I just completed my term (just waiting for final grades to be posted) having taken:
- MBA 532: Leading People II (Residency)
- MBA 560: Marketing Management and Strategy
- MBA 580: Creating Value in Organizations
This time, all my classes were concurrent.
In my first semester, I spent a lot of time working on my system – a process that would allow me to plan, track and stay ahead each week. I found that being ahead a few days each week was my comfort zone. Rushing to complete something on a Sunday before it was due in a few hours didn’t allow me to do my best work. So I was really deliberate, and maybe a bit neurotic about this summer.
It worked. For the most part I was able to control assignment and project submissions – getting things done weeks ahead of time, which in turn gave me time to reflect on the deliverable and really learn from it. The biggest change here was a shift from getting a task done, to doing work to grow.
Each class had something new to show me as well.
I didn’t know what to expect from Residency II, but knew the format. It was great to see some former classmates and meet new friends while on site. The team project really helped apply course material to the real world, in particular the way I work and run teams.
Marketing was a class that surprised me. I have never taken a marketing class, and really wasn’t that interested – but I was really surprised to learn how much science goes into making this work. I’ve been fortunate to have been part of some small high growth companies over the last 20 years, and it was eye opening to me to see that the actions I felt at the time were a bit random, were in fact very disciplined. Not a thing I’d want to do for a career, but it was really interesting to see how it all works.
My last class – Creating Value in Organizations – I had no clue what to expect. Before the course started, I guessed it would be some business jargon, follow a process, etc. Instead this was the single most insightful class I’ve taken in years. I walk away from that with a whole toolbox of frameworks, processes, and communication methods to help me help the org I am part of. Amazing class. For those who have been in this program, you also know the professor was amazing.
I still have a set of rigorous personal goals for the program, and I’m overachieving. I’ve found the way that works for me, and I’m really excited to give my system another shot at the fall semester.
I’m about a third of the way done. I’ve joked with my family that I’ve earned the M in MBA. Fall semester continues the climb!
Again I want to offer a special thanks to my family, friends, and colleagues who knew what was going on with school and supported me along the way.
The workload was real, but honestly, it was also fun.