Florentina-Daniela Gheorghe, Oxford Saïd MBA Class of 2019
Age: 32
Hometown: Buzau, Romania
Undergraduate Institution and Major: National School for Political and Administrative Studies, Communications and Public Relations
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): +7 years in impact businesses in India, 2 years in political marketing in Romania, +1 year in international non-profit in Romania.
Why business school? Why now?
I have been thinking about the Oxford MBA for the past 8 years. I’m from a middle-class family in an Eastern European country, so my chances of Oxford seemed small, unless I could get a scholarship.
I worked with impact businesses across four sectors and four states of India for the last 7 years, and founded my own for-profit education technology company, vChalk, in 2014 in Bangalore. In the end, despite successes, this venture could not be sustained.
My work in India, however, inspires me to continue a career that has a purpose bigger than myself. The MBA will hone my financial and business skills and open new opportunities.
I am extremely lucky to be here at Oxford, and I owe it to the team at Skoll Centre who awarded me the Skoll Scholarship.
Will the Oxford MBA show me new perspectives on how to contribute to make the business world a better world? This is what I am here to find out.
Why Oxford Saïd? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I didn’t apply to any other business school. I applied to Oxford Saïd because of its reputation and experience in guiding social entrepreneurs on their career on purpose. Oxford Saïd has the Skoll Centre too which is a fantastic resource for social entrepreneurs like myself.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019?
I bring stories from India on the challenges to build a for-profit impact business and passion to delve into some of the world’s biggest problems while knitting markets with social impact.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I love bhindi masala made from the so-called lady’s finger (okra) as a delicious vegetarian dish from Rajasthan state in North India.
Post-MBA career interests?
Systemic thinking and practice, impact business consulting, and intrapreneurship to have a chance to fail in a safer context next.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Have someone read your application essays a few days before the deadline.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
Study more to get a better GMAT score.
–Part you would have skipped if you could?
The Skype interview. I should have scheduled a face-to-face interview in Bangalore instead, but I didn’t realize seats would get filled. It was more difficult to connect, to have eye contact via Skype.
What is your initial impression of Oxford Saïd’s students/culture/community?
I love the diversity among the 315 of us!
One thing you have learned about Oxford Saïd that has surprised you?
We have young, passionate and amazing faculty teaching the core courses.
Thing you are most anxious about in your MBA year?
That the year will pass too fast and that I might not be not doing my best to make the most of it.
Thing you are most excited about in your MBA year?
I am excited about getting to know my colleagues better.
