Wolff takes on new role as an Oxford professor

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is on his way to the classroom to work with Oxford University’s business students.

With Wolff at the helm, Mercedes have enjoyed record-breaking success in Formula 1, on a roll of seven Drivers’ and Constructors’ title doubles in succession.

But alongside his Formula 1 achievements, Wolff enjoys a successful history when it comes to his investments both inside and outside of the sport.

That has led to him being named as Associate Fellow at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, where Wolff will work with the students to “educate the business leaders of tomorrow”.

This will not be the Austrian investor’s first involvement with the school, having previously been part of its ‘Leadership in Extraordinary Times series – Driven: How to fuel success through adversity’, where Wolff focused on his leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Formula 1 was forced into major changes to its procedures on a race weekend and behind the scenes due to the pandemic, as well various calendar changes and a lengthy delay to the start of the 2020 campaign.

Reacting to the announcement, Wolff told the Mercedes website: “To become an Associate Fellow at an institution as prestigious as Oxford Saïd is a proud moment for me.

“Sharing my experience with students, full of energy and motivation, is richly rewarding and I’m grateful for the opportunity to combine my passions for entrepreneurship, leadership and high-performance culture in the classroom at Saïd.”

Wolff over the past year has built up a close working relationship with Michael Smets, Professor of Management at Oxford Saïd, with the Austrian giving his input on various topics including “mental health, the dynamics of managing high-powered talent and the challenges of re-inventing organisations and industries for the future”.

“Toto is obviously best known for his winning streak as a team principal in Formula 1, but let’s not forget his track record as an investor and entrepreneur as well,” said Professor Smets.

“There are few people who can translate insights between the worlds of sport and business in the way he can. We are tremendously looking forward to this partnership to enrich our research, teaching and student experience.”

Wolff’s appointment at the Saïd Business School will run until October 2023.