Alumni Voices

Lionel Barber discusses the changing media landscape, the impact of social media, and how the award-winning Financial Times continues to respond to the digital age. The FT's editor warns about fake news and refers to past propaganda - subjects he will address on Saturday 16 September 2017 at the Alumni Weekend in Oxford (book online to secure your place at this session). In this wide-ranging podcast interview, Barber gives his perspective on current affairs, from the Europeans having the upper hand in Brexit negotiations to the theatre of Donald Trump's presidency. He explains how studying German and Modern History at Oxford prepared him for his international career in journalism. Barber also describes the highlight of his student days - playing rugby alongside Blues rugby players during Cuppers.

Dr Desirée Cox describes her extraordinary journey from growing up in a tough urban area in the Bahamas to becoming a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. She focuses on her medical studies at Oxford and her pioneering work to establish a regulatory framework for stem cell research in her home country. In this podcast interview, Dr Cox also explains her love of painting, and her efforts to ensure others reach their potential. Referring to advice she shared at a lecture at Pembroke in June 2017, she highlights the importance of hope, resilience, authentic conversations and harnessing your own personal story in an age of short attention spans and technological disruption.

Dr Tom Crawford, also known as the Naked Mathematician, shares his love of Maths and describes how he is dispelling stereotypes to explain Maths to teenagers. Dr Tom Crawford, also known as the Naked Mathematician, shares his love of Maths and describes how he is dispelling stereotypes to explain Maths to teenagers. He speaks about his new Naked Maths video series, in which he explores mathematical patterns in an entertaining and hands-on way, from the formation of ocean waves to hexagonal honeycombs. Dr Crawford talks about how his mission to popularise Maths began with his work for The Naked Scientists - a weekly podcast with about one million listeners. He also explains his own mathematical tattoos, his undergraduate days studying Maths at Oxford, and the creative insights gained from completing his PhD in Maths at Cambridge about fluid dynamics.

Sir Roger Bannister relives running the first sub-four-minute mile in a special podcast to mark the anniversary of his extraordinary achievement in May 1954. Sir Roger Bannister relives running the first sub-four-minute mile in a special podcast to mark the anniversary of his extraordinary achievement in May 1954. He describes his training and how the record-breaking run (3 minutes 59.4 seconds) unfolded at the Iffley Road track in Oxford. Sir Roger mentions other highlights from his athletic career, and explains how he developed as a runner while studying at Oxford, where he read medicine at Exeter and Merton. After retiring from running, Sir Roger focussed on his medical and academic career. He talks about his research interests and varied experiences, including his pioneering work on the autonomic nervous system, and focusing on heat illness when he was on army service in Aden. From 1985 to 1993, Sir Roger was Master of Pembroke in Oxford. As well as inspiring generations of runners, Sir Roger has also had a wider impact upon sport. When he was chairman of the Sports Council in the 1970s he introduced the first anabolic steroid tests for athletes. In 2017, Sir Roger was made a Companion of Honour for his services to sport.

Leading businesswoman Grace Sai describes how disruptive technology, including virtual and augmented reality, are changing how consumers interact with products. She also explains how the millennial generation is re-shaping the world of work because of its idealism, global connections and impatience. In this podcast, Sai shares examples from the Impact Hub – a co-working space and community she co-founded to develop start-ups and entrepreneurs in Singapore. Her success is in part due to what she learned at Oxford, where she won a Skoll scholarship to study an MBA at the Saïd Business School. This interview was recorded in Singapore during the Alumni Weekend in Asia in March 2017. Series: Alumni Voices People: Grace Sai Oxford Unit: Alumni Office Keywords: Entrepreneurship, technology, business, MBA, Saïd Business School, Singapore [Grace Sai has approved the recording over email. I will forward her signed podcast contribution form to you as soon as I receive it. Many thanks].

David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (Corpus Christi, 1984) David Miliband talks about the unprecedented global refugee crisis, its long-term characteristics and efforts to address the challenges ahead in this podcast. The President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee describes how the international NGO he leads is transforming lives through its humanitarian and resettlement work. The former Labour politician also discusses working at the highest levels in the UK Government, including as Foreign Secretary and Environment Secretary. He explains how he was taught to present an argument from reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford in the 1980s, and he reminisces about his enthusiasm for sport at Corpus Christi College. This podcast was recorded before Miliband delivered the 2017 James Martin Memorial lecture in Oxford on 22 February 2017. Watch the video of the lecture here; http://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/oxford-martin-school-public-lectures-and-seminars Interviewer: Guy Collender, Head of Alumni Communications and Marketing Music by Setuniman http://www.freesound.org/people/Setuniman/sounds/241138/ from www.freesound.org

Zoe de Toledo shares her extraordinary experiences of coxing at the highest levels, and her love of studying at Oxford in this podcast. She describes her part in the thrilling race that led to the GB women’s eight coming second in last year’s Olympics in Rio. The Olympian was also the cox during the dramatic Boat Race of 2012, when a swimmer disrupted the contest between Oxford and Cambridge on the Tideway. De Toledo continues by talking about Oxford’s academic strengths and why she continues to study here. She is now reading Medicine at Harris Manchester College – her third degree at Oxford. She previously completed Master’s degrees in Psychological Research, and Criminology and Criminal Justice when she studied at St Catherine’s College.

Celebrated writer, broadcaster, performer and former politician, Gyles Brandreth, talks about his extraordinary career and varied interests in this podcast. Celebrated writer, broadcaster, performer and former politician, Gyles Brandreth, talks about his extraordinary career and varied interests in this podcast. He describes his busy undergraduate years during the Swinging Sixties and highlights how his experiences at Oxford laid the foundations for his successful working life. Brandreth speaks about being president of the Oxford Union, directing the Oxford University Dramatic Society, and even meeting Paul McCartney, Jane Asher and Tony Benn. He also refers to studying Modern History and Modern Languages at New College, and advises students to make the most of their youth. The interview explores a range of diverse topics, from Brandreth’s role as a government whip during John Major’s administration to his appearances on Radio 4’s Just a Minute, and from writing about the secrets of happiness to his admiration for Noel Coward. Interviewed by Guy Collender

Menswear designer, Patrick Grant, shares his experiences studying for an Executive MBA at Oxford’s Said Business School, and talks about how he became an award-winning designer. Patrick Grant, menswear designer and judge on the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee, shares his experiences studying for an Executive MBA at Oxford’s Said Business School, and talks about how he became an award-winning designer. During his MBA studies, Patrick bought Saville Row bespoke tailor Norton & Sons, quickly turning the business around into a successful company. In 2010, he was awarded the British Fashion Council’s Menswear Designer of the Year award after relaunching E. Tautz & Sons, and was a recipient of the 2015 BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund. He is also Creative Director for Hammond & Co., a diffusion line available at Debenhams. In this podcast, he discusses his career as a designer and his new social venture, Community Clothing, which aims to help Britain’s ailing manufacturing industry by using spare capacity for a new affordable clothing range, as well as offering advice to prospects and students who are considering a career as an entrepreneur.

Miles Young, newly-installed Warden of New College, Oxford, shares his experiences studying history as an undergraduate and talks about how he transitioned into a career in PR and advertising. Miles Young, newly-installed Warden of New College, Oxford, shares his experiences studying history as an undergraduate and talks about how he transitioned into a career in PR and advertising. Young was the Chairman and CEO of the international advertising, marketing and public relations agency Ogilvy & Mather. He started his career at Lintas and Allen Brady & Marsh, before joining Ogilvy and Mather in 1982 and becoming CEO in 2008. In October 2016 he stepped down from this position and was installed as the Warden at New College. In this podcast, he discusses his time as CEO of one the world’s biggest PR and advertising agencies, why he came back to Oxford to become the Warden of New College, as well as offering advice to prospects and students who are considering a career in advertising.