Oxford+

How does world-class science fail to become a scalable business and what can founders do about it? In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Benny Axt, Entrepreneur in Residence at Oxford Science Enterprises, about the complex relationship between healthcare technology and the systems it must operate within. They explore why healthcare's apparent inefficiency is often intentio...

What would success actually look like if Oxfordshire’s innovation ecosystem got the next phase right? In this Oxford+ in Brief bonus episode, Susannah de Jager puts four rapid-fire questions to Olga Kozlova, one of the leaders behind Equinox (Equitable Innovation Oxford). Olga shares what she believes the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor could unlock for the UK economy and what it would mean in ev...

How do you turn a brilliant but messy innovation ecosystem into something easier to navigate, stronger on the world stage, and fairer for local communities? In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Olga Kozlova, one of the driving forces behind Equinox (Equitable Innovation Oxford), a new partnership convened by the University of Oxford to align universities, investors, corpo...

What would success for UK innovation actually look like in practice? In this short Oxford+ in Brief bonus episode, host Susannah de Jager asks Lord William Hague four fast questions that cut straight to the future of Oxford, the Oxford ecosystem, and Britain’s ability to translate world-class ideas into lasting prosperity. Hague argues that the UK should aim to make the Oxford–Cambridge–London tri...

How does the UK turn world-class ideas into world-class companies, without selling the best outcomes abroad? In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Lord William Hague, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and former UK Foreign Secretary, about the UK’s scale-up gap and what it will take to build an innovation economy that keeps more value at home. They discuss why univers...

What would success look like if Oxfordshire got climate innovation truly right, not just in ideas, but in deployment at scale?  In this Oxford+ bonus episode, Susannah de Jager speaks with Hannah Scott, CEO of Oxfordshire Greentech, about the practical barriers that stop climate tech startups moving from promise to global impact. Hannah unpacks why scaling hardware and deep tech takes longer, cost...

How do you turn a county into a world-leading climate tech ecosystem, and why does collaboration matter more than competition when tackling the climate crisis? In this episode of Oxford Plus, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Hannah Scott, CEO of Oxfordshire Greentech and Co-Founder of the Climate Tech SuperCluster, about building networks that connect climate innovators with the funding, experti...

What would defence reform look like if we stopped overcomplicating it? In this Oxford+ in brief episode, host Susannah de Jager asks Alison Hawks questions that reveal how leaders think under pressure, what shapes their decisions, and what they are curious about right now. Alison argues that defence needs to get out of its own way: procurement should be a clearer transaction where the military own...

How do you sell to a customer where the decision-maker is actually five different people, and half of them might move roles before the contract lands? In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Dr Alison Hawks, co-founder and CEO of BMNT Ltd, about why defence innovation is becoming a structural opportunity, and why procurement literacy is often more important than the technolo...

What does success look like when world-leading research meets commercial sustainability? In this bonus episode of Oxford Plus, Susannah de Jager sits down with Lisa Flashner to explore the evolving landscape of one of the world’s most famous academic cities. Lisa shares her transition from the West Coast to Oxford, highlighting the unique intellectual diversity and the "incredibly talented women"...

How does one of the most significant private investments in UK science and technology history take shape on the ground in Oxford? In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Lisa Flashner, Chief Operating Officer of the Ellison Institute of Technology, about Larry Ellison's ambitious vision to establish a transformative research campus in Oxford. They explore why Ellison chose O...

Oxford has always been a place where ideas can shape the world. But right now the stakes have never been higher. In season four of Oxford Plus we're asking what UK innovation really means in an age of global uncertainty, rapid technological change, and a growing need for national capability and sovereignty. This season features voices shaping that future, including Lord William Hague and Lisa Flas...

Why do the critical conversations about founding and funding a business often happen behind closed doors, making the ecosystem feel impenetrable? In this special episode, Oxford+ host Susannah de Jager reveals the origin story and core premise of the podcast. Drawing on her extensive background as a former COO and CEO of a European equities hedge fund, and her later work in pension capital reform,...

How do we solve the UK’s persistent scale-up capital conundrum and move from academic theory to commercial reality?  Host Susannah de Jager speaks with Pete Davies, Partner and Head of Developed Markets Strategy at Lansdowne Partners and co-founder of Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE). Pete shares his unique, contrarian perspective, spanning decades of experience in asset management and pioneering...

How do you design a physical space that matches the lightning-fast pace of modern scientific discovery? This episode explores the new paradigm for innovation districts with Professor Dame Kay Davies and Victoria Collett of Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St. John's College.  The conversation covers the critical transition from academic lab work, where Professor Davies has spent 30...

What if the key to the future of global mobility was found not in isolation, but in a carefully curated community? Host Susannah de Jager sits down with Dan Geoghegan , CEO of Bicester Motion , the visionary behind the world's largest automotive and future mobility cluster. Dan details his systematic, values-driven approach to turning a derelict RAF bomber station into a thriving, 444-acre ecosyst...

How do you maintain a strong company culture and team commitment as your organisation scales?  In the third and final part of this series, Professor Robin Dunbar sits down with host Susannah de Jager to explore how social science can provide the answer. Robin explains that maintaining deep relationships with your core team is a huge "time burden" for leaders, but it is essential for fostering trus...

Have you ever wondered what makes a great leader for a large, scaling company?  In part two of our special series, Professor Robin Dunbar returns to explore the essential social skills needed to manage a growing organisation. Robin and host Susannah de Jager explore the psychological boundaries of group size, from the point where a CEO no longer recognises every employee to the limit of knowing 5,...

Have you ever wondered why your company's culture shifts dramatically as it grows? In part one of a special three-part series, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Professor Robin Dunbar, creator of the renowned "Dunbar's Number," to explore the evolutionary and anthropological realities that impact organisations as they scale. They delve into how social constraints on our brains affect group siz...

What compels a scientist to leave academia for the high-stakes world of finance and then become the CEO of a publicly-traded biotech company? In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Zandy Forbes, the CEO and co-founder of MeiraGTx. Zandy shares her fascinating career journey, explaining how her experience as a hedge fund analyst shaped her unique approach to building a re...

Ever wondered how to integrate meaningful philanthropy into your entrepreneurial journey?  In this insightful episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Rob Chapman and Isobel Morton, Trustees of Founders Pledge, to explore innovative strategies for startup founders to effectively give back. Founders Pledge provides a structured, community-driven approach for entrepreneurs committed...

How does a 40-year-old charity continue to shape the future of science and innovation in Oxford? In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Steve Burgess, CEO, and Nicki Campling, Director of Innovation and Operations at the Oxford Trust, to explore the organisation's unique role in nurturing startups and inspiring future scientists. From pioneering the UK's first innovation...

Is there a better way to manage obesity than GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic?  In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Camilla Easter, CEO of Oxford Medical Products, about Sirona—a pioneering, non-pharmaceutical pill that mimics the effects of bariatric surgery without the side effects. Designed to expand in the stomach and promote satiety, Sirona could become the go-to solution f...

What does it take to scale a successful venture capital firm while staying aligned with founders? In this episode of Oxford+ , host Susannah de Jager speaks with David Mott, Founder Partner at Oxford Capital, about his 25-year journey backing over 100 UK tech startups. David shares insights on what makes early-stage companies succeed, why founder-led teams outperform, and how Oxford Capital bridge...

Can a university-powered ecosystem become the UK’s next startup superpower?  In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager sits down with Jack Edmondson, Chief Investment Officer at Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), to explore the art and challenge of turning world-class research into global impact. With over 20 years in investment and deep ties to the Oxford ecosystem, Jack shares his vision...