Israeli Oxford student showcases her country to her peers with trip

Future business leaders studying for MBAs at Oxford University have visited Israel to see the country’s high-tech ecosystem, in a trip organised by an Israeli student who wanted her peers to see her country for what it is.

The Israel visit, a first for Oxford’s Said Business School, included trips to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and the LABS shared workspace in Tel Aviv, which harbours new ventures.

The 30 students met entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and those who run ‘accelerators’ for new businesses, in order to understand how each start-up gets support, financing and connections to international markets.

Oxford student Emily Leshem, who was born in Israel after her parents made aliyah from the US, organised the trip, saying history had been made by the prestigious University’s first Israel visit by business administration students.

“These days it is especially important to strengthen Israel’s image in the Diaspora by letting the world know about the great innovative advancements that are happening there,” she said.

“I am the only Israeli student in my class so this was a chance for me to show my fellow students my hometown in a different light than that portrayed in the media. That’s why I made high-tech the focus of the trip.”

LABS Marketing Director Eden Dvir Zano: “Each week, we host delegations from around the world and bring them together with the various teams that work here.

“For us, this is a mission, to present those in the forefront of Israel’s technological endeavours while providing a business opportunity for those taking part. We were delighted to host the students and look forward to the arrival of the next delegation.”