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08 Nov 2015, 19:00
| FROM From Bench to Board (Fuqua): How the Duke MBA Makes Leaders - Strategic Mindset |
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There was a post in Forbes that asserted the MBA is a waste of time (OK, I can't find it anymore since this post was written a few weeks agod). Sure, I can agree with some of its points. However, there was one that I strongly disagreed with. It said that MBAs were trained to think big picture and this hampered their executional skills. This is bogus. A company will never pay big bucks to hire MBA talent because they can execute at the entry or middle management level. A company pays for MBA talent to fill future leadership roles – and for that, big picture, strategic thinking is a must. In fact, it’s important to always have this big picture in mind even early on, as without it, you wouldn’t understand how your work is impactful. Continue reading » |
09 Nov 2015, 17:02
| FROM mybjourney: Matriculation and Week 1. |
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Time is running at a lightening speed here. I now realize that when seniors said the year will go by really fast, they meant it quite literally. Each day is packed with a bagful of activities, all of which need to be fitted around the seven hours of classroom lectures. And the classes have only just begun! 340 of us from 2015-16 batch, with 31% female representation, come from 54 different nationalities. This diversity makes up for a very enriching experience in the class and I am enjoying getting to know others from up close. Last week we were divided into 4 sections, and I’m in section B which I must mention is an extremely dynamic and energectic bunch. Each section is further broken down into study groups of 5 students each. My study group has (apart from ofcourse me, a Techie from India), a Financial Analyst from Michigan US, a Copywriter from Canada, a Finance major from Kenya and an entrepreneur from Australia. That’s quite an impressive mix, and I think I am youngest in the group. Apart from Technology and Operations which is for 1.5 hours, other lectures (Analytics, Strategy, Business Finance, Leadership) are 3.5 hours long with a 30 min break in between. This Week (MT W1*), we also has GOTO Design Thinking workshop where we outlined and discussed the water scarcity problem, which is the GOTO topic for us this year (read more about it here). I gather that Dean Tufano is quite passionate about GOTO and the aim for including this as a subject in the term is to get us thinking about adressing large scale problems concerning us globally. I’ll confess that getting back to the classroom rigor after years is not an easy feat, I am absolutely relying on the coffee to make it through (bless them for giving 10 free drinks per week!). The high point for the week for me was ofcourse the Matriculation ceremony yesterday. Matriculation refers to the ceremony which marks the formal induction to the University records. This is in contrast to India where the term loosely refers to completion of High School! It also got a bit funny after all the pictures from the ceremony put up on Facebook, where my friends back home confused it with graduation (“but you just went there, how come you’re wearing the graduation cap already?“). Going by the ancient Oxford tradition, we are required to wear the academic dress for all our exams and other academic ceremonies. The attire is called the ‘sub-fusc’ – dark suit, white blouse, black skirt/ trousers, mortar board/ cap, black ribbon / bow tie, black socks and shoes – alongwith the graduate gown which is longer than the undergrad (commoner gown). By rule we are not supposed to wear our mortar boards on our heads until we have ‘earned the rights’ to do so upon graduation. The matriculation ceremony in itself was no more than a 15 minute affair at the Sheldonian Theatre, where we were led to by Dr Gerald Myatt (the Dean of Degrees) from our college campus (Matriculation takes place with your college, not the entire MBA batch) after group and individual photographs. Till now we were affiliated to our colleges, by matriculating we became part of the University of Oxford. This goes back to the medieval tradition where Matriculation was an examination conducted for students to prove their worthiness for admission to the University. Those formally inducted had their details recorded in a register, which also tracked their progress over their courses. Over the years, once the colleges and departments began to conduct their own admission process and with external assessments, the examination was done away with but the Matriculation remained the formal University ceremony. It is mighty impressive to see a University so soaked in history and equally humbling to be a part of the same.  My view of the Sheldonian I found a video from 2012’s matriculation ceremony, which will give you an idea of what the ceremony is like. What made this cermeony the most memorable and special for me is that my parents were around too, although they weren’t permitted to see the ceremony from the inside. And that my big brother also matriculated from Kellogg the same day (he studies masters in Computer Science)!. I couldn’t have been happier  ps: *MT W1 – Michaelmas Term Week 1. Michaelmas, Hillary and Trinity terms here are more commonly reffered to as MT, HT and TT in Oxford lexicon.  
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10 Nov 2015, 03:02
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: Dublin, Ireland: 10 years on |
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Flashback to summer 2004. I’d just completed my Freshman year of college and I was ready to take on the world… kind of. Read more |
11 Nov 2015, 04:02
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: A physician’s journey through the MBA |
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The flexibility of an online course persuaded medic Eduardo Alvarado Vásquez that he was ready to study for an MBA. Read more |
13 Nov 2015, 03:01
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: An invaluable resource |
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Thunderbird's Career Management Center provides Brenden Sheehan the opportunity for teamwork Read more |
14 Nov 2015, 05:02
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: Intersection: Ideas in Practice |
 After a very short break, everyone around me looks surprisingly refreshed, energetic and ready to tackle term two. To kick start the term, I revisited our class values that we defined during the very first week – Team, Participation, Fun, Open Mind and Integrity – and my 90-day mission is to make sure that I am on track. Read more |
15 Nov 2015, 04:01
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: Intersection: ideas in Practice |
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After a short break, everyone at Copenhagen Business School is ready to tackle term two, says MBA blogger Sunny Sheng Read more |
15 Nov 2015, 05:01
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: My love affair with coffee has ended. |
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Giving up caffeine brings its own highs and lows, says Oxford's Stephen Morse Read more |
15 Nov 2015, 09:00
| FROM From Bench to Board (Fuqua): Tips for MBA Admission (Guest Post) |
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There's a lot of debate about the value and nature of an MBA program. Skepticism about initial investments and ROI is certainly warranted on a broad scale, but I'm still in the camp that firmly agrees with the assertion that the benefits of an MBA often outweigh the risks or negatives. Unfortunately, for potential students who are asking themselves questions about this topic, making the decision of whether an MBA is worth the investment is only the first hurdle. Continue reading » |
15 Nov 2015, 19:02
| FROM Yudanashi: Careers and Networking |
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When you first start dating someone you only see their positive features and put aside their blemishes. When you break up with them you only see their flaws. This scene from 500 days of summer captures this better than anything I could try to write this week so take 102 seconds and watch this clip. My blog has had a pretty positive tone when it comes to those blemishes of the Oxford MBA. Partly, its because we just started dating, partly its because I try to have an optimistic attitude, and partly its because I have had faith that some of the issues were common to either the UK or B-schools in general. This weekend I had that faith rewarded. I spent the weekend at London Business School at an LGBT MBA conference called EurOUT. There were ~100 LGBT MBA students from every European B-school and one of the questions I asked these other students was what they loved and didn’t love about their program. They had the same concerns I have heard in my role as Section Rep at Oxford with the largest concern being the Careers departments. It was clear that for many schools getting employers onto campus was a matter of obtaining critical mass. Some schools compensate for this by concentrating students interested in a particular field, thus sacrificing diversity of background in classroom discussions. Other school (like Oxford) grow the student population to attract more employers. The downsides to both of these approaches is the same and it is universal at these school. The ratio of students to recruiters is too high to build the personal connections needed to really secure an interview. I say this making a key assumption. I admit it is biased given my time in the networking capital of the world – Washington DC. I assume that any job you are going to get is going to happen because someone whom you know gave you the opportunity to show them what you know. This is a subtle difference between the cynical adage that only “Who you know” matters. Specifically “Who you know” can help you get an interview, but you only get past that stage because of “What you know.” If we accept that assumption then a high student to recruiter ratio means that the events a careers department puts on *can* be helpful but the numbers don’t play to your favor. Instead I’d highly recommend attending a key conference for an interest/region/affiliation where recruiters will actively be looking for top LGBT talent. Going to a conference and networking with recruiters puts you as an MBA in the driver’s seat. You have the control to talk to whom you want during the conference and during the career fair. For type-a MBAs this is critical. When you go to a conference you get the chance to have smaller discussions with recruiters who all of a sudden are competing for you. To use lessons from strategy you are flipping the dynamic between buyers & suppliers. To get the most out of MBA conference recruiting I’d recommend a couple of tips: 
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18 Nov 2015, 05:01
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: Big in Japan: doing business in the Land of the Rising Sun |
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As part of the Nanyang Business School's MBA curriculum, the batch of 2016 conducted a 5-day Business Study Mission to Japan. Twelve Japan-based multinationals welcomed the students from NBS to their office and offered truly inspiring insights into their corporate strategies. Melina Loeven presents a report of insightful discourses with Japan's top leaders and summaries the key take-aways from her trip. Read more |
19 Nov 2015, 05:01
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: How my MBA class reacted to the Paris terrorist attacks |
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The Paris terrorist attacks have far-reaching consequences, says Oxford's Stephen Morse Read more |
22 Nov 2015, 12:01
| FROM Yudanashi: Adapting to New Cultures |
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In the week leading up to my move to England I read the book “Watching the English.” It is an anthropologists look at English culture filled with lessons on everything from drinking, eating, tea, gardens, trains, drinking, friends, work, and drinking. It was a great read to help get me into the mindset of the English before I embedded myself within their culture. It is a phenomenal read that I recommend to any ExPats here in the UK. What has struck me is how true it is, and sadly how much I have ignored its advice at times (only to my detriment). The biggest advice I’ve ignored is the level of effort the English will go to avoid being impolite or confrontational in-person. For quick context if you are having a conversation with an Englishman and at the end he says “Oh by the way” as an American I’d assume that what comes next is trivial. To the English, this is the most important thing they wanted to say. In emails their politeness can come across as passive-aggressive and as a brash American it can be an interesting clash, but I am learning. As an American attending the Oxford MBA I am a cultural minority. Sure, we make up 20% of the class but we work within the realities, biases, and cultural traits of 56 countries. Sometimes its hard because political beliefs, ways of communicating, and respect to hierarchy differ drastically. However I couldn’t be happier that I am surrounded by this diverse group of students. It is first-hand, intensive, immersion learning on how to work on a global scale. Its a unique feature that you can’t get at almost any other top MBA program, especially any in the states. In almost every interview or recruiter conversation with firms in the states I have been asked some variation of “Why not an American program?” Honestly I am grateful for this conversation because it allows me to talk about my classmates and the diversity they bring to the classroom. While I am still not perfect at adapting to other culture’s methods of communication I am learning and grateful for each chance I get. |
23 Nov 2015, 07:01
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: Mastering boardroom impact through simulation |
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Be crisp. Do not waste words. You won’t have the floor for an unlimited period of time, so when you do, make it count. Read more |
23 Nov 2015, 09:02
| FROM Ambitiousbusinessguy: Business models in B-School career services |
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Most top business schools breed their students for a career in consulting or financial services (which is slowly being displaced by high tech and entrepreneurial opportunities). Entry into both these industries requires rigorous preparation in terms of professional networking skills, resume reviews and interview preparation (not to mention certain passports). Business School rankings are determined by […] https://priyankabharadwaj.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/business-models-in-b-school-career-services/  
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24 Nov 2015, 05:02
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: The Oxford Quality of Life Index: High |
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To hop from speaker to speaker, to debate, to drink, to dinner, to a show in one night would not be possible in most places, according to MBA blogger Stephen Morse. In Oxford, he says, it is. Read more |
26 Nov 2015, 08:02
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: Closing loops |
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Sunny Sheng from Copenhagen Business School on the circular economy, networking, elevator pitches and more Read more |
26 Nov 2015, 10:03
| FROM j2insead: For a New Beginning… |
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In out-of-the-way places of the heart, Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready to emerge. For a long time it has watched your desire, Feeling the emptiness growing inside you, Noticing how you willed yourself on, Still unable to leave what you had outgrown. It watched you play with the seduction of safety And the gray promises that sameness whispered, Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent, Wondered would you always live like this. Then the delight, when your courage kindled, And out you stepped onto new ground, Your eyes young again with energy and dream, A path of plenitude opening before you. Though your destination is not yet clear You can trust the promise of this opening; Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning That is at one with your life’s desire. Awaken your spirit to adventure; Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk; Soon you will be home in a new rhythm, For your soul senses the world that awaits you. -John O’Donohue This beginning- long awaited, would begin in less than five weeks. All is set for the next chapter of my life. The past few years have been most memorable! Life has been as beautiful as the morning sun. I have metamorphosed in knowledge, felt the love of family, made amazing new friends, learnt new cultures, and taken on new adventures. Despite all these, I believe the new chapter I’m about to begin holds more. So I look on with hope and excitement, trusting in the beauty of new birth as I countdown to Orientation week in 2016. Time to say good bye to family and friends, but not for long. I will be back…  
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27 Nov 2015, 06:01
| FROM Financial Times MBA Blog: Balancing work and play |
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Finding ways to balance workload with play is a major benefit of studying for an MBA in a place like Edinburgh, says Jess Webb Read more |
28 Nov 2015, 08:01
| FROM Ambitiousbusinessguy: 10 Things from outside the classroom that I learnt during my MBA. |
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Every student has a predefined notion about a MBA degree:- hefty packages, good job opportunities, improvement in position and salaries but how many really know the journey of becoming a MBA student? Learning management jargons, frameworks and business models, analyzing case studies & and eventually hopiing to reach the peak of self-actualization on Maslow’s […] https://experientialexplorer.wordpress.com/2015/11/26/10-things-i-learnt-during-my-mba-which-they-do-not-teach-you-in-classes/  
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