Who we are for

Successful applicants represent a diverse group of accomplished international leaders, thinkers and doers from the worlds of business, politics, sport, technology, art and academia. This group is carefully selected to learn with and from each other
With our first cohort in 2024 we hosted leaders of change from the worlds of consulting, law, education, government, retail, and others, combined with entrepreneurs, innovators and influencers from across the globe
The diversity of the group promotes stimulating debate, and participants gain a new global network of peers to inspire and support each other

Our 2024 cohort reported that they:

Felt that this programme created a pivotal moment for them to step into the next part of their future
Found themselves feeling more creative in their thinking
Were energised and challenged by the people they were with on the programme
Found the necessity to think critically and in a multi-disciplinary way to be a catalyst for new thoughts related to their own lives and work
Were inspired by the experience of being a ‘student’ again in an Oxford college and amongst the wider Oxford setting

Leaders, Thinkers, Doers

Testimonials

‘Now I need to think outside the box and the Wadham Experience has given me a huge window here to do that. Unplugged, not tied into your everyday life, you are so engaged in the moment with all of these other people from different countries and backgrounds, from business, entrepreneurs, it takes you out of your regular life and gives you a grueling but exhilarating experience amongst other people who are talented and thoughtful in so many different ways. It’s intense, every day is intense, there is reflective time which is important, but it’s no cruise… The Wadham Experience was mind-blowing and it sneaks up on you.’

Justice Eileen Gillese, Court of Appeal for Ontario (Canada), 2024 participant

‘As a busy executive you can get too close to the problems and issues of an organisation and, yes, it’s great to get away, but something like this challenges you and uses brain muscles that you haven’t used before. The creativity, thinking intellectually, and mixing with people you wouldn’t normally mix with that are prepared to challenge you and teach you things, that is the value. It takes you completely out of your normal area or zone and puts you in another one that is incredibly stimulating. There are things that I have learned here that I can take forward into the outside world.’

Ben Gordon, Trustee, United Learning, 2024 participant

‘Being at Oxford is unmatched anywhere in the world in terms of the experience of being in College and being at this magical place, it fosters learning and a new lived experience. I knew how beautiful Oxford and Wadham is and I had a hope that the content would be as rich as it has been but the surprising part for me was the learning from the other participants. They are various ages and stages, from many different disciplines and from all around the world. The twenty participants fast became friends but there is a lived experience amongst the participants that makes you go, ‘hmmm, Wow!’’

Brian Rolfes, External Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Co., 2024 participant

‘This is a programme designed for already successful and experienced individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds to develop new ways of thinking in a conceptually ambitious way that will fundamentally recast their future impact and re-invigorate their role.
‘We want to challenge our participants, to invite them to question their own previously held beliefs with new ways of thinking critically, underpinned by history, philosophy and the arts. Multi-disciplinary approaches are applicable to all challenges: from why people buy or do certain things to social health concerns; from ideas about creative or innovative processes to global macroeconomics.’

Jane Garnett, Fellow and Tutor in History

“The challenges we currently face demand new outlooks and ideas. Now is the time to bring critical thinking and broader perspectives into the world and the workplace. A personal renaissance for senior leaders from a range of sectors, this is a week to think, reflect, and for each participant to come up with one insight which could change their future and that of many other people.”

Richard Koch, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Author, Visiting Fellow