Traveller there is no path- only ways across the sea

I realised I haven’t actually communicated what I’m doing here so, better late than never, (note the very appropriate use of the Oxford comma) I’ll explain. I’m undertaking  the Oxford Strategic Leadership programme. One of their flagship programmes, it’s been running for over forty years. They take a small group of experienced global participants through small-group tutorials, lectures, interactive workshops and experiential sessions. The blog title today is a translation from a Spanish poem, mentioned by someone at some stage during the week. I felt it represents the ethos behind the week of learning and also was a nice nod to the long trip home. 

The theme for Thursday was influence, kicking off with a session about the purpose of a business run by the very first dean of the business school. It was clever and funny and beautifully presented. Furthermore I agreed with his sentiments, so a nice start to the day. Fun fact, on the basis of a UK survey of the most trusted professions- in 2024 football referees are trusted less than nurses but more than clergy or police. 

We were then privileged to have Richard Olivier (yes son of Laurence) spend the rest of the day with us, firstly presenting a one man Shakespeare performance of Julius Caesar, part story, parts actual text, weaving in comments about political influence and motivations. It was so compelling and honestly I’ve never seen anything like it. Even those of our cohort with English as a second language were mesmerised. The play set the scene for a brilliant theory session about the archetype model - work people be warned, I’m likely to drive you crazy with my pack of archetype cards once I’m home. Our last morning activity was a simulated political game where we individually picked a theme to get behind and then gathered factions and supporters. Fun, but in a room of experienced leaders trying to win others to their teams it was pretty wild - the machinations even continued into the lunch break. My tutor had organised for chips to be on the menu at lunch time and the chicken salt was passed around with great success.

Richard had saved the  death oration part of the play till after lunch.  It was presented complete with a body made of pillows and a bed sheet, with a surprise appearance by one of our tutors as Mark Antony.

The final session of the day was a very strange workshop. One of the participants volunteered a live problem he needed solved. We made a 3D model of the people and the issues, using a person to stand somewhere to represent a CEO, a board member, various employees, risk, the future etc. We moved them around to see how they felt standing in different positions with different sight lines. Weird and uncomfortable,  and I have no idea why it worked however it was actually effective. I need to read a bit about this. I don’t quite get it but… we did get really good insights and the owner of the problem said what we came up with was correct. For those that have continued to read this work part of the trip- I apologise for the somewhat dry content, but you know me…I love the leadership theory stuff. 

We had a cheery farewell dinner followed by a bonfire. I called it a night at about ten but a few stalwarts made it till after eleven, leaving them a little dusty on Friday morning.

Although we had half a day of content left, in hindsight Friday seems like a whirl of packing, tidying up loose ends, feedback and goodbyes. There was a funny moment when the Aussies (five of us) gathered together to get a photo, then a bunch of other people wanted individual photo with the aussies. We did a group one after all the single ones. 

It’s been an exhausting week but without doubt the best course I’ve ever done.  We started the week with a room full of friends who hadn’t met yet, and now we’ve met, we’ve talked we’ve laughed, some of us have cried and we’ve learned. So much. In our small tutorial group I received some pretty positive personal feedback from people I really rate. It was a bit embarrassing to hear, but I’m owning it and I’m coming home with more confidence, conviction and energy for the future.

Unlike minded, like hearted

We spent the morning in Oxford, starting with a session in the natural history museum. It’s a very cool place, with a stone cathedral style outside and a greenhouse feeling inside with an iron and glass roof. It was built as a teaching institution as well as a museum in the mid 1800s and the vibe is a mix between a science lab, an art gallery and a museum. In a lovely touch, the angel at the top of the entrance arch is holding a slide where a cell is splitting . 

We had a bit of time to explore inside, which I spent in the Pitt Rivers section- a curiosity cabinet of a room, dark, crammed with cases organised by category, not geography or history: “Baskets”, “Items used in burial rites”, “food preparation tools”. Sometimes they were really detailed specific categories, sometimes broad. The labels are hand written and there is no particular order to the arrangement of the categories, or the objects within the cases. I was wildly curious about how they decided on the categories, and whether the sub level of the category was to make sure all the objects in a category fit into one case -“Hang on , this group doesn’t fit- quick split it into fish catching tools large and fish catching tools small”. I found it much more engaging and interesting than the Ashmolean.

The theme this morning, was paradigm shifts, with a physical box of Darwin’s Botany Bay bug collection and a first edition of his book as props. Side note, there were definitely not enough different bugs in that box and I’m questioning Darwin’s work ethic. Less intense than the last few days it still generated good discussion and thinking about patterns of change and reception of new ideas. 

The programme heads have very cleverly integrated a tour of Oxford by using it as a chance to talk about how out buildings and environments both reject and shape our culture. It was effectively the experiential version of a theoretical session on organisational behaviour which we had on Tuesday. One of his really interesting points was that it’s hard for the University to look outward when its very college buildings are oriented inward, keeping out anyone not already inside. Our guide was a fabulous communicator, very knowledgeable and engaging and it would have been perfect, but for the biting cold. We could hardly wait to get back inside. 

Our afternoon started with a session on persuasion. I was unimpressed with the presenter, and thought he was poorly prepared, lazy and trite, but I’ll put up my had and admit I was a bit tired at this stage so it might not be a valid view. Certainly some others really liked it. A coffee and an afternoon snack helped me settle a bit, necessary for the next session which was a deep dive with my tutor group buddies about me. They ask questions and give feedback and generally help me put some plans in place about what next. I don’t mind this stuff- it’s intense and exhausting but really helpful and I love my group and my tutor so it’s a very safe space. 

The dinner tonight was a surprising success. We were in individual break out rooms in groups of 9, and were asked to bring a poem. Over dinner we each read our poem and talked about why we picked it. I can see some of you rolling your eyes while to read this but it was great! People picked interesting things and brought a number of cultural beliefs to the table. Conversation topics inspired by the poems included the death of a father, having 24 wives in Nigeria, and facing fear. Such a lovely experience to sit and discuss different ideas in a collegial warm hearted space. The title of this post is the motto of the Rhodes Foundation (we saw the building today) and feels so appropriate to describe today’s experience. 

Orchestrating Experts

On Tuesday afternoon we headed into Oxford. The two participants from Milan showed up last for the bus - only a few minutes late but enough to get a mouthful from Francesca who is one of the wranglers and who was anxiously counting us. The “chat” was in Italian, so we’re not sure what she said, but the word italiani featured twice and we all had the giggles. 

Our destination was Balliol College where we definitely got our Harry Potter fix. Sandstone walls, arched leadlight windows and towers, it was everything Oxford is supposed to be visually. Despite the cold, we spent a lot of time outside taking photos. 

Our first session at Balliol was by an 18th century English lit expert, all about language - the current growing use of “I feel” instead of “I think” and “my truth” rather than “the truth” and what that may mean. Really interesting. It pales into comparison however to the next session. We were brought into Balliol Chapel and sat in the pews while our presenter Peter gave us a five minute session on the role of a conductor. The focus was your role as a generalist leading subject matter experts, and the session included a brief bit of hand waving practice with a partner. Then we all individually came up to conduct a choir. A real choir. The singers had been instructed to respond exactly to what we did - start, stop, tempo and volume were entirely dependent on the person conducting. After a first try, Peter would explain what we could do to improve and we had another go. Peter made incredibly insightful, accurate comments (phrased as a question, but really a comment) about our leadership style or approach. Who told him I was impatient and always thinking of what came next ??? It’s hard to believe it was just me telling him by waving my hands. Person after person stepped up to conduct and the leadership feedback was so spot on. Control, not giving others space, micromanagement, ego, you name it, we were exposed. We don’t know each other that well, but enough to feel it was right, and conversations afterwards confirmed it. They changed songs, so the different pieces presented different challenges, and the choir was superb. The choir members also gave us feedback in small groups about how our actions impacted them and how they felt about our conducting. My feedback was that I connected well with them, that they felt I was trying to understand their needs. 

Minimal instruction, no experience, public, instant audible response to our leadership , with the whole room able to hear the impact of our actions. Scary. But… the music was so very beautiful and to be part of the creation in making it added a layer that nearly made me cry. I had a Bach piece - the music, the acoustics of the chapel, the stunning surroundings, just magical. 

The session was followed by a formal dinner in the dining hall of Harris Manchester college, starting off with a grace sung by our long suffering choir members. It was a noisy, fun meal and a nice chance to debrief with each other about the day. I’ve tried to attach a video with a bit of the conductor, showing us how it’s actually supposed to be done after we had all finished our attempts. 

Snowglobe

On further exploration, the dorm room is surprisingly well kitted out, with a dressing gown, decent tea and coffee and good biscuits (ginger shortbread). The design probably wouldn’t pass any code these days though, with the edge of my loft bed only marginally lower than the padded guardrail (I’m sleeping on the far side lest I take an unscheduled trip over the edge) and a bathroom only 55cm wide. Claustrophobia in the shower cube might be a real problem. I understand there are four rooms with bigger bathrooms, and the reception team quietly allocates them after looking at the person checking in. I’ve included a photo of me in my Oxford hoodie - probably the only time you will see me wearing one! 

It was only five degrees and raining in the morning, so sensibly the tai chi session was in a little room overlooking a garden rather than outside. These morning sessions proved to be the only time to stop and breathe and clear my mind. It’s  SO full on. One of the group suggested that it was like a snow globe that’s been shaken up and that’s exactly how I feel- ideas swirling all over the place. Such fantastic ideas though. It’s my absolute favourite kind of learning- interesting concepts, new frameworks to put things together and lots of time to discuss with other people who think conceptually. I have never never done anything I love as much as this. It’s also such a hothouse of ideas and cultures, all together, all the time, bouncing off each other, challenging and supporting. I’m wondering how it will feel once I’m outside this environment and what I will take away to implement. 

Also, it’s snowing! So beautiful. It’s a bit challenging to be inside all the time - I’ve not gone outside for 36 hours now. It feels even more enclosing to be in this warm noisy place surrounded by the snow falling silently outside.

  

In-spired

A flight from Florence to London City airport and then  a car transfer landed me in Oxford. It’s cold and very crowded here, bustling people everywhere and I’m feeling a bit disoriented from the transition. Notwithstanding this, Oxford is gorgeous- a university city full of beautiful architecture, dressed up for Christmas.

 I stopped for a drink in a little pub, followed by a delicious dinner at the Ivy - finely julienned zucchini, floured and deep fried (OMG so good) and then a curry. Oh yes, and a Christmas cocktail. 

My hotel is a serious downgrade from the St Regis- a dark, tiny room decorated as if someone’s grandma was colourblind. Oscar Wilde once said “my wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death” and I feel his pain. I stayed at this hotel some years ago when it was gracious and very old English luxury. The Hilton has arrived and done their worst and I’m not finding anything positive about their changes. 

In the morning, the busy night streets became quiet and serene and I enjoyed a walk around the city, albeit with a takeaway coffee to warm up my hands. Does anyone know what a “mushroom shot” is ?? It was on the menu board as an extra to order with a coffee. I had a quick whip through the Ashmolean Museum before heading off my course - about ten minutes out of the city centre in a lovely park full of autumn colour. It’s a purpose built facility of the Oxford Saíd faculty- a downgrade again accommodation wise but kind of fun to be in my own little dorm room. 

I’ve only had a half day here so far but the course, the faculty and the other attendees are amazing. Even the food and wine is really good. We had a great session on looking at the future, pulling together into a framework the way different experts see it (sociological perspectives, ecological perspectives, technological perspectives etc). This was followed by a session in a small group (five and a tutor). The others in my tutor group are from Saudi, Romania, Spain, England and Malaysia. The final session was the “Museum of Culture” where we had brought an item from home to represent our lifestyle or culture or life. They were all arranged with little printed museum tags showing the stories. There were some wonderful items, particularly from the African and Asian people, but others too - a leaf skeleton from a special Buddhist tree, a Basque iron sculpture, a box of dates. I bought chicken salt to represent the outdoor lifestyle, shared meals etc. It was a hit - the Deputy dean is going to organise chips so people can try it. 

It’s a gruelling schedule, starting with tai chi (or a 5k run) at 6.50am and finishing at 9pm each night.  I’ll aim for a few more posts but am dubious about getting to it every day. 

Nessun Dorma

My hotel room has been somewhat of a haven from the chaos that is Florence, quiet, sunny and immaculately maintained - housekeeping may have a spy camera to know every time I leave the room. All this came to an end Thursday afternoon when a family with four children (or perhaps ten) arrived next door. I have never experienced anything like the constant chaos- they shrieked, they moved furniture, they slammed doors. At 7pm I’d had enough, and  called down to reception to ask whether I could move rooms if my neighbours were staying for more than one night. Reception offered me a bottle of wine, perhaps as some sort of sleep aid? My noisemakers were staying one night only so I stuck it out but the zoo continued till at least 10pm , resurfacing later in the night briefly and returning to full strength at 6am. I ate a hurried breakfast to avoid seeing them storm the buffet and headed out to Pitti Palace. As well as the access to the building and the art gallery, there was a clothing exhibition on, covering the early 1800’s to current day. The dresses were magnificent, often complete with shoes and hats, and the information cards were great- the kind you actually want to read. 

The building itself was stunning and I spent most of my morning there, returning to the hotel via a wandering path through the maze of streets. Here’s the bathroom built specially for Napoleon.

 I had lunch and a drink at the hotel across the road, where we had stayed in July. I enjoyed reminiscing about that trip over lunch, giggling a bit to see the lounges where my mother found the concierge team sleeping one morning. After lunch my St Regis hotel team were quick to let me know that my neighbours had eventually checked out (unsurprisingly they had just sent a car back to pick up a bag they left behind) and I had a dozy afternoon before free drinks at the bar (gift from the hotel to apologise). It’s become quite cold and on the walk to dinner I enjoyed looking at the beautifull Italian coats and scarves of the locals. There was a long line at the pork takeaway, where they carve slices of a whole pig, a bit like a horizontal kebab - here’s the one in waiting. 

Dinner was at a lovely trattoria near Santa Croche - family owned since 1872. Highly recommend their signature dish, Pici Casa Toscana - hand rolled pasta with rocket pesto and Tuscan sausage. My evening event was an opera showcase in a beautiful old church which was originally a Templar hospital in the 1300’s. Dimly lit , wonderful acoustics and beautiful music, my front row seat made this a magical experience. The concert was arias by three tenors, accompanied by a piano, a mandolin and a double bass, as well as a couple of ballet dancers.  A wonderful finale to my Florence experience. The late finish was challenging after my disrupted prior night and I took a taxi back to my hotel for a much needed sleep. 

Taste of Tuscany

 All the ladies in the breakfast area know me by now and they come and chat while I eat. I’ve been sticking to cereal and fruit, with one little taste of something extra interesting each day. Today I tried a chestnut slice that LOOKED like the caramel part of caramel slice but tasted like yucky meat. Argh. After breakfast, Leonardo picked me up for a trip to Lucca. It’s about an hour drive and we talked about lifestyle, politics, sport and a range of other topics, comparing and contrasting our opinions and experiences. No guide today - exploring solo is not quite as informative, but still fun. Lucca is beautiful and was very quiet since we are heading into low tourist season. 

After a coffee in St Michael’s square, I spent some time in the tiny Domanus Rome excavation house and walked around the various piazzas. 

I had gone pretty light on breakfast today, and the Pasticceria windows looked amazing so I indulged in a few snacks to keep my strength up - firstly Pizza Romana Tonda with tiny courgettes and Parmesan, the base very very thin and crispy with an olive oil crunch. I also tried some Coconut Biscotti- small biscotti rolled in coconut (and maybe egg white?) before the second cooking.

 

Back in Florence for the afternoon, I had a late lunch of a pizza with mortadella, pistachios and burrata. I watched the pizziolo shave the mortadella in front of me to put on top. Delicious. I decided on a few purchases for home to remind me of the trip. Firstly I went back to the pottery shop to buy a large planter for a tree out the front of 117 Regent. They make them as a custom order so I chose the colour and the design. It will be made by the brother, and painted by the aunt of the shop proprietor, whose son was also at the shop. I ended up with a matching house number as well. Good salesmen . They were such nice people and I was there chatting for ages. I then walked across the road to a fascinating shop, all dark timber shelving with gilt and fancy carvings, stocked to the brim with framed pictures. I had seen it on our last trip but it was closed. The owner, in his eighties, said he closes on all the catholic days. His grandfather started the shop in the late 1800s. He was also wonderful and I spent ages talking to him, buying three little beautifully framed pictures of Florence.  

It’s been a day of talking to and buying from the actual makers. It’s really satisfying and adds another dimension to the purchase.