Oxford Saïd launches MBA boosting cyber resilience skills
Oxford Saïd Business School has initiated its first Cyber Resilience Elective Programme, developed in partnership with Sygnia, to prepare MBA students for cyber threats facing modern organisations.
The elective, part of the wider Oxford MBA curriculum, responds to increasing concerns over the sophistication of cyberattacks and the necessity for corporate leaders to enhance their understanding and involvement in organisational cyber resilience.
The course is underpinned by research led by Professor Michael Smets and Dr Manuel Hepfer at Oxford Saïd. Their research represents what is described as the most comprehensive global study into CEOs and their approach to cybersecurity. Their research concluded that many business leaders have limited knowledge of the cyber realm and struggle with decision-making during active cyber incidents.
The programme aims to equip both current and future business leaders with the required skills and leadership confidence in cyber resilience. A distinguishing feature of the course is a live, interactive cyberattack simulation delivered in collaboration with Sygnia, providing students with direct experience of the challenges and decision-making pressures of a cyber crisis.
Professor Michael Smets commented, "The unique blend of Oxford's academic rigour and Sygnia's real-world, practical experience, of successfully helping leaders deal with cyberattacks, prepares our MBA students to turn cyber-resilience into a strategic advantage for their organisations. Protecting their organisations, employees, customers and the wider society from cyber threats will be key to maximising value from digital transformation."
Chris Crummey, Global Director of Executive and Board Cyber Services at Sygnia, highlighted the importance of cybersecurity in the current threat landscape. He stated, "Empowering the next generation of leaders to make cyber resilience a core pillar of business strategy is essential to navigating today's complex threat landscape."
He further explained, "As nation-state actors and cybercriminals intensify efforts to disrupt critical infrastructure, paralyse operations, and steal sensitive data, this MBA programme at Saïd Business School represents a bold and necessary step toward strengthening global cyber defence. What sets it apart is the immersive, high-pressure simulation that brings the chaos of a real cyberattack to life—challenging students to lead with intention and decisiveness when it matters most."
The launch of the course comes at a time of changing geopolitical circumstances, a surge in the complexity of cyberattacks, and rapid digitisation across social and economic domains. The simulation, the first of its kind at Saïd Business School, is intended to provide participants with not only theoretical frameworks but also critical decision-making experience under pressure.
Tomer Amir, a former MBA student who now works at Google Cloud and is participating in the course as a guest speaker, shared his perspective: "This is exactly the kind of course I wish had existed when I was a student. Building cyber-resilience skills early in your career is imperative given the shifting threat landscape we are seeing. Understanding cyber is key for any future leader. So, I am very excited to support this course."
The Oxford MBA is recognised as one of the top ten programmes in Europe. Its student body represents 59 nationalities, and the programme focuses on developing a broad business mindset and core managerial skills.
The research and design of the new elective reflect both the increasing frequency of cyberattacks and the global demand for leaders who can manage cybersecurity risks as an integral part of business strategy.
