Meet Oxford Saïd’s MBA Class Of 2026

There’s something very different about students at the Saïd Business School. They aren’t pursuing an MBA so they can fill out their CVs or line their pockets someday. No, they come to the University of Oxford for a mission. To them, business is a means to tackle the most urgent and complex issues: climate change, social inequality, resource scarcity, technology governance, and armed conflicts. For the Saïd Class of 2026, an MBA provides a set of tools and a network of kindred spirits to make an impact.

This commitment to change involves many forms. Oluseyi Adebiyi comes to the “City of Dreaming Spires” from the banking industry. His passion is financial exclusion – where billions are “locked out of financial systems due to geography, weak institutions, and currency volatility.” Long-term, he hopes to be remembered for making ‘financial access more reliable, transparent, and scalable in emerging markets.”

His classmate, Namit Garg, also worked in finance as a researcher before joining Saïd’s MBA Class of 2026. In this role, he watched how volatilities like liquidity events or abrupt repricing would “wipe out livelihoods for small investors, merchants, or households.” That stirred a passion in him to reinforce financial systems to reduce the exposure of the most vulnerable.

“This experience shaped my desire to work in roles where quantitative models influence real access—pricing, insurance, or payments—rather than only trading outcomes,” Garg explains. “Through my career, I want to help build financial systems that are resilient in stress, not just efficient in normal conditions, so that uncertainty does not translate into exclusion or instability for those already operating on thin margins.”

PASSIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH & URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Before business school, Shradha Kapoor worked in asset management, an industry known for brutal hours, unrelenting pressure, and politically-charged cultures. As a result, the issue of mental health hits close to home for her. In many ways, the issue is particularly pernicious since it remains largely “unspoken” – embarrassing even. Looking ahead, Kapoor hopes to bring mental health out into the open.

“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.”

Saïd’s defines its mission as “tackling world-scale problems” and preparing students to pursue equity and make an impact. True to this mission, the school has emerged as a powerhouse in sustainability. This strength is one reason why Mirgani Huseynli joined the MBA Class of 2026. A satellite engineer, Huseynli’s interests include urban planning, a field where “[If] done poorly, the consequences are felt by entire communities.” Looking ahead, he would like to contribute to making urban infrastructure “more human-centered, resilient, and sustainable.”

“My goal is to build experience in consulting, where I can learn how strategy, data, and policy come together in complex projects,” he continues. “In the longer term, I want to apply that experience to public sector and urban development initiatives, particularly in emerging markets like my home country, Azerbaijan.”

BRINGING TRUST BACK TO THE MEDIA

Not surprisingly, Leila Hoffpauir gravitates towards the issue of “access to accurate, trustworthy information.” After all, she served as a producer for NBC News NOW before starting at Saïd. In newsrooms, she watched “how information is created, distributed, and sometimes distorted.” Rather than being tethered to a 24-hour news cycle, she entered business school to fight misinformation “at a more systemic level.”

“Addressing it requires an understanding of platforms, incentives, policy, and technology alongside editorial judgment,” Hoffpauir continues. “That is where the MBA fits into my long-term goals. Through Oxford Saïd, I am building the strategic, operational, and leadership skills needed to work on large, complex initiatives in media and tech that shape how information reaches the people who need it. Ultimately, I want to contribute to teams that design responsible systems for information distribution.”

It is an area where Hoffpauir possesses intensive experience after helping to launch CNBC’s The News with Shepard Smith.  “I spent two years working on the show, building a general news program in primetime on a network traditionally-focused on financial coverage. Being part of that launch meant contributing to everything from shaping the editorial vision to navigating the operational challenges of producing a new format at scale.”

GOING ‘GLOCAL’

Trained as an electrical engineer, Luisa Fernanda Romero Munoz chose to deviate from a conventional career path. Instead, she adopted a “glocal” approach of “acting locally while thinking globally.” That started with launching an NGO in her native Colombia, using social entrepreneurship and sustainable tourism to provide financial livelihoods in communities previous torn apart by armed conflicts. Outside of Columbia, Romero Munoz has channeled this passion into supporting grassroots organizations across three continents.

“Through this work, I have helped develop projects that combine technology and inclusive civic spaces to strengthen local leadership and social impact. A particularly meaningful aspect of this journey has been representing the voices of communities that have not been heard for years, including through my role on the Youth Advisory Board of the United Nations Human Rights Office.”

Evelyn Miller, an American whose artwork has been displayed in Tate Britain’s lack Flamingo Exhibit, combines entrepreneurship and impact. Her venture, Juice Magazine, supports South Asian inclusion in Great Britain’s arts and culture scene. By the same token, Chloe Li lists her biggest achievement as helping a Japanese recycler prepare to conduct a reverse IPO and raise capital from European investors. To do that, she rebuilt the narrative around the company.

“Through competitor analysis and close engagement with senior leadership, I identified what investors truly valued: strategic access to Asia’s recycling market and a credible commitment to sustainability,” Li explains. “I repositioned the company as a long-term sustainable solutions provider, emphasising its alignment with the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the founder’s personal dedication to the circular economy, and the strength of its technology and client relationships. Consequently, we developed a clear investor story, supported the creation of a comprehensive investor database, and helped the company secure multiple promising leads with European investors.”

BRINGING THE BANANA REPUBLIC TO MEXICO

In Africa, Oluseyi Adebiyi didn’t just talk about financial inclusion. He created a platform to fulfill that exact purpose. “I helped build and scale cross-border payment infrastructure that enabled individuals and small businesses across Africa and other emerging markets to access stable, global financial rails,” writes Adebiyi, whose interests includes writing poetry, sketching, and podcasting about African literature. “In environments where trust, currency, stability, and banking access are fragile, contributing to systems that move real money for real people has been both professionally and personally meaningful. Earlier in my career, I was also awarded my bank’s CEO Prize for Excellence for supporting MSMEs in building stronger financial structures and sustainable business traction.”

The Saïd MBA Class of 2026 aren’t just idealists realizing the greater good. Many also bring serious business talents to the classroom. Take Luke Spill, an economist and investment associate who once starred in Finding Neverland alongside Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. All grown up, he developed the release strategy for Rema’s “Calm Down” – a track that generated 1.8-million UK sales and collected the Triple Platinum Brits Award. Working at Banana Republic Factory, Vivian Luo achieved a “milestone”: establishing the brand’s first business outside the United States and Canada.

“Through strong storytelling and strategic influence, I helped establish a clear understanding of brand identity and a growth plan that addressed potential challenges, culminating in the successful persuasion of the partner to expand their contract with Gap Inc.,” explains Luo, a former NFL cheerleader. “In two years, the Banana Republic Factory Mexico business has expanded to more than five stores and demonstrated a 138% year-over-year growth in retail sales, emerging as a top international brand. The success paved the way for future international growth.”

If you’re looking for the class chameleon, start with Mirgani Huseynli. After starting his career in oil and gas, he moved to the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Now, he is transitioning from engineering to earning an MBA at Saïd to pursue urban development.

“Each move meant starting from scratch in a new environment, but together they reflect my willingness to take calculated risks and keep learning.”

OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME

That’s exactly what the Class of 2026 has been doing during their year at Oxford. Outside of business school, Evelyn Miller has been researching her MSc thesis: Digital Arts, Archives, and Acts of Resistance among South Asian Creative Communities. Leila Hoffpauir has stayed busy as the Business and Finance Editor for the university newspaper, The Oxford Student. Namit Garg was elected to be the class’s Academic Officer. At the same time, Luke Spill has continued his work in developing independent artists.

“I have been lucky enough to participate in many entrepreneurship activities and competitions so far on the MBA. A highlight for me was being chosen as a finalist in the Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Centre’s pitching competition in November. As part of the final, I had to pitch my business to 300+ founders, investors, and CEOs visiting Oxford for the Oxford Saïd Entrepreneurship Forum (OSEF). This was the first time presenting my plan to a room this large. The pitch went fantastically, receiving incredible questions and ideas to think about, as well as praise and confidence that my idea is worth pursuing.”

For Shradha Kapoor, maybe her biggest achievement has been realizing that she truly belonged in the program. “Coming to Oxford was intimidating at first,” she admits. 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…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.”

WHERE OLD WORLD & NEW WORLD MEET

And “different” is definitely a word that would describe the Saïd School. Founded in 1996, Saïd has sometimes been described as an intrapreneurial venture – a startup wrapped up within a thousand-year-old institution. Oxford itself is one of the world’s most renowned educational institutions – one that existed long before the Ottomans and Aztecs, let alone the Reformation or the Renaissance. It is also the alma mater of some of the world’s great thinkers and artists: Adam Smith, J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen Hawking, W.H. Auden, John Locke, and Lewis Carroll.

Think of Oxford – and Saïd by extension – as a school with one foot in the past and another in the future. Architecturally, you’ll find Gothic arches in the Christ Church Cathedral, Classical columns at the Bodleian Library, and Modernist masterpieces like the horseshoe-shaped Florey Dormitory. Oxford also remains a place with centuries-old punting competitions and formal dinners, where students still travel by bike and lounge in carefully-manicured quadrangles. At the same time, Oxford remains one of the world leaders in research and expertise, with Saïd itself staking a unique position as a leader in social impact and entrepreneurship. True to Oxford’s centuries-old spirit, Saïd addresses the most pressing global issues through multidisciplinary collaboration, free-spirited inventiveness, and analytical rigor.

Just being on campus has made an impression on Chloe Li. “There is what I can only describe as the Oxford way. You can sense it when walking through the streets and hear it in everyday conversations. Oxford is a place shaped by rich history, curiosity, and a shared sense of purpose. Rather than pushing you to become something specific, Oxford gives you the space and inspiration to grow into your best self.”

THE MEANING BEHIND MATRICULATION

The Oxford name – just with its lineage, resources, and expertise – opens doors for MBAs. However, it is the Oxford experience that makes the year at Saïd so unforgettable. That starts with Matriculation, a custom that kicks off the academic year. During the day, students don sub fusc, a formal academic attire that Luisa Fernanda Romero Munoz describes as “black academic gown, white shirt/blouse, black skirt/trousers, and bow tie/ribbon.” After taking class photos and walking (or biking) to the Sheldonian Theater, students participate in a short welcoming ceremony, spoken in Latin, where students are officially welcomed as members of the Oxford community. Afterward, students enjoy wine at a reception, with many punting (riding in a wooden, flat bottom, pole-driven boat) along the River Cherwell to finish their day.

For many, Matriculation played out like a scene from Harry Potter at Hogwarts. Oluseyi Adebiyi’s says Ii made the statement that he was now connected to the history and tradition of the “oldest university in the English-speaking world.” Personally, adds Vivian Luo, Matriculation closing chapter to something else.

“Standing in the historic and ornate Sheldonian Theatre as the Vice-Chancellor welcomed us felt surreal. While the ceremony marked the beginning of my academic journey at Oxford, it was also a celebration of the hard work and dedication it took reach that moment for me.”

Alas, Matriculation isn’t the only time that Oxford drape sub fusc over their suits and skirts. They also wear their academic gowns during examinations (adding carnations for a personal touch).

“Cycling through Oxford in full academic dress on the way to the examination hall, alongside my classmates, created a truly unique atmosphere, adds Rodrigo Zamorano, a P&Q Best & Brightest MBA. “After completing the final exam, gathering together to celebrate with a drink made the experience even more special. It is a tradition that beautifully connects today’s students with the long history of the university.”

Next Page: An interview with Amy Major, MBA Programme Director, MBA Recruitment and Admissions

Page 3: Profiles of 12 members of the MBA Class of 2026

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.