Oxford+ in Brief with Olga Kozlova, Director of Innovation and Engagement

Susannah de Jager

Alongside our main episodes of Oxford Plus for Season Four we are introducing a short fortnightly miniseries in between the main episodes. Brought to you by me, Susannah de Jager, and in partnership with Mishcon de Reya. In each episode, we ask our guests the same four questions designed to reveal how they think, what shapes their decisions, and what they're curious about right now. The questions stay the same. The answers rarely do. This is Oxford Plus in brief. Olga, we are doing a new mini episode format. So I'm going to ask you a few questions if that's okay. What would success look like if we got this right the ecosystem in Oxford?

Olga Kozlova

Ox-Cam Growth Corridor, when it was announced, it said that it can generate eighty billion or roughly about to the UK economy. We can argue about the precise number, but I think opportunity for economic growth could be absolutely exceptional and we need that. We need money to invest as a country to address some of the challenges we face.

I think the other part, if we get this right, is making Oxfordshire a better place to live. Like simply that with better connectivity, with more affordable housing, with more opportunities across the spectrum of our communities.

Susannah de Jager

Wonderful. What advice would you give someone entering the ecosystem tomorrow?

Olga Kozlova

I think if you're coming in into Oxford, you need to be prepared to have a lot of coffees because it's all about who you know and figuring out how this place works. Certainly when I started, that's what one of the things, I mean, I know there is like 50 coffees or whatever theory. It's not that far, but essentially being prepared to put yourself out there and talk. Generally people are supporting and want to help. So that would be my top advice.

Susannah de Jager

What is the 50 Coffees Theory? I'm not familiar.

Olga Kozlova

I think I remember coming across a book like 50 Coffees, that basically if you want to change your life, have 50 coffees, and by the time you've had them, your life will certainly turn to the better.

Susannah de Jager

Oh, I love that. What is Oxford uniquely good at and what is it structurally bad at?

Olga Kozlova

Oxford has an amazing brand. Wherever you go, everybody knows Oxford. It's better than Cambridge itself because there is Cambridge, Massachusetts, and there is Cambridge, UK. Oxford is the only one and the brand and convening power is absolutely amazing and I would say the level of science, I mean, I worked in universities across the UK. Some of them are amazing universities, but Oxford operates to such a different level. When I came in and I had a tour of the lab and they were building new semiconductor materials, atom by atom, I mean, it's just like, wow.

In terms of being bad. I think Oxford has grown in terms of innovation organically. You know, the innovation ecosystem had developed organically. There is lots of people with lots of ideas, ambitions, and they just keep starting things and I think to a certain extent it's good and you know, a bit of messiness is good in the ecosystem. But I think once you've reached a certain level and you want to do the next step, you need to be a bit more joined up and that's a hard thing to do in Oxford. Just for the size, for the culture, for the history of it. So I think that's where Equinox comes in. We very much want to co-create that joined up vision and ability to deliver.

Susannah de Jager

In your opinion, and this one's a hard one, Olga, so forgive me in advance. What do you think Oxford will look like in 2050?

Olga Kozlova

That's a million dollar question. I would say that in 2050, Oxford will be doing really well. I think the future is very bright for Oxford. We have the talent, we have money, to a certain degree, we have the brand and I think all of these things come will come true. And I think what is most important, we have the will to change and while building Equinox, I met so many people. What I've heard from people in the past was a lot of disagreements on what should be done, and we now, I think, have come to an agreement. What needs to be done? I think there is a will to change. I'm not saying it's going to be an easy task because there is many challenges we faced as a nation. But I think the future will be very bright.

Susannah de Jager

Wonderful. Thank you very much, Olga.

Olga Kozlova

I'm an optimist.

Susannah de Jager

I hadn't guessed. Me too. I think broadly. Thank you.

Thanks for listening to this episode of Oxford+, presented by me, Susannah de Jager. If you want to stay up to date with all things Oxford+, please visit our website, oxfordplus.co.uk and sign up for our newsletter so you never miss an update. Oxford+ was made in partnership with Mishcon de Reya and is produced and edited by Story Ninety-Four.