Dr Athol Williams

Regent’s alumnus, Dr Athol Williams (2017, DPhil in Politics), has been appointed the first Poet Laureate at Oxford Saïd Business School, marking a significant and unusual milestone for the School, and a fantastic achievement for Athol.

Dr Williams is an established South African poet, with a number of poetry collections to his name, including the South Africa Independent Publishers Award-winning Invitation, as well as two works of fiction and other non-fiction works. He is also currently a Senior Fellow of Management Practice at Oxford Saïd.

His appointment makes Saïd the first business school globally to introduce the role of Poet Laureate – an honorary title traditionally given to a poet who composes and advocates for poetry within an institution.

Dr Athol Williams and Professor Mete Morsing, Interim Dean, Oxford Saïd

Williams intends to take this role much further. A long-standing advocate for the place of poetry in professional life, he believes it has a vital role to play in shaping the leaders of today and tomorrow.

“Compassion, judgement, connection are all going to become more critical for leaders. At Oxford Saïd we are developing leaders that the world needs, so we need to be developing leaders with these capabilities. And I think poetry has a vital role to play in that.”

Williams argues that poetry offers a distinctive way of thinking – one that embraces ambiguity, deepens human connection, and strengthens critical judgement. These qualities, he suggests, are essential for navigating the complexity of modern leadership.

In this context, poetry becomes more than an art form; it is a resource for leaders seeking to relate to others in meaningful ways. As Williams puts it, “Great leaders are those who can relate to other people in meaningful ways. Poetry is a powerful resource that leaders can draw on.”

Dr William’s appointment signals a broader shift in business education – one that values not only analytical expertise, but also the human capacities that enable leaders to respond thoughtfully and responsibly to the world around them.

Regent’s warmly congratulates Athol on this distinctive appointment and is delighted to see one of its alumni at the forefront of such an innovative initiative. The College wishes him every success in the role and looks forward to seeing the continued impact of his work in bringing poetry into the heart of leadership and business education.

You can read more about Dr Williams’ appointment in these articles by Saïd Business School and the University of Oxford.