“Walking ten thousand miles of the world is better than ... - EMBA

“Walking ten thousand miles of the world is better than reading ten thousand scrolls.” – Chinese Proverb. For EMBA S16, we truly experienced ... Menu Home MBA MFE EMBA Diplomas MMPM DPhil FacultyandResearch Alumni ChristineLi-Auyeung Degree: EMBA Location: UnitedStates Industry: Finance Year: Sep2016-May2018 ByChristineLi-Auyeung “Walkingtenthousandmilesoftheworldisbetterthanreadingtenthousandscrolls.”–ChineseProverb ForEMBAS16,wetrulyexperiencedthemeaningofthisadageonourfirstinternationalmoduletoMumbai,IndiainearlyDecember.GrowingupinNewYork,IhavemanyIndianfriendsandconsidermyselfquiteexposedtothefood,customsandcultureofthisBRICnation.IenjoygoingtoCurryHill(MurrayHill)andJacksonHeights,twoIndianneighborhoodsinNewYorkCity.IhavewatchedBollywoodfilmsandevendressedupinasariformyIndianfriends’weddings.However,nothingcomparestovisitingthecountryandexperiencingitsrichhistoryandculturethroughmyfivesenses. DescendingintoChhatrapatiShivajiInternationalAirporttwoweeksafterModi’sdecisiontoabolishtheexisting500and1,000rupeenotes,EMBAS16facedthefirstbusinesschallengeinanemergingmarket–Wherecanweexchangerupees?Priortothetrip,manyofusscoutedtheexchangebureausandbanksinourhomecountriesforrupeesbuttonoavail.Luckily,wefoundasinglecurrencyexchangebureauattheairportthatwouldallowanindividualtoexchangeupto4,000rupees($69USD)foruseatcash-onlyfacilities.Fortherestofourjourney,wereliedheavilyonourcreditanddebitcards.WhileIndiancitizensweresufferingfromthecurrencycrisis,thecashshortagewascreatingagreatbusinessboomforlocalelectronicpaymentcompanies. Duringtherestoftheweek,wevisitedmanycompanies,includingaBollywoodmoviestudio,theBombayStockExchange,abusinessincubatorandMahindraLifespaces.Oneofthemostmemorableconversationswehadwaswithourtourbusguide,whohelpedtoshuttleusbetweenlocationsinthemistofunpredictabletraffic.Duringourtalks,welearnedthat,whilehegrewupintheslums,hegraduatedfromuniversityandiscurrentlypursuingamaster’sdegreeinphysics.Totopitoff,wefoundoutthatthetourcompanyheisaffiliatedwithwasstartedwiththeideaofofferingpart-timeemploymenttouniversitystudentsfromtheslums,sotheycanmakealivingwhilepursuinghighereducation.Wewereexcitedtoexperiencefirst-handtheservicesprovidedbythissociallyresponsibleenterprise,andtoseeitspositiveimpactinprovidingupwardmobilityforIndianyouth. Acontrastingviewofthecity Indiahasexperiencedtremendousgrowthinthelastfewdecades;however,thecountryisstillindireneedofinfrastructuredevelopment.ThistriphasprovidedmewithanopportunitytonotonlylearnaboutIndiabuttospendqualitytimewithmyclassmatesoutsideofOxford. MyhopeistoexperiencetheinfrastructureimprovementthattheModigovernmentpromiseditspeopleinfuturetripstothisgrowingnation. WhistlingWoodsInternationalFilmSchool&Studios   BombayStockExchangeonDalal(Broker)Street   IndiandinnerwiththewomenofEMBAS16   DressedupintraditionalIndianoutfitsfortheOxfordalumnireception   ZoneStartupsIndia–BusinessIncubator   MahindraLifespaces Backtotopofarticle TurningPoints Sharethispost: SomeofthemostamazingpersonalitiesIhavemetinmylifetime OxfordExecutiveMBA Programmeoutline Downloadabrochure Howtoapply AllopinionsexpressedbythebloggersaretheirownanddonotnecessarilyrepresentthoseoftheOxfordExecutiveMBAorSaïdBusinessSchool. Contact SaïdBusinessSchool ParkEndStreet OxfordOX11HP T+44(0)1865288800 ©2022CopyrightSaidBusinessSchool.SitebyOne. Cookieusageandprivacypolicy