On the start of a new year, I thought that I'd send out this update to folks who might be trying to figure out how b-school fits into their plans for the future.
Recap2010-2011, I did everything I could to get into an elite b-school. I earned a totally decent GMAT score
http://gmatclub.com/forum/that-ll-do-pig-that-ll-do-102097.html. I have an MS and BS in technical areas and had 7 years of technical experience, mostly in bleeding-edge Silicon Valley startups.
Of course, none of that added up to success for me, and I ended up in the zero admits group
http://gmatclub.com/forum/2010-zero-admits-now-what-111543.html.
My Original RationaleI was pursuing an MBA in large part, because I thought that I needed to move forward beyond the narrow responsibilities of my technical career path. I felt stifled and stunted, and I wanted to break out into a career path that allowed me to contribute more to the growth and success companies than I could do as a technical professional.
Plan BSince I didn't get in to school but knew I still had a career problem to solve, I had to think outside of the box. Here's what I did:
- Quit my high paying job in SV.
- Sold most of my possessions and moved away from the US.
- Traveled around Asia for a bit.
- Settled in Hong Kong.
- Started a small software consulting company.
- Joined a startup incubator in a HK university as an incubatee and part-time staffer.
- Joined a team starting up a VC fund, investing in mainland China.
So, instead of moping through my day, complaining about how stuck I was in great companies with limiting roles, I'm now working with young startups in Greater China everyday. I'm also taking on interesting little software projects, based on my interest level in the project. I'm no longer bored and frustrated, just continuously challenged by the wealth of opportunities relative to my amount of available time.
Entrepreneurship as an Alternative to B-SchoolI get that I'm a unique case in that I'm now involved in my 4th-6th startup, depending on how you count them. Most people don't have that sort of startup experience. That said, some of the most promising companies I know (including ones I'd like to invest in, if at all possible) are headed up by guys who have never done startups before. They all have one thing in common, though: they wanted to make something happen bad enough, that they put in the work.
China as an Alternative to B-SchoolOf course, another unique aspect of my story is that I can pick up and move to China. Despite the absurdly underinformed hype coming out of the media (and its corresponding backlash), there is a real kernel of truth to the idea that China is the land of opportunity in 2012. Of course language is a major issue: I speak Mandarin at about a pre-schooler level and can barely write. If you want to come to China, you should learn Chinese, and I'm spending my precious little free time remediating my deficient skills. But if you want to make it work, there are a mind numbingly large number of huge opportunities for motivated professionals in China, right now. Most of them don't necessarily pay guaranteed I-banker salaries out of the gate, but they might be hugely more valuable in a relatively short amount of time.
A Backdoor into VCLots of people on this forum (past me included) are seriously wondering how to use b-school as a platform to VC. See these two great threads:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/nink-s-guide-to-career-in-venture-capital-76833.html and
http://gmatclub.com/forum/switching-into-pe-vc-67746.html. The general summary of these threads is that getting into VC is incredibly difficult and likely not worth your time trying, due to the extremely low odds. In the US, I would agree. In China, well, that's a horse of a different color. It's still the Wild West out here, and that means opportunities for people who are ambitious, fast-moving, and capable.
Do I have an elite MBA? Nope.
Can I decide whether or not our firm invests in your Series A? Yep.
My answer to that first question really bothers me. I hate that I don't have the MBA. That said, my answer to the second question really softens the blow. I found career progress through another route, and I'm pretty damn happy with the outcome.
SummaryI originally walked away from this forum more bitter than I've ever been. I was so upset at my failure that it burned in the back of my throat.
But I decided to take another crack at improving my career situation.
We're not yet to the point in the year where the zero-admits club will start filling up, but when they do, I'd like to offer up my experience as a point of reference.
I felt like I was more than good enough to get into a great b-school and be successful afterwards. I didn't get to do the first part of that, so I had to work even harder on the second part. But it was possible. There are options beyond b-school. Really.
Have a happy new year, GMATClubbers.
01 Jan 2012, 21:35
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