved accuracy and consistency. After being successfully implemented for a full reporting cycle, the automation was adopted more broadly and became part of the firm’s standard operating practices.

This experience was especially meaningful to me because it changed how I was perceived early in my career. It led to increased responsibility and trust from senior leadership, including recognition from the Global Team Head and Managing Director. More importantly, it marked a turning point in my professional journey, reinforcing my belief in taking ownership, continuously learning, and creating impact regardless of title or tenure.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? One of my biggest accomplishments as an MBA student has been overcoming my imposter syndrome. Coming to Oxford was intimidating at first. The name itself carries so much weight, and I assumed I would be surrounded by some of the most accomplished and intellectually confident people. In comparison, I worried that my own experience might fall on the lower end of the spectrum. Over time, however, I realized that perceived gaps do not hold you back. Instead, they push you to grow.

What helped me move past that fear were the study groups, simulations, and role-based exercises built into the curriculum. Being placed in situations where participation was essential encouraged me to engage, voice my perspective, and trust my instincts. Gradually, I began to see that my viewpoints added value, even when they were different.

For me, this personal transformation has been just as rewarding as any academic milestone.

Oxford Saïd is considered a mission-driven MBA program. What social issue resonates most with you? How do you plan to use your career path to address this issue? Mental health is the social issue that resonates most deeply with me, particularly because it remains largely unspoken in high-pressure, fast-paced environments. While ambition and intensity can be powerful drivers of growth, they can also take a toll when there is little space to pause, reflect, or ask for support.

Through my own experiences, I’ve learned that sometimes taking a big leap requires first taking a step back. I want to contribute to cultures where mental health is treated with the same seriousness as physical health. Supporting peers and helping create environments where people feel safe to speak up and seek support is something I deeply aspire to do.

Oxford Saïd’s mission-driven approach has strengthened this belief and reinforced the importance of empathy in leadership. I want my career to reflect that belief by valuing both ambition and well-being, and by helping normalize open conversations around mental health.

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