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Author: olivia.francis

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By Mukhammadjon Ataev (MSIB)

Featured above: STAP UK participants in front of Winchester Cathedral. 

My motivation for participating in the Business and the State program was to learn more about privatizations and PPPs, as I am planning to build my career in the sphere of consulting. As a consultant, I will need to gain as much knowledge as possible about business operations, ownership, business ties to government, and trends in the field. This course helped me deep dive into the privatization process, the milestones that occur in privatization, PPPs, and success factors impacting privatization.

Learning about privatization and PPPs in the context of the UK was a great idea. This country has gone through a huge privatization program and their journey in the establishment of PPPs is very useful to learn about best practices, as well as State and Business relationships. Even though I support privatization, throughout the course I could see that privatizations are useful not only for development purposes, but also as a powerful tool in politics since they can be used by politicians to gain votes and improve their image.  

Featured in right image: the author in front of the Thames River and the Houses of Parliament in London. 

Mukhammadjon Ataev in front of the Thames River and the Houses of Parliament in London.

The program was very interesting, because it was organized with speakers from different backgrounds and industries that showcased privatization from various perspectives. I especially enjoyed that the course allowed us to apply our knowledge in different industries and political viewpoints. I was also excited that speakers were not just from academia, but were professionals in different spheres, sharing their point of view and knowledge based on their own experience. As I believe that theories always should be tested in practice, it was great to have a mix of theoretical and experience-based knowledge. 

Privatization of Public Utilities and Alumni Reception

Featured in the above image: STAP UK participants at the Royal Automobile Club in London. 

Meeting with Cat Hobbs from “We Own It” was very interesting and gave another perspective on the privatization process. A lot of public utilities’ privatizations have taken place throughout history— some of which were successful, while others were not. In the case of water privatization in the UK, the matter was neither one nor the other. Compared to the Argentinian fall in privatizing its water system, the UK hasn’t run into any problems during the process, as their currency was stable and the process went smoothly. However, we can see that long-term issues might appear.

One contributing factor to this possibility is public opinion. The main concerns of the public currently are the quality of the water in the rivers and increasing prices. From the business perspective, the improvement of water quality needs additional investment. While this action will lead to increased prices, it is also an important factor for the public. Now the UK is in a difficult position where actions are needed, but each mistake could cost billions of dollars. As a result, this issue has become a powerful tool in the hands of politicians who can manipulate the issue to gain votes.  

This lecture was also very helpful for me on a personal level, since my home country is currently undergoing huge reforms and liberalization. The government of my country started the privatization of state-owned enterprises a few years ago and we are now at a point where the privatization of public utilities is a heavily contested issue. In this way, our talk with Cat Hobbs of “We Own It” was enlightening. Her lecture taught me a lot of the considerations that my country could learn from in our own debates back home.  

After the lecture, we attended a GW Alumni reception at the Royal Automobile Club. This was a great opportunity to meet with alumni and learn about their journey after graduation. I was especially fascinated by their differences in career development post-graduation. 

Featured in the above image: STAP UK participants at the GWSB Alumni Reception in London. 

It was wonderful to see how they were able to succeed in a very competitive job market, but still have time to gather and promote GW abroad. During the reception, I was able to talk with many people with fascinating backgrounds. One highlight of the evening was talking to an alum with expertise in my field— they even agreed that we should collaborate together in the future.  

PPP’s in the Sphere of Defense

When I hear “privatization” or “PPP,” I mostly think of state-owned companies such as airlines, railways, and national enterprises. However, in the case of the British Army Logistic Corps, I learned how even defense can be established in the form of PPP. It was interesting to learn from someone who worked during these reforms and could speak to how they took place, as well as how the UK did it back in the 90’s. This came to be one of the most valuable lectures we attended because it was a totally different perspective from my own and was delivered by the firsthand source.   

The Royal Logistics Corps Museum near Winchester, England.

When I hear “privatization” or “PPP,” I mostly think of state-owned companies such as airlines, railways, and national enterprises. However, in the case of the British Army Logistic Corps, I learned how even defense can be established in the form of PPP. It was interesting to learn from someone who worked during these reforms and could speak to how they took place, as well as how the UK did it back in the 90’s. This came to be one of the most valuable lectures we attended because it was a totally different perspective from my own and was delivered by the firsthand source.   

Featured in image to the left: the Royal Logistics Corp Museum.

During this lecture, we learned that contracting the defense is a great saving opportunity for the government. Innovations in industry can have an impact on other spheres. As a result, the government may soon get the latest technological solutions if it contracts with private companies. While I learned a lot during this session, I was also left with some new questions of my own—namely, how safe is it to contract the defense sphere when taking national security and potential dependence on private companies into consideration?

In addition to the British Army Logistic Corps, I loved the city of Winchester and our tour around town. Being there, I could feel the atmosphere of history, royalty, and richness of the U.K. Learning more about the history of churches in the country and its place in politics was interesting to me. In the end, I left Winchester feeling that it was even more emblematic of Great Britain than London. The architecture and history in this beautiful city were second to none.

Featured in right image: Winchester Cathedral. 

Winchester Cathedral.

Conclusion

Overall, I loved this course because of the mix of theoretical and experience-based knowledge. By combining these two, I was able to see a lot of similarities between practice and theory. This was useful in learning best practices, while also recognizing that some industries face difficulties in privatizing. One of the most notable difficulties in implementing privatization is balancing it with public opinion and the influence of politics.

Mukhammadjon Ataev posing with Lord Neil Kinnock.

Another great aspect of the program was the cohort of classmates taking the course. Our cohort consisted of students from different majors, as well as professional backgrounds. It was nice to hear their perspectives on the subject matter and learn more about their careers. Our group was full of curious people who asked a wide range of questions according to their perspectives. This helped me to look at each issue from different angles and enriched our course discussions. 

Finally, I was surprised by how people care about politics in the UK and how they stand for their viewpoints. They enjoy sharing and defending their ideas, which leads to interesting political discussions. In particular, I loved the meeting with Lord Kinnock to hear his point of view on current political trends and learn more about his career as he went through the long journey of being from a worker's family to achieving the status of a Lord. I was inspired by his story, straightforwardness, and character, proving that there is no limitation if a person works hard and believes in their ideas. 

Featured in the left image: the author posing with Lord Neil Kinnock.

Last, but not least, I want to thank G&EE for working with Prof Weiner and our TA Holly for organizing such an informative and well-established course. As this was my second STAP, I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the G&EE team (especially, for Olivia and Marie) for their great work that has been done behind the scenes, as well as their support during my visa application processes.  

Featured above: students touring the Winchester Cathedral. 

Author with guest speaker.

Featured above: the author posing with guest speaker, Lt. Col. Edward Waite-Roberts.

Featured above: the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower over the Thames River. 

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By Rachel Johnson, PMBA student.

Featured above: The author and classmates posing in Westminster. 

In the PMBA program, most of my course work is business oriented and given my job in finance, I am not often brought outside of my “corporate bubble” (for lack of better term). But throughout this course I was able to stretch my brain and expand my thinking via discussions on public policy, political views, personal beliefs, and business alike through the lens of learning about Public Private Partnerships (PPP). I found that the diversity of speakers we had throughout the week allowed me to analyze each speaker’s opinion on a certain issue or aspect of PPP and determine for myself the pros/cons of their points of view and weigh them against my own opinions. I appreciated that all the speakers were so candid in providing their personal opinions.

I found it interesting to hear from so many politicians on Parliament Day and about their careers and how they came to civil service. I enjoyed most being able to draw my own conclusions from each lecture, and it was nice to see practical/real application of PPP from our first lecture at Long Harbour with Christophe de Taurines but then contrast that with the theoretical/political applications later in the week with Robert Marcus and Lord Neil Kinnock. 

When I studied abroad in London during my undergraduate degree, I took a modern British history course that covered UK politics from the Thatcher premiership to present, significant popular culture events, significant events that the UK was involved in, etc. and I think it prepared me more for this course and our time in London in addition to the readings on PPP mixed with the current events on the Royal Mail, the HS1 and others, which I think complimented the course well. It was good to have the structure of academic perspective before going into sessions with speakers that addressed some of the challenges around PPP from a practical application standpoint. 

One of the more theoretical sessions on the trip was our lecture in Cambridge with Professor Newbery. Despite its academic nature, I did note that the theme of this lecture was consistent with that of Richard Threlfall’s meeting at KPMG, where both highlighted that the consistent ideological struggle of PPP is that the public sector doesn’t understand the motivations of private sector and vice versa. I think many of our speakers stayed true to this tune and I think it was a key take away from the trip overall. 

Featured above: The author pictured outside the Great Hall in Winchester Castle.

I got something out of each discussion that we had, but from my business mind perspective I enjoyed Long Harbour and the discussion on the Fawley Waterside Project the best, as Christophe was an engaging speaker and supported each question in the room as well as stimulated all of us to think about how the project could be successful. Additionally, I enjoyed the presentation style of Richard Threlfall the best as he came prepared to discuss a wide range of topics but allowed natural flow of conversation via questions. I think that was the most engaging and encouraged the most participation of everyone in the group. 

I also liked that it was just a meeting, where he was sitting with us, as opposed to lecture style. I was surprised from KPMG that it was almost all climate initiative focused, but given that many of the industries discussed (EVs, water, energy) have flipped between or had opportunities to be privatized or nationalized, it fit in well with the issues facing those industries today with climate change. Something I would have loved to delve into more, especially on the political side with our speakers that work in civil service, would be the aspect of accountability as it pertains to the government.  

Featured in left image: The author and classmates in front of Buckingham Palace.

This trip has meant a lot to me as it was a chance for me to return to a country I love and am fascinated by. We share a special relationship with the UK and being able to continue my education outside of the MBA program was enlightening and fulfilling. Highlights for me included continuing the debates and debriefs outside of the lectures, the walking tours, and spending time with my peers as we got to learn about each other’s careers, personal goals, opinions, personalities, etc. I also learned how to ‘punt’ in Cambridge and was proud of myself that I didn’t tip the vessel into the water; it was a great team building exercise! I learned so much from my peers and our speakers and came away from the trip with a deep appreciation for the various career paths of those circling the work of Public Private Partnerships. There is great value in intellectual debates amongst peers and a joining of concepts in how the world works. I wish everyone the best in their continued education journeys and I hope to return to the UK again soon and even follow up with fellow GW alumni I met at the Royal Automobile Club networking event. 

Featured in right image: The author "punting" in Cambridge. 

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 Featured in the above photo:  Lunch and conversation with Lord Neil Kinnock in the House of Lords Dining Room. 

By Olivia Lacny (PMBA '23)

One of my biggest regrets from my undergraduate years is that I didn’t study abroad. My friends would come back from a semester in Paris, a summer in Valencia, or a month in Nicaragua with memories and a whole new world perspective that I envied. I knew at the time that my financial situation could not support an extended time abroad and I did not yet have the confidence to travel alone. Still, it bothered me that I hadn’t taken the opportunity to revel in the mélange of culture and academia. I made my peace with that fact, accepting that the time in my life for living abroad had passed.

Lunch at country inn in Winchester, author left foreground.

Having experienced graduate school in my late twenties, I knew that the lessons I gleaned from academia were more meaningful than when I was in my late teens/early twenties. I feel that having waited until grad school to “study abroad”, this sentiment holds true. The timing is right. I remember snickering at my friends who returned to America feeling “cultured” and “worldly”, as if 16 weeks in a different country could alter your world view. I understand it now. Just six days in the United Kingdom has changed my outlook on climate change, work-life balance, and the impact policy has on public health outcomes. 

Most of this is due to the interactions that we had with the different spheres of expertise, but I would be remiss if I thought my classmates didn’t also play into this perspective shift. I thought that after this trip I would have gotten my “study abroad fix”, but I want to live an extended time abroad now more than ever. This is just the beginning and as a prepare to enter my thirties, I’m open to the opportunity of moving outside of the United States. Mortgage, dog, and homelife aside, this trip has taught me the importance of immersion in a different culture.

What I Learned from My Peers

This experience wouldn’t have altered my perspective, had it been a class of 20, like-minded MBA students.  One of the most invaluable attributes of this course is that I was surrounded by people who chartered a different path in academia. I learned almost as much from the questions that others asked, as I learned from the keynote speakers. For instance, some of my classmates had an impressive background in environmental policy. Every time that  they asked a question about climate policies, I would find myself amazed by their expertise in the field. I felt this with almost all my classmates from different programs. At dinner our first night,  a couple of my classmates spent 25 minutes talking about the Jones Act as it relates to the Coast Guard and the supply chain. Did I have any clue what the Jones Act was? No, but I do now! The smaller, informal interactions with my peers proved to be as meaningful and informative as our formal interactions.

General Observations

Learnings from the trip fall into two categories: 1) dialogue and perspective from our speakers and 2) cultural aspects of living in the UK. To begin with the content of our speaker series, one of the most striking aspects of our dialogue was that regardless of industry, businesspeople and policy makers have made a conscious effort to incorporate sustainability into their strategy. The most surprising, was that however conservative Liam Fox is, he is actively aware of the consequences of climate change. Both sides of the aisle agree that this is a world crisis. This is a stark contrast from the American conservative parties who refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy of climate change.

Liam Fox speaking with STAP UK participants.

Culturally, it’s obvious that Brits spend more time thinking about current international events compared to how often Americans think about global happenings. Could it be because Brexit was only a few years ago, and the fallout from leaving the EU has dominated the news ever since? Maybe. On the train a man and his son (who was probably around 7 or 8 years old) sat down across from me. The son asked a question that prompted his father to respond with his thoughts on the US’s national debt. The reverse situation would never happen in the US! I doubt American third graders are keen to discuss other countries’ national debt. This was also a theme of my conversations at the Alumni event. Expats explained how they spent their weekends and I realized how easy it is to immerse yourself in a dozen different cultures. You can easily take a weekend trip to Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome (the list goes on)- where the language, food, fashion, and traditions are all wildly different than London. In the US we have the option of traveling across the US or to Canada all of which are similar. Mexico is the only country within somewhat close proximity in which you can experience a different culture.

Core Memories

I’ve created so many wonderful memories, it’s hard to decide on my favorite part of the trip. I enjoyed seeing Winchester and its remarkable cathedral and Cambridge with its medieval charm. Never again in my life, will I have the opportunity to speak with MPs in the House of Commons, or dine with a real-life Lord.  As much as I would love to do a graduate program abroad, I will probably never have another opportunity to study economics at Cambridge. 

Global Head of Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare Richard Threlfall with UK STAP group at KPMG Headquarters, Canary Wharf. 

My favorite speakers included MP Carolyn Harris and Richard Threlfall from KPMG. Both had a contagious enthusiasm for their work. As a consultant, I appreciated learning about consulting in a different industry. I loved Richard’s “primer” activity asking questions like “what would happen 6 years & 26 days from today?”. It felt like a game of trivia, which was a welcome change after a long day of meetings.

Carolyn Harris did not fit my perception of an MP. It was empowering to hear that someone with a working-class background and purple hair could become an MP, and that you don’t need to fit the classic mold of a “politician” in order to be one in the UK. This is different from politicians in the US, where it is almost impossible to become a representative without copious amounts of money and fashion conformity.

STAP UK 2023 participants in Parliament with MP Carolyn Harris and Councillor Aysha Raza

Carolyn spoke with such passion on the concept of women’s health and menopause, it reinvigorated the same passion that I once had while studying in undergrad. When Carolyn said that she would let us know when she was on Capitol Hill, I would ACTUALLY want to see her! She was a refreshing personality in a somewhat stuffy parliament building.

Conclusion

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this program. It exceeded my expectations and pushed me to learn and explore academic disciplines other than my own. The itinerary was perfectly organized and executed and with each new guest speaker I felt more excited. I used to poke fun at my friends who said study abroad “changed their life”, and while I’m the same person that I was before London, I will cherish the memories I created through this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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Featured in the above photo: STAP UK participants at the Houses of Parliament. 

By Sydney Smith (MAccy '23)

Washington is a city full of recovering idealists- we strive to find common ground and a sense of pride while seeking change in our country and local communities. The reality of political showmanship and involvement of lobbying by private enterprise can be frustrating. As business and policy students, we are not immune to this spreading pessimism. In our classrooms and papers, we grapple with a gnawing sense of dread, questioning whether our nation is capable of marching towards progress. The challenges our generation faces- growing wealth inequality; rampant misinformation; unequal access to education, housing, and healthcare; and the impending threat of climate catastrophe- seem insurmountable. It's hard to fathom how our “large tent” democracy, with its wide-ranging political viewpoints and philosophies, can confront these existential issues in a unified front. The challenges that we face are formidable and frankly petrifying, even if our nation was less divided.

I know this firsthand, as I am one of those former idealists. I’ve always been interested in the intersection between policy, politics, and profit. In my undergraduate research, I wrote a capstone paper on the economic incentives of pharmaceutical patent length and its remarkable ability to stoke innovation within the industry. At the time, I was wholly under the impression that market flaws and externalities could be corrected with the right blend of government regulation and industry compliance. When I first moved to D.C., I brought this optimistic philosophy with me. Over four years in this city, I became pessimistic about our government’s inability to legislate and move through social challenges within a radically divided nation. 

The author in Winchester, ancient capital of England.

This is why I was initially drawn to the Business and the State study-abroad program offered by GWSB: I was hoping to better understand regulatory mechanisms that harness the power of private industry’s innovation. Instead, my takeaways are more interpersonal than technical- I was particularly transformed by our speakers’ optimism, community pride, iterative legislative philosophy, and collaborative spirit.

Key Takeaway: Gaining Appreciation for NHS & National Pride

One of the most profound surprises during the program was the unwavering optimism radiating from the speakers we encountered. It challenged my own pessimistic perspective and instilled a renewed sense of hope. Throughout the course, the National Health Service (NHS) became a symbol of wide public support and collaboration. As our first speaker in D.C., Tom Haigh cautiously discussed the challenge of increasing NHS wait times for specialists. I found the contrast between his sanitized presentation and Sonia Klein's candor quite interesting. As a civil servant and embassy representative, Mr. Haigh stayed on message: the NHS struggled during the pandemic, but the government was acting quickly to accelerate access. Meanwhile, Sonia Klein was more willing to chime in and challenge our presumptions about British healthcare- and regularly pushed back against in-class criticisms on doctor pay and innovation of the NHS. Both Mr. Haigh and Ms. Klein were effusive in their support and pride in centralized healthcare. 

STAP UK participants at Great Ormond Street Hospital, learning about the NHS from Dr. Daljit Hothi, Associate Medical Director. 

The unwavering national pride in the NHS stood in sharp contrast to contentious debates over healthcare in the US. The guest speakers celebrated the system's merits despite its flaws. Their philosophy of healthcare as a basic right for all citizens was striking. It became apparent that the NHS symbolizes core national values of equality and community. While private interests certainly play a small role in its functioning, the spirit of public good prevails. The NHS represents a shared ideal that all deserve quality care regardless of economic status. This clear national consensus does not exist in America's fractured healthcare system.

Surprises: Broad Support on Climate Change

Beyond healthcare, I encountered unexpected and encouraging perspectives on climate change that further impressed me. While Dr. Liam Fox MP has a reputation for “right-wing” Tory ideals, he discussed climate change not just as a legitimate driver of global social strife, but also highlighted the urgent issue of water rights. Although I understand UK political parties differ from the US, I was relieved that the science of climate change seems to be widely accepted rather than maligned in Parliament. Fox's forward-looking views defied my expectations; they showcased the potential for, and urgent need of, bipartisan cooperation in addressing environmental concerns in the US. Similarly, Richard Threlfall of KPMG passionately endorsed global innovative efforts to combat climate change. Most inspiring to me was his commentary on the need for wealthy countries to contribute to a global fund supporting struggling island nations during the climate crisis - this willingness to subvert traditional capitalist ideals renewed my faith in business leaders prioritizing global well-being over profiteering.

Having studied the partisan divide over climate change policies in the US, I expected to hear similar skepticism within the UK's Conservative party and from business leaders. Yet MP Liam Fox and business leader Richard Threlfall both urgently emphasized the need for climate action, contrasting sharply with denialism from American conservatives. His science-based perspectives surprised me given right-wing and efficiency-focused ideological opposition to environmental regulations in the US; climate policy has not become as politically polarized in the UK as it has across the Atlantic. Discussing climate change as an imminent threat requiring global collaboration rather than a contested scientific theory suggested potential for consensus-driven policymaking.

Former Defense Secretary MP Liam Fox speaking with STAP UK participants in Parliament. 

Incremental Change Through Trial and Error: Lessons on Flexible Policymaking

The program not only revealed surprising viewpoints but also highlighted the power of incremental progress throughout the years—a notion that resonated deeply with me. Labour MP, Carolyn Harris described her efforts to spread awareness of and regulate the pernicious gambling industry as a piece-meal process. MP Harris sought to decrease the harm of gambling first, by decreasing the cost of each bet; in response, the gambling industry shifted toward online gambling- which conveniently fell outside of the current law. Legislators must be willing to try one model of regulation and then shift with the changing tides of private industry. Our speaker at Cambridge, Professor David Newbery discussed the challenges of getting regulatory structure correct for privatized electricity in the U.K.- this took three separate frameworks before striking a moderate balance between the power of the regulators and the electric companies. Professor Newberry did not seem to dwell on the fact that the regulation was not perfect, instead he focused on the incremental improvements overtime. This was an excellent real-world example of “not letting perfect get in the way of good enough.”

STAP UK participants with Member of Parliament (MP) Carolyn Harris and Councillor Dr. Aysha Raza. 

The nuanced perspectives on evolving regulations resonated with me as a pragmatist at heart. More than lofty ideologies, it takes reasonable compromises and dedication over time to truly improve society. MP Harris' journey regulating gambling and Professor Newbery's analysis of iterative electricity frameworks demonstrated that progress emerges slowly through trial and error. 

Rather than work backwards from theoretical or academic perfection, policymakers must craft practical solutions first and refine them as needs and scenarios shift. I gained appreciation for this flexible, incremental approach from UK leaders across sectors. Their lived experiences revealed how even flawed policies can move towards better alignment through dedication to the bigger picture.

This course provided invaluable insight into the interplay between government, business, and social institutions in the UK. The passion speakers conveyed about quintessentially British programs like the NHS demonstrated deep national pride and a willingness to bring in unexpected viewpoints. I gained appreciation for how policy change can occur incrementally over years through coalition-building. While theory is important- I’ve always found praxis to be far more enlightening, especially within the context of experiential learning.

The author at the British Army Logistic Corps Museum, Winchester.

I look forward to applying the nuanced understanding of public-private partnerships I developed to my future career in public service. I am grateful for the inspiring examples of collaboration, persistence, and pragmatic optimism this course provided. It was a rare intellectual treat for me to speak to so many fascinating and intelligent people- and still leave the conversations full of hope.

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