Travelogue 3: My recollections from iGCB Oxford School of Central Banking

Travelogue 3: A Memorable Journey to Oxford and London

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting both Oxford and London. Although I’ve traveled to the UK many times, this was my first time exploring Oxford, and I was excited for the experience. Oxford surpassed my expectations in every way. This 1,000+-year-old institution, world-renowned for its unique approach to education, is vibrant and alive with a diverse student body and distinguished faculty. The campus atmosphere, steeped in history and culture, left a lasting impression on me. I couldn’t help but wonder how different my own life might have been if I’d attended a university like Oxford—but that’s a thought for another day.

The main purpose of this trip was particularly exciting: the launch of our inaugural iGCB Oxford Central Banking Conclave, held at the historic Rhodes House. We welcomed over 40 participants from more than 20 central banks worldwide, along with other key ecosystem players. This immersive conclave fostered a rich exchange of ideas and deep learning among a highly diverse group of central bankers. I felt privileged and honored to sponsor this program.

Several sessions resonated deeply with me, including:

1. “Shaping the Future: Central Banks and the Economy of Tomorrow” by Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Executive Director of the IMF. His contrarian perspective on monetary policy took me back to my college economics classes.

2. “Central Banking in a Multifaceted Crisis” by Dr. Salim Chahine, Vice Governor of the Central Bank of London.

3. “Dinner with the Dinosaurs: Can Nature Teach Us How to Form and Sustain Economic Ecosystems” by Prof. Pinar Ozcan from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

The program concluded with a grand graduation ceremony and a ceremonial dinner at the prestigious Oxford and Cambridge Club in London. The closing speech by Naveed Sultan, former Chairman of ICG at Citigroup, was a fitting end to this remarkable event.

I would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the team that spent the last nine months putting this event together. Organizing an event of this scale is much like an Indian wedding—it requires a great deal of effort, countless late nights, and a few heartburns. But when everything finally comes together, it’s a beautiful experience that leaves behind lifelong memories.

I’m already looking forward to returning to Oxford next year for the next Central Banking Conclave.

Leaving you with some memorable pictures… Enjoy!

Author – Rajesh Saxena – CEO, iGCB, Intellect Design Arena

Banking leader with over 35 years of experience in retail banking including distribution, digital banking, and branch banking with special expertise in credit cards, Personal loans, and other unsecured lendings. Prior to joining Intellect, Rajesh, was the CEO of American Express, India, and was responsible for running the credit card business in India. Prior to AMEX, he worked with Citibank for 19 years across geographies in various banking roles with the last 10 years spent in managing product and country P&L’s.