Who am I?

I've just began blogging for SBS and below is my first post there to introduce myself. If you are new to my blog, this should also be a good (and a slightly more formal) introduction:)

"Hi all!

My name is Kinny Kohli. I am a 20-something (with an MBA you’ll probably learn to be accurate and inaccurate enough at the same time:)) Indian guy. I have an unusual name for an Indian, and will be happy to share in person the story of how I got my name:)

Prior to coming to Saïd Business School for my MBA I worked in the operations and strategy of Financial institutions. I started my career as a call center agent (yes, the (ill)famed industry in India!:)) at GE Capital. Worked there and IBM for a total of ~5 years. During this time I worked in the back office operations of a business to collect payments from customers who had missed paying their credit cards. I worked for US and UK based clients (private label credit cards, high street banks, etc) and thoroughly enjoyed growing from the ranks to lead diverse teams. I also relished finding ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the work we did (how do we get more work from the same shift hours, how do we improve our cross sell rates, how do we improve our customer satisfaction, etc) Then I got an opportunity to work with Capital One as a Supplier Relationship Manager. The role was to manage the kind of services I was delivering earlier. I worked there for 5 years and was promoted to lead a team of Supplier Relationship Managers. In my last role I was managing our outsourced business from US and UK to firms in India and Philippines, worth approximately $18 million per month. I also led operational and strategic interests (look at ways to improve effectiveness and efficiency and also who are we partnering with, who should get a bigger pie of our business, etc)

Outside work I enjoy meditating (sometimes that is required at work too!), running and writing poetry. I’ve been plagued with injuries and they’ve kept me away from my dream of running a marathon. But I recently ran a 10k with a slightly dodgy ankle so the dream lives on. I also published a book of my poems. The sales number was a ‘respectable’ two digit figure. That’s all I’ll say about that.

At SBS, I’ve had the opportunity to be trained as a Peer Supporter and am also the Secretary of our Student Advisory Board. I recently beat someone in Table Tennis who has represented Oxford, so I am gravitating towards focusing on that too.

There are tonnes of things going on in Oxford and I am sure I will have a great year in Oxford. If only there were more hours in a day to do justice to everything! Well, through the year I will try to share my thoughts and views of what’s going on here. This should hopefully give you a flavour of life here. Ask me if you have any questions. I’ll welcome replies to blog posts or email (kinny.kohli@sbs.ox.ac.uk). Wish you success in your journey! ”