Alumni Spotlight: Joe Dollin (2022, MBA)

I'm Joe, MBA ’22. While I was at HMC, I played as the starting goalie for the Men’s Blues Ice Hockey team. 

I currently work as Senior Legal Counsel on the Networks team at Vodafone. My main focus is on corporate and strategic matters, like advising shareholders and working on joint ventures and infrastructure projects. I’m also leading the VodafoneThree side of Vodafone Group’s acquisition of VodafoneThree. 

Alongside my legal job, I’m also the COO of a small start-up called ButlerIQ. Running a start-up has reminded me that it takes optimism, plenty of coffee, and maybe a little healthy delusion. 

Outside of work, I have a cockapoo who is probably the most expensive and annoying thing I’ve ever owned, and any training I try is completely ignored. I still play hockey, though these days I think my real calling is in beer league hockey – gone are the dreams of the NHL. 

I still believe in ghost stories, especially since I’m sure those doors in Conway really did slam shut when no one was around. I also can’t stand pigeons and am convinced there’s a long-running conspiracy against me. I’ll explain more about that later.

What are your best memories of Harris Manchester?

Although I was at HMC for only a year, the Business School experience seemed like an entire chapter of my life, not just 12 months. 

I don’t want to sound clichéd, but the feeling of community at HMC was really special. I still recollect my first time walking through reception and immediately feeling like I’d found a place which felt like home. 

Some of my favourite memories are the quiet ones. After ice hockey, I’d sometimes walk through the courtyard late at night when everything was still. I’d grab a coffee, stand for a moment, and take it all in. In the mornings, I’d get up early for class and watch the sunrise over the tower. Looking back, that’s probably when my habit of triple espressos really began. 

But the memory that stands out most is the last day of term. We played table tennis while the sun set, then went to the JCR for a tipple and finished the night with what I thought was a surprisingly in-tune version of Sweet Caroline. 

When the night ended, I walked back into the courtyard to enjoy the quiet one last time. I remember feeling sure I’d made the right choice coming to HMC. 

How did Harris Manchester shape you?

More than anything, HMC gave me confidence. 

Like many people, I sometimes wondered if I actually belonged, especially in a place as prestigious as Oxford. HMC helped change that. The College gave me more than a place to study, but also the feeling that I’d earned my spot there. 

A lot of that confidence came from the people. The administrative staff were incredibly supportive, and I’ll always be grateful for how they made students feel noticed and encouraged. I remember Richard Molyneux in the Academic Office helping me get through my exams, including a treasure hunt to find my calculator just before an exam, among Red Bull cans, some dirty socks, and my Marvel bed sheets. The then-Principal Jane Shaw also took the time to sit down with me. Her message was simple but powerful: you have done the hard part by getting here; now use this time to achieve what you want, and we are here to help you. HMC helped me believe that I belonged in rooms I might previously have doubted myself in. It gave me the confidence to trust that I had something to contribute. 

It also confirmed my suspicion that pigeons really do have it out for me. 

While I was in Conway, two pigeons appeared resolved to make my life difficult. They’d be by my window in the morning and again at night, always cooing, watching, and clearly plotting. One warm summer evening, after I left the window open, one bold pigeon actually got into my room, stole my spoon, and put it in what was probably the worst nest ever—just a few twigs on my chair. 

I have photos to prove it. So while HMC gave me confidence, community, and a feeling of acceptance, it also confirmed that my ongoing battle with pigeons is both real and well-documented. 

Why do you give to the College?

I support HMC for a few reasons. 

I know what it’s like to be down on your luck. After my firm made redundancies, there was a time when I couldn’t even afford a haircut. That experience made me realise something important: when you have nothing, even one pound feels expensive. 

That experience changed how I see opportunity. You never really know what someone else is dealing with or what their financial situation might be. For me, giving to HMC is a small way to help make sure every student can enjoy College life, no matter their background. 

Part of my support goes to specific causes, such as creating a fund to help students who need financial support to purchase a sub-fusc, giving to the endowment, and leaving a legacy in my will. 

What advice would you give to current students?

I strongly believe in gaining experience. If there’s something you really want to do, whether it’s studying or working, find a way to get exposure. At this stage, it doesn’t matter if it’s paid or unpaid, or if it lasts an hour or a week. Getting direct experience and being able to talk about it will help you get the position you want. 

Finally, a sentiment from a documentary has always stayed with me: accolades, money and other tangible riches are often what people chase at the end of the rainbow. But the real pot of gold is made of memories — gold dust.