Famous Icons & A Tech Giant

Life at Oxford University offered us the opportunity to meet and learn from globally renowned people. We attended a talk hosted by the Oxford Guild Business Society featuring the CEO of Bottega Veneta,Mr. Bartolomeo Rongone. Hearing him speak about his journey, from Fendi to Saint Laurent to leading one of the most iconic luxury fashion houses, was a masterclass in vision, creativity, and long-term thinking.

Even more surreal was that we got to speak with him personally and take a photo afterward.

And even more awe-inspiring were the speaker events and debates at the Oxford Union Society. They invited people like the former Scottish Prime Minister and the Egyptian icon Bassem Youssef, and organized debates tackling contemporary issues. It was a live intellectual theatre where we learned how to blend wit, intellect, and tradition.

We appreciated the strong presence of women in both Dalhousie and Oxford. We were active members of OxWoCS (Oxford Women in Computer Science) and OxWEST (Oxford Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology). Through these communities, we connected with their executive members and built bridges for future collaborations and knowledge exchange across the Atlantic.

Through them, we were selected to attend the Meta Minds on AI panel and networking event at Meta’s office in London, representing Dal CS students and faculty not only in Oxford but also within a global tech company. Walking into Meta’s office was an experience in itself. There was something powerful about being present at a place where cutting-edge technology is actively being shaped. It felt like stepping into the future we had been studying about.

The event brought together researchers, engineers, and academics working on advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly in generative AI. Listening to the panel discussions gave us insight into how these ideas move from research into real-world, large-scale applications. But what made the experience even more meaningful was the opportunity to connect personally. We spoke with one of the panelists,Oliver Zeldin, Director of Engineering and Research Science at Meta, and had the chance to ask about his work, his journey, and how he approaches innovation at such a scale. That conversation made everything feel more tangible — not just something happening within large organizations, but something we could one day contribute to as well.

In a completely different but equally memorable experience, we attended a small animation workshop led by Mr. Lawrence, the voice behind Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants and a writer of several episodes. There were only about twenty attendees, which made it feel incredibly personal. It gave us the rare opportunity to speak with him directly about his work and creative process. Hearing how ideas evolve into stories, and how creativity is shaped into something that resonates with millions of people, was both fascinating and inspiring. It was a reminder that innovation exists in many forms — not just in technology, but in storytelling and imagination as well.

Looking back, what made these experiences so meaningful was not just the people we met, but how each moment expanded our perspective. From business leaders and global speakers to engineers shaping the future of AI and creatives bringing characters to life, we were constantly surrounded by individuals who were pushing boundaries in their fields.

These experiences did more than inspire us. They made our aspirations feel real. They showed us that the distance between learning and doing, between dreaming and achieving, is not as far as it seems. And perhaps that is what made Oxford truly unforgettable: not just the opportunities themselves, but the way they quietly reshaped how we see what is possible.