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14 Jul 2018, 09:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: What I Actually Learned from the Stanford MBA |
 Most people will tell you that the real value of business school is not derived from the classroom: it’s all about the people. I heard this over and over again through the application process. But I didn’t understand what it really meant. When I was accepted into Stanford’s MBA program, I was grateful. I knew that my classmates would be phenomenal. I was eager to meet these 400 rockstars, and learn from them. I had no idea what was in store for me. They say business school is ‘transformational’. I was skeptical of this at first: but I have to admit, I am a different person at the end of an incredible two years. I’m more practical, and less idealistic. I’m more productive and adventurous. I’m more willing to try new things and fail. Perhaps most importantly, I have a much deeper understanding of my self and my strengths and weaknesses. And I can see that my class- on average- as a whole is more well-rounded, able to read people and build relationships better. I’m not sure if we’re better ‘leaders’ or ready to ‘change the world’, but we are definitely more equipped to manage ourselves and our own lives.What happened to us? We changed. The exposure to a mind-boggling variety of companies at different stages, industries and business models, through case studies, guest speakers, events, conferences, internships, my own classmates and independent studies definitely played a role. I have a sharpened appreciation for the importance of networks, communication skills and branding. But I also have to attribute this to the community we built. The real magic of business school comes from being in an environment where an incredibly diverse group dedicates all of their time and energy- personally, professionally and socially- to building a community that will last a lifetime.We were forced to start from scratch, and build a new set of relationships, just as we’d grown comfortable in our old lives: with our careers, our partners, our friends, our cities. We moved from all over the world, and lived in dorm rooms with people we’d never met before, and adjusted to being students again. We were given a blank sheet of paper in our mid to late twenties- a rare gift- and told that we could rethink the choices we’d made. Moreover, we were given the resources to do it- through world-class coaching, facilitated peer groups and classes. This forced some deep self-inspection and reflection: when you’re allowed to second guess yourself, you do. In my case, after spending five years doing impact investing in London, I will be working for a media startup in Mumbai after the MBA. We also had to adjust to an exceedingly social environment. Every person seemed like they were living their best life, all the time, at the start. I saw the power of herd behaviour, the power of exclusivity and status. And then of course: there was all the travel, dinners, parties. Pure, unaltered fun, at a scale that I perhaps won’t ever get to repeat again, as often. But over time I also deeply and truly got to know people from all over the world: what drives them, what’s shaped them. And we learned to both fit in and stand out: to choose who we wanted to be friends with, what groups we wanted to be associated with, what mattered to us, and how we wanted to be known and remembered. And I think that this is the secret: the MBA gives you the chance to develop a deeper understanding of yourself, and the people around you. You’re given the opportunity to see and test multiple ways of living. You ask for and give help. And when you figure out what’s right for you, you’re more able to manage yourself. You can’t manage other people if you can’t handle yourself. I know this is only the beginning of a long journey- both in terms of developing self-awareness and control- and getting to know my classmates. I’m so grateful to have spent two years dedicating myself to it. Congratulations to the class of 2018. What I Actually Learned from the Stanford MBA was originally published in P.S. I Love You on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story. |
14 Jul 2018, 10:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Bleeding Colour |
 You worry about preserving your sense of self When the women around you are so defined by their relationships to men You are more than a wife, daughter, mother At first they asked you when you would marry Now they want to know when you will give them a child A rented womb Someone once told me they were happy they didn’t let their daughter work abroad Because she would struggle to integrate back into society after developing a sense of self She took pride in clipping her wings before she could learn to fly Another woman told me that she was glad her son was smart enough to marry a woman of her choosing That would never challenge him but would take pleasure in supporting him She took pride in preserving her sons ego instead of his mind You worry about bleeding color slowly Always expected to put everyone else’s needs before your own Sacrifice is not always the highest value I won’t let you define me. Bleeding Colour ? was originally published in P.S. I Love You on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story. |
14 Jul 2018, 12:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: What I Actually Learned from the Stanford MBA |
|
Most people will tell you that the real value of business school is not derived from the classroom: it’s all about the people. I heard this over and over again through the application process. But I didn’t understand what this really meant. When I was accepted into Stanford’s MBA program, I was grateful. I knew that my classmates would be phenomenal. I was eager to meet these 400 rockstars, and learn from them, their backgrounds and cultures. I had no idea what was actually in store for me. They say business school is ‘transformational’. I was skeptical of this at first: but I have to admit, I am a different person at the end of an incredible two years. I’m more practical, and less idealistic. I’m more productive and adventurous. I’m more willing to try new things and fail. Perhaps most importantly, I have a much deeper understanding of my self and my strengths and weaknesses. And I can see that my class- on average- as a whole is more well-rounded, able to read people and build relationships better. I’m not sure if we’re better ‘leaders’ or ready to ‘change the world’, but we are definitely more equipped to manage ourselves and our own lives.What happened to us? We changed. The exposure to a mind-boggling variety of companies at different stages, industries and business models, through case studies, guest speakers, events, conferences, internships, my own classmates and independent studies definitely played a role. I have a sharpened appreciation for the importance of networks, communication skills and branding. But I also have to attribute this to the community we built. The real magic of business school comes from being in an environment where an incredibly diverse group dedicates all of their time and energy- personally, professionally and socially- to building a community that will last a lifetime.We were forced to start from scratch, and build a new set of relationships, just as we’d grown comfortable in our old lives: with our careers, our partners, our friends, our cities. We moved from all over the world, and lived in dorm rooms with people we’d never met before, and adjusted to being students again. We were given a blank sheet of paper in our mid to late twenties- a rare gift- and told that we could rethink the choices we’d made. Moreover, we were given the resources to do it- through world-class coaching, facilitated peer groups and classes. This forced some deep self-inspection and reflection: when you’re allowed to second guess yourself, you do. In my case, after spending five years doing impact investing in London, I will be working for a media startup in Mumbai after the MBA. We also had to adjust to an exceedingly social environment. Every person seemed like they were living their best life, all the time, at the start. I saw the power of herd behaviour, the power of exclusivity and status. And then of course: there was all the travel, dinners, parties. Pure, unaltered fun, at a scale that I perhaps won’t ever get to repeat again, as often. But over time I also deeply and truly got to know people from all over the world: what drives them, what’s shaped them and what their darkest secrets are. And we learned to both fit in and stand out: to choose who we wanted to be friends with, what groups we wanted to be associated with, what mattered to us, and how we wanted to be known and remembered. And I think that this is the secret: the MBA gives you the chance to develop a deeper understanding of yourself, and the people around you. You’re given the opportunity to see and test multiple ways of living. You ask for and give help. And when you figure out what’s right for you, you’re more able to manage yourself. You can’t manage other people if you can’t handle yourself. I know this is only the beginning of a long journey- both in terms of developing self-awareness and control- and getting to know my classmates. I’m so grateful to have spent two years dedicating myself to it. Congratulations to the class of 2018. What I Actually Learned from the Stanford MBA was originally published in Hacker Noon on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story. |
15 Jul 2018, 07:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: What I Actually Learned from the Stanford MBA |
|
Most people will tell you that the real value of business school is not derived from the classroom: it’s all about the people. I heard this over and over again through the application process. But I didn’t understand what this really meant. When I was accepted into Stanford’s MBA program, I was grateful. I knew that my classmates would be phenomenal. I was eager to meet these 400 rockstars, and learn from them, their backgrounds and cultures. I had no idea what was actually in store for me. They say business school is ‘transformational’. I was skeptical of this at first: but I have to admit, I am a different person at the end of an incredible two years. I’m more practical, and less idealistic. I’m more productive and adventurous. I’m more willing to try new things and fail. Perhaps most importantly, I have a much deeper understanding of my self and my strengths and weaknesses. And I can see that my class- on average- as a whole is more well-rounded, able to read people and build relationships better. I’m not sure if we’re better ‘leaders’ or ready to ‘change the world’, but we are definitely more equipped to manage ourselves and our own lives.What happened to us? We changed. The exposure to a mind-boggling variety of companies at different stages, industries and business models, through case studies, guest speakers, events, conferences, internships, my own classmates and independent studies definitely played a role. I have a sharpened appreciation for the importance of networks, communication skills and branding. But I also have to attribute this to the community we built. The real magic of business school comes from being in an environment where an incredibly diverse group dedicates all of their time and energy- personally, professionally and socially- to building a community that will last a lifetime.We were forced to start from scratch, and build a new set of relationships, just as we’d grown comfortable in our old lives: with our careers, our partners, our friends, our cities. We moved from all over the world, and lived in dorm rooms with people we’d never met before, and adjusted to being students again. We were given a blank sheet of paper in our mid to late twenties- a rare gift- and told that we could rethink the choices we’d made. Moreover, we were given the resources to do it- through world-class coaching, facilitated peer groups and classes. This forced some deep self-inspection and reflection: when you’re allowed to second guess yourself, you do. In my case, after spending five years doing impact investing in London, I will be working for a media startup in Mumbai after the MBA. We also had to adjust to an exceedingly social environment. Every person seemed like they were living their best life, all the time, at the start. I saw the power of herd behaviour, the power of exclusivity and status. And then of course: there was all the travel, dinners, parties. Pure, unaltered fun, at a scale that I perhaps won’t ever get to repeat again, as often. But over time I also deeply and truly got to know people from all over the world: what drives them, what’s shaped them and what their darkest secrets are. And we learned to both fit in and stand out: to choose who we wanted to be friends with, what groups we wanted to be associated with, what mattered to us, and how we wanted to be known and remembered. And I think that this is the secret: the MBA gives you the chance to develop a deeper understanding of yourself, and the people around you. You’re given the opportunity to see and test multiple ways of living. You ask for and give help. And when you figure out what’s right for you, you’re more able to manage yourself. You can’t manage other people if you can’t handle yourself. I know this is only the beginning of a long journey- both in terms of developing self-awareness and control- and getting to know my classmates. I’m so grateful to have spent two years dedicating myself to it. Congratulations to the class of 2018.  This story is published in The Startup, Medium’s largest entrepreneurship publication followed by 344,974+ people.Subscribe to receive our top stories here.  What I Actually Learned from the Stanford MBA was originally published in The Startup on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story. |
15 Jul 2018, 11:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: What Does an MBA Really Teach You? |
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Most people will tell you that the real value of business school is not derived from the classroom: it’s all about the people. I heard this over and over again through the application process. But I didn’t understand what it really meant. When I was accepted into Stanford’s MBA program, I was grateful. I knew that my classmates would be phenomenal. I was eager to meet these 400 rockstars, and learn from them. I had no idea what was in store for me. They say business school is ‘transformational’. I was skeptical of this at first: but I have to admit, I am a different person at the end of an incredible two years. I’m more practical, and less idealistic. I’m more productive and adventurous. I’m more willing to try new things and fail. Perhaps most importantly, I have a much deeper understanding of my self and my strengths and weaknesses. And I can see that my class- on average- as a whole is more well-rounded, able to read people and build relationships better. I’m not sure if we’re better ‘leaders’ or ready to ‘change the world’, but we are definitely more equipped to manage ourselves and our own lives.What happened to us? We changed. The exposure to a mind-boggling variety of companies at different stages, industries and business models, through case studies, guest speakers, events, conferences, internships, my own classmates and independent studies definitely played a role. I have a sharpened appreciation for the importance of networks, communication skills and branding. But I also have to attribute this to the community we built. The real magic of business school comes from being in an environment where an incredibly diverse group dedicates all of their time and energy- personally, professionally and socially- to building a community that will last a lifetime.We were forced to start from scratch, and build a new set of relationships, just as we’d grown comfortable in our old lives: with our careers, our partners, our friends, our cities. We moved from all over the world, and lived in dorm rooms with people we’d never met before, and adjusted to being students again. We were given a blank sheet of paper in our mid to late twenties- a rare gift- and told that we could rethink the choices we’d made. Moreover, we were given the resources to do it- through world-class coaching, facilitated peer groups and classes. This forced some deep self-inspection and reflection: when you’re allowed to second guess yourself, you do. In my case, after spending five years doing impact investing in London, I will be working for a media startup in Mumbai after the MBA. We also had to adjust to an exceedingly social environment. Every person seemed like they were living their best life, all the time, at the start. I saw the power of herd behaviour, exclusivity and status. And then of course: there was all the travel, dinners, parties. Pure, unadulterated fun, at a scale that I perhaps won’t ever get to repeat again, as often. But over time I also deeply and truly got to know people from all over the world: what drives them, what’s shaped them. And we learned to both fit in and stand out: to choose who we wanted to be friends with, what groups we wanted to be associated with, what mattered to us, and how we wanted to be known and remembered. And I think that this is the secret: the MBA gives you the chance to develop a deeper understanding of yourself, and the people around you. You’re given the opportunity to see and test multiple ways of living. You ask for and give help. And when you figure out what’s right for you, you’re more able to manage yourself. You can’t manage other people if you can’t handle yourself.I know this is only the beginning of a long journey- both in terms of developing self-awareness and control- and getting to know my classmates. I’m so grateful to have spent two years dedicating myself to it. Congratulations to the Class of 2018. This story is published in The Startup, Medium’s largest entrepreneurship publication followed by 344,974+ people.Subscribe to receive our top stories here. What Does an MBA Really Teach You? was originally published in The Startup on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story. |
15 Jul 2018, 11:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Thanks Pravin. I meant unadulterated- as in pure- fun. |
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Thanks Pravin. I meant unadulterated- as in pure- fun. |
09 Aug 2018, 12:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: The ‘P’ Word |
 Tense neck Continue reading on Medium » |
09 Aug 2018, 15:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Dirty Little Secret |
 Tense neck A lazy sense of urgency Am I doing enough? For what? Scared to think A dark thought Will it haunt me? Who’s watching? Limited indulgence Quantified, a wary luxury Do i deserve this? Who does? Grateful but guilty Earning it, but not enough Life isn’t fair In my favour? Eager to please But no one notice me If I pretend I don’t have it Do I get to keep it? Dirty Little Secret was originally published in P.S. I Love You on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story. |
09 Aug 2018, 16:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Insta-Independent Women |
 Take the time To find you But don’t run out of it A ticking biological clock Be easy on yourself But not too easy Like- don’t get fat A balancing act Taught to look And sound pleasing But don’t be afraid To go after what you want Don’t hold back Nails done, hair in place Wearing someone else’s face |
10 Aug 2018, 07:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Insta-Independent Woman |
     Take the time To find you But don’t run out of it A ticking biological clock Be easy on yourself But not too easy Like- don’t get fat A balancing act Taught to look And sound pleasing But don’t be afraid To go after what you want Don’t hold back Nails done, hair in place Wearing someone else’s face |
12 Aug 2018, 14:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Homecoming |
 Don’t tell me what to do Continue reading on Medium » |
12 Aug 2018, 19:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Insta-Independent Woman |
 Take the time Continue reading on P.S. I Love You » |
13 Aug 2018, 02:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Influenced ✨ |
 Take the time Continue reading on P.S. I Love You » |
13 Aug 2018, 04:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: An Ode to Instagram ✨ |
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Take the time Continue reading on P.S. I Love You » |
13 Aug 2018, 14:14
14 Aug 2018, 16:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: The Ties That Bind |
 Don’t tell me what to do Continue reading on P.S. I Love You » |
15 Aug 2018, 08:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Delicate |
 I admire your fearlessness in love I hold your heart in wonder Don’t you worry or hurt? A beat Hesitant Letting you in is not easy A pause But I love the way you see me I’m learning leaning burning breathing letting go blurring breaking boundaries Free. |
15 Aug 2018, 15:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Delicate |
 I admire your Continue reading on P.S. I Love You » |
15 Aug 2018, 15:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Love: On Finding, Falling, Keeping and Leaving It |
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Delicate ? I admire your fearlessness in love I hold your heart in wonder Don’t you worry or hurt? A beat Hesitant Letting you in is not easy A pause But I love the way you see me I’m learning leaning burning breathing letting go of boundaries blurring breaking Free. Homecoming  Don’t tell me what to do You made me I am not you You raised us You are not my home Now Let me go Your fears Once rang in my ears They are not mine It’s time I made New mistakes And when I get lost Don’t find me Let me look For myself And find my way back To you Insta-Independent Woman ?  Take the time To find you But don’t run out of it A ticking biological clock Be easy on yourself But not too easy Like- don’t get fat A balancing act Taught to look And sound pleasing But don’t be afraid To go after what you want Don’t hold back Stay true to you Nails done, hair in place Wearing someone else’s face Self-Preservation  You worry about preserving your sense of self When the women around you are so defined by their relationships to men You are more than a wife, daughter, mother At first they asked you when you would marry Now they want to know when you will give them a child A rented womb Someone once told me they were happy they didn’t let their daughter work abroad Because she would struggle to integrate back into society after developing a sense of self She took pride in clipping her wings before she could learn to fly Another woman told me that she was glad her son was smart enough to marry a woman of her choosing That would never challenge him but would take pleasure in supporting him She took pride in preserving her sons ego instead of his mind You worry about bleeding color slowly Always expected to put everyone else’s needs before your own Sacrifice is not always the highest value I won’t let you define me. Dirty Little Secret Tense neck A lazy sense of urgency Am I doing enough? For what? Scared to think A dark thought Will it haunt me? Who’s watching? Limited indulgence Quantified, a wary luxury Do i deserve this? Who does? Grateful but guilty Earning it, but not enough Life isn’t fair In my favour? Eager to please But no one notice me If I pretend I don’t have it Do I get to keep it? |
15 Aug 2018, 16:02
| FROM Bschooladmit20: Stanford: An Honest Take |
Stanford: Beyond the Brand I was embarrassed by the undergraduate institution I went to. I wanted to prove that I was better than the brand of my school: smarter, more able. I worked on side projects instead of going to class, and then enrolled at Oxford & then Cambridge. I did two Masters in two very different fields in the space of two years. But it wasn’t enough. I was still obsessed by the idea of studying at a phenomenal US university; of having the freedom to choose what I studied. I chose to do an MBA at Stanford because I loved the flexibility of the curriculum. You could take classes in finance and economics, and also design thinking and machine learning, at the same time. I wanted to learn as much as I could in these two years; make up for lost time. My first year was transformative: but not in the ways I had anticipated. Having world class professors cover cutting- edge content in a classroom doesn’t change the way you learn.The brand of your school is absolutely meaningless. As in any institution, you only get out what you put in. You can take the most phenomenal classes and be left feeling uninspired, unless you make the time to really immerse yourself.The real magic of being here is being given the opportunity to both rediscover and create yourself. You’re quickly forced out of your comfort zone. The pace at which the community moves is overwhelming. It’s not just that anything is possible here: you quickly realise that your wildest ideas are already being translated into reality. And then you learn the real secret: there are no secrets, rules or right answers. You haven’t missed out if you didn’t go to a great school, or don’t have a fancy brand on your resume. External validation only leaves you with a sense of emptiness. You already have and know everything you need. The only constraint is your own mindset. Manage yourself. Use your time and energy well. Build. Stanford: The Power of Vulnerability  I’m okay. I’ll be fine. I’m always fine. I’ve grown so used to telling myself that I’m “creating” myself, that the past has no hold on me. I’m comfortable moving across countries, industries and roles. I’ve done it before. How hard can it be this time around? But I’m shaken. I haven’t realized how comfortable I’d grown. I was sheltered; I’d built a home and family in London. The pace of life: the constant flood of energy, information, ideas at the GSB is overwhelming. I haven’t accounted for the transition to being a student again: I’m thrown by the volume of assignments and readings, the social scene, the career opportunities. You will make your best friends in moments of vulnerability.I tell myself I’m tough. I’m extroverted. I thrive on change and challenge. I go out every night, I’m vocal in class, I travel every weekend: I’m visible. I try and get to know 300 people in ten weeks. But I’m spinning. I’ve lost my center. I get so swept up in the wave that is life at the GSB, that I forget who I am, what I like, how I want to spend my time. No one told me that I can be lonely while constantly surrounded by people. The first time I ask for help is when I truly begin to rediscover my feet. I build my community by admitting my mistakes, my flaws, my worst fears. Anything goes here. There is no need to hold back. I begin to see how much everyone around is struggling: in ways I can’t begin to guess or comprehend. I begin to see that showing weakness is a sign of strength. You will make your best friends in moments of vulnerability. The GSB is a surprising place. You’re not okay. No one is okay. You can’t control everything that happens. But you will make friends in unexpected places, in unexpected ways. The best relationships will be the ones you could never have predicted. Take your time. What I Learned as an Stanford MBA Student: The First Year  The first year of the MBA program has been a whirlwind. I moved to a different country, changed roles, co-founded a company and met some unbelievably amazing people. But I also struggled with adjusting to being a student again, building a new home, career and circle of friends. Looking back, I’m extremely grateful for both the opportunities and the challenges I faced. In the hopes of making the journey easier for those of you that will be enrolling in business school shortly, these are my key take-aways from the past nine months:
Stanford: Startup AdventuresI worked on two very different startups, with two very different teams, during my MBA at Stanford.   One team was focused on building a language learning platformfor first-generation immigrants, in order to help them build their confidence and speak English more frequently. We were based at Stanford’s d. school, focused deeply on need-finding using design thinking principles, and had two product designers and a computer science major on our team. The other team’s goal was to build a non-invasive tool to help glaucoma patients measure their eye pressure, in order to proactively manage their condition, and prevent blindness. We were based at Stanford’s Engineering School, had two electrical engineers, a patent-holder and professor, and an economics major on the team. I am grateful for the diversity of experience and learning, but am also struck by how transferable the lessons from these very different experiences are. These are my key takeaways: Start somewhere: your product will never be ready The starting point for both teams was different: on the first team, we had a blank sheet of paper, and began by defining user need. On the second team, we had a patented technology that we were trying to commercialise. Our level of fear, uncertainty and excitement differed based on our stage of development. However, surprisingly, this didn’t make as much difference as I thought it would to our day-to-day activities- except when it came to raising money. You’re always going to have to continuously iterate and improve your product, no matter the stage you’re at.The challenge is ensuring you have enough time and resource to be able to fail fast, and developing a clear set of priorities of what you want to change and build over time, based on user feedback. Defining our minimum viable product was often one of the most challenging exercises we undertook at every stage. Empathise with- but also delight- your customers Both teams used design thinking processes to understand consumer need, prototype and iterate, given that we were building consumer-focused software in both cases, and were aiming to help our users create new habits, albeit in very different contexts. We were often surprised at how wrong our initial assumptions about our target consumers were, when we did in-depth consumer interviews to gain insight into their pain-points. You have to be able to develop empathy with your users, and put yourself in their shoes when you’re trying to develop an understanding of their needs, or get feedback on your product. However, you also have to retain the ability to deviate from what they tell you they want- and surprise them- in the hope of delighting them- because they don’t always know what they want or need until they see it. Great processes are easier to replicate than great cultures Both the groups I worked with very extremely high-functioning. The diversity of skill-sets and perspectives, based on education, professional experience and nationality, greatly enhanced our productivity. However, the same factors also sometimes made seemingly straightforward tasks, such as scheduling interviews and gathering customer feedback, more difficult. We worked through this by agreeing upon team norms and values (such as being transparent, asking for and giving regular feedback, asking for help when needed) upfront. The importance of regularly discussing, repeating and reinforcing these principles will stick with me. I also learned the importance of ensuring that the team had a shared vocabulary, was unafraid to ask ‘basic’ questions, and challenge the direction we were heading in: most of our mistakes were a direct result of miscommunication or ego. People management matters as much as product management At the start, I was insecure about my inability to code, given the strong engineering talent on the second team- but I quickly realised how much value I could add, through ensuring the team was working on a shared vision, that our work-streams were being actively managed and coordinated, and that we stayed aligned as a team across important and/or difficult decisions. I was also the spokesperson for our team, while working with external stakeholders. Being a great verbal and written communicator is a highly underrated skill-set. Being able to read, motivate and manage people matters as much, if not at times more, than the product you’re building.You have to be able to influence stakeholders at every stage: you’re constantly selling your idea to existing and new customers, investors, potential hires and your team. Rockstar employees will align around a compelling mission Both ventures had an ambitious mission- this also ended up being an importance force in attracting great people, and allowing us to stay aligned. If you begin by building a stellar team, who’s bought into the company’s mission, you can work together to execute on all the basic steps a startup needs to follow- such as choosing a target market, building and testing prototypes, and experimenting with business models. However, if you’re unable to motivate and align your team, it doesn’t matter how great your idea or product is. Feedback is a gift: you’re a work in progress If you can’t manage yourself, you can’t manage others. Being able to see yourself from a distance, continuously learn, hire for or delegate your weaknesses, and staying unemotional about your work matters. Your product will always be a work in progress: so will you.We set up quarterly team feedback sessions for both teams: and I was always impressed at how much I learned about myself and others from these. These sessions also greatly helped build relationships within the team. They both helped clear the air when necessary, and build trust. Ultimately, whether the companies that we built last or not, our relationships will. What I Learned as a Second Year Stanford MBA Student  Doing an MBA is like drinking from a firehose. You will have more opportunities- in terms of internships, jobs, classes, friendships and travel- come your way than you can imagine. The two years are a gift. But learning what options to ignore, and what to chase, is an art.I’m incredibly grateful to have had the chance to study at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. I’ve learned more in the past 18 months, professionally and personally, than I thought was possible. These are my key takeaways on making the most of the MBA program. Focus: pick a topic, sector, person, question Build a brand- or rebrand- particularly if you’re looking to change geographies, functions or industries. Use that lens to choose your classes, internships and club leadership experience. Once you’re known as the ‘fill in the blank’ person, you’ll start getting opportunities passed your way, without you having to do any of the ground work. Don’t underestimate how amazingly thoughtful + well connected your classmates are. Don’t forget the professors Invest in your coursework: this is your chance to build a relationship with some stellar thought leaders. Take your professors out for coffee or lunch: if you can, do a research project or write a paper with them. This gives you the incredible ability to to call up or meet whoever you want, in order to answer a question of your choosing. Doing an independent study on the rapidly evolving digital media landscape in India with Stanford’s ex-Dean was one of my most professionally meaningful experiences at the GSB. Get some real-life work experience on the side It’s hard to truly absorb everything you’re learning, no matter how phenomenal the classes or speakers, until you try and apply it yourself. I wouldn’t have gotten half as much as I did from the program, if I hadn’t worked on startups and done a second internship. Not only does this allow you to develop practical skills: this is an entirely risk-free time. You can be as experimental as you want with your side projects. I worked on two wildly different startups, with two wildly different teams*, and loved having the chance to learn from both. See yourself from a distance You will be given the chance to reflect, ask yourself what you truly want to do with your life, and develop self-awareness, through your classes, workshops and classmates. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Ask your peers for feedback regularly: they can often see your strengths and weaknesses more clearly than you can. I had the chance to deliver a TALK (a GSB institution, where every week, a classmate delivers a highly personal 30 minute reflection of the key events that have shaped them, to hundreds of other classmates). It was incredibly difficult to write and deliver, and painful at times, but the event will undoubtedly be one of the first things I will remember ten years down the line.This community will perhaps be the most supportive + collaborative one that you will ever experience. Let yourself fall: you will be caught.Organise a trek, conference or trip I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to organise a trip or conference, given all the administrative hassle associated with the process, until I Co-Chaired Stanford’s Future of Media Conference this year. The logistics were definitely as painful as I’d expected, but the upside, in terms of the lessons I learned around teamwork, branding, facilitation and operations was so much greater. Travel, host dinners and go out Make room for spontaneity, and to truly have fun. You don’t have to plan every day. Your classmates are the biggest gift of these two years. Try and get to know people that come from very different backgrounds. You will learn more from them, than any classroom. They will change the way you see the world, and yourself. You’ve no doubt already heard that you will make friends that will last lifetime. This is true. But don’t forget to take an interest, and be generous + kind to the people you don’t know too. Build the community you want to be a part of. Don’t follow the herd Ultimately, each one of your classmates will have a unique experience, based on the choices they make. You can’t escape FOMO, but stay true to yourself. Spend your time the way you want to. Invest in what you consider meaningful. No one has the answer, because there isn’t one. — **One team was focused on building alanguage learning platform for first-generation immigrants, in order to help them build their confidence and speak English more frequently. The other team’s goal was to build a non-invasive tool tohelp glaucoma patients measure their eye pressure, in order to proactively manage their condition, and prevent blindness. What I Actually Learned from the Stanford MBA Most people will tell you that the real value of business school is not derived from the classroom: it’s all about the people. I heard this over and over again through the application process. But I didn’t understand what it really meant. When I was accepted into Stanford’s MBA program, I was grateful. I knew that my classmates would be phenomenal. I was eager to meet these 400 rockstars, and learn from them. I had no idea what was in store for me. They say business school is ‘transformational’. I was skeptical of this at first: but I have to admit, I am a different person at the end of an incredible two years. I’m more practical, and less idealistic. I’m more productive and adventurous. I’m more willing to try new things and fail. Perhaps most importantly, I have a much deeper understanding of my self and my strengths and weaknesses. And I can see that my class- on average- as a whole is more well-rounded, able to read people and build relationships better. I’m not sure if we’re better ‘leaders’ or ready to ‘change the world’, but we are definitely more equipped to manage ourselves and our own lives.What happened to us? We changed. The exposure to a mind-boggling variety of companies at different stages, industries and business models, through case studies, guest speakers, events, conferences, internships, my own classmates and independent studies definitely played a role. I have a sharpened appreciation for the importance of networks, communication skills and branding. But I also have to attribute this to the community we built. The real magic of business school comes from being in an environment where an incredibly diverse group dedicates all of their time and energy- personally, professionally and socially- to building a community that will last a lifetime.We were forced to start from scratch, and build a new set of relationships, just as we’d grown comfortable in our old lives: with our careers, our partners, our friends, our cities. We moved from all over the world, and lived in dorm rooms with people we’d never met before, and adjusted to being students again. We were given a blank sheet of paper in our mid to late twenties- a rare gift- and told that we could rethink the choices we’d made. Moreover, we were given the resources to do it- through world-class coaching, facilitated peer groups and classes. This forced some deep self-inspection and reflection: when you’re allowed to second guess yourself, you do. In my case, after spending five years doing impact investing in London, I will be working for a media startup in Mumbai after the MBA. We also had to adjust to an exceedingly social environment. Every person seemed like they were living their best life, all the time, at the start. I was strongly reminded of the power of herd behaviour, exclusivity and status. And then of course, there was all the travel, dinners, parties. Pure, unadulterated fun, at a scale that I perhaps won’t ever get to repeat again, as often. But over time I also deeply and truly got to know people from all over the world: what drives them, what’s shaped them. And we learned to both fit in and stand out: to choose who we wanted to be friends with, what groups we wanted to be associated with, what mattered to us, and how we wanted to be known and remembered. And I think that this is the secret: the MBA gives you the chance to develop a deeper understanding of yourself, and the people around you. You’re given the opportunity to see and test multiple ways of living. You ask for and give help. And when you figure out what’s right for you, you’re more able to manage yourself. You can’t manage other people if you can’t handle yourself.I know this is only the beginning of a long journey- both in terms of developing self-awareness and control- and getting to know my classmates. I’m so grateful to have spent two years dedicating myself to it. Congratulations to the Class of 2018. |
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Hi Generic [Bot],
Here are updates for you:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 Wednesday, Apr 24, 2024 11:30am NY / 3:30pm London / 9pm Mumbai Watch earlier episodes of DI series below EP1: 6 Hardest Two-Part Analysis Questions EP2: 5 Hardest Graphical Interpretation Questions
Tuck at Dartmouth
AGSM at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
 GMAT Club REWARDS
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