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SimbaJSK
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Leadership Development Program vs Project Management w/ Internat. Exp. 18 Apr 2020, 18:13
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Hello,

I am currently an engineer at a Fortune 100 Engineering company exploring other engineering positions in the company and I was wondering the following questions:

1.) Would a project management position (more related to oversight and implementation of projects, but requiring knowledge of multiple engineering disciplines) at a Fortune 100 Engineering company be looked at more favorably than a manufacturing engineer position at a Fortune 100 Engineering company?
2.) How much more beneficial would a position in a Leadership Development Program be for admission into M7 programs over a project management role with international experience (both at a Fortune 100 Engineering company)?

Thanks in advance!
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Leadership Development Program vs Project Management w/ Internat. Exp. Updated on: 19 Apr 2020, 01:56
Originally posted by MBAPrepCoach on 19 Apr 2020, 01:32.
Last edited by MBAPrepCoach on 19 Apr 2020, 01:56, edited 1 time in total.
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1. It's a little bit difficult to answer this in a vacuum, if you are applying to Global Operations program at MIT the second option might be better if it is related to your goals.

However if you are looking to work for a late stage startup then seeing things holistically is going to be best and generally that is in more alignment with the reasons people go for an MBA.

It really has to do with the program you're applying to, whether your work experience fits in with that, and your goals.

They want happy customers and they want to know that the program is going to help you get where you want to go. The background you have is what you're building on to achieve that.

Think of this as a Continuum Background + MBA = short-term goal + = long-term goal/legacy you want to leave. I describe this is a podcast here: https://blogtalkradio.com/mbaprepcoach

[size=80][b][i]Posted from my mobile device[/i][/b][/size]
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Leadership Development Program vs Project Management w/ Internat. Exp. 19 Apr 2020, 01:54
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2. Same principles apply, but will make a few more points.

Do you get to work on potentially high-impact projects with the LDP? Or is it badically about exposure.

This is a departure from your question, but important points to make overall.

While role and company matter, you want to think about quality. How you will demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem solving, innovation, communication...so think in terms of where you can make the greatest difference, balanced with where you can learn the most.

For example, startups allow initiative. But F100 have some shiz figured out that you might learn from. Plus, brand factor. Its kind of a balance. If you choose a narrow role in a large corp, make sure to get leadership experience in an EC/nonprofit situation.

When it comes to international experience that is great, because you have that perspective to offer your classmates. Does it track with your goals? Are you applying to INSEAD or LBS, Wharton Lauder?

Its great to have intl WE, but more paramount to honor the quality of WE: impact, leadership...and also does this make sense with your overall narrative and application strategy.

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Leadership Development Program vs Project Management w/ Internat. Exp. 19 Apr 2020, 04:44
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2. Same principles apply, but will make a few more points.

Do you get to work on potentially high-impact projects with the LDP? Or is it badically about exposure.

This is a departure from your question, but important points to make overall.

While role and company matter, you want to think about quality. How you will demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem solving, innovation, communication...so think in terms of where you can make the greatest difference, balanced with where you can learn the most.

For example, startups allow initiative. But F100 have some shiz figured out that you might learn from. Plus, brand factor. Its kind of a balance. If you choose a narrow role in a large corp, make sure to get leadership experience in an EC/nonprofit situation.

When it comes to international experience that is great, because you have that perspective to offer your classmates. Does it track with your goals? Are you applying to INSEAD or LBS, Wharton Lauder?

Its great to have intl WE, but more paramount to honor the quality of WE: impact, leadership...and also does this make sense with your overall narrative and application strategy.

Posted from my mobile device
Show more

Thanks again for the insightful response with detailed explanations. My short term goal is to work in consulting (MBB) post-MBA, focused on engineering or tech. companies, and my long-term goal is to become a C-suite executive at an engineering or tech. company.

Also, you bring up a good point with regard to the LDP being high-impact vs. exposure. From my understanding, the PM role would have more high-impact and the LDP would be more exposure-based. Given the information above I have some follow-up questions:

1.) Given my short-term and long-term goals, would you say that the PM role would be more in-line with that trajectory rather than the manufacturing engineering role or the LDP?
2.) If I choose the LDP route, I would be applying mid-way through the program, so my work would not be as impactful as the PM role. If this is the case, am I correct in my understanding that you believe that the more high-impact projects related to the PM role would help my application more than the selectivity of the LDP?
3.) How exactly is high-impact best measured? Monetary impact? Critical nature to company? Cutting edge developments in your area? It just seems to be a very broad category that I can't fully get a grasp on in a concrete manner.

Thanks in advance!
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Leadership Development Program vs Project Management w/ Internat. Exp. 19 Apr 2020, 05:34
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sorry this is giving me a bit of a headache. I don't really think it's wise for me to help you make big decisions like this over a forum without having the full picture. Feel free to book a few hours with me

SimbaJSK
MBAPrepCoach
2. Same principles apply, but will make a few more points.

Do you get to work on potentially high-impact projects with the LDP? Or is it badically about exposure.

This is a departure from your question, but important points to make overall.

While role and company matter, you want to think about quality. How you will demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem solving, innovation, communication...so think in terms of where you can make the greatest difference, balanced with where you can learn the most.

For example, startups allow initiative. But F100 have some shiz figured out that you might learn from. Plus, brand factor. Its kind of a balance. If you choose a narrow role in a large corp, make sure to get leadership experience in an EC/nonprofit situation.

When it comes to international experience that is great, because you have that perspective to offer your classmates. Does it track with your goals? Are you applying to INSEAD or LBS, Wharton Lauder?

Its great to have intl WE, but more paramount to honor the quality of WE: impact, leadership...and also does this make sense with your overall narrative and application strategy.

Posted from my mobile device

Thanks again for the insightful response with detailed explanations. My short term goal is to work in consulting (MBB) post-MBA, focused on engineering or tech. companies, and my long-term goal is to become a C-suite executive at an engineering or tech. company.

Also, you bring up a good point with regard to the LDP being high-impact vs. exposure. From my understanding, the PM role would have more high-impact and the LDP would be more exposure-based. Given the information above I have some follow-up questions:

1.) Given my short-term and long-term goals, would you say that the PM role would be more in-line with that trajectory rather than the manufacturing engineering role or the LDP?
2.) If I choose the LDP route, I would be applying mid-way through the program, so my work would not be as impactful as the PM role. If this is the case, am I correct in my understanding that you believe that the more high-impact projects related to the PM role would help my application more than the selectivity of the LDP?
3.) How exactly is high-impact best measured? Monetary impact? Critical nature to company? Cutting edge developments in your area? It just seems to be a very broad category that I can't fully get a grasp on in a concrete manner.

Thanks in advance!
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SimbaJSK
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Leadership Development Program vs Project Management w/ Internat. Exp. 19 Apr 2020, 06:55
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MBAPrepCoach
sorry this is giving me a bit of a headache. I don't really think it's wise for me to help you make big decisions like this over a forum without having the full picture. Feel free to book a few hours with me

SimbaJSK
MBAPrepCoach
2. Same principles apply, but will make a few more points.

Do you get to work on potentially high-impact projects with the LDP? Or is it badically about exposure.

This is a departure from your question, but important points to make overall.

While role and company matter, you want to think about quality. How you will demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem solving, innovation, communication...so think in terms of where you can make the greatest difference, balanced with where you can learn the most.

For example, startups allow initiative. But F100 have some shiz figured out that you might learn from. Plus, brand factor. Its kind of a balance. If you choose a narrow role in a large corp, make sure to get leadership experience in an EC/nonprofit situation.

When it comes to international experience that is great, because you have that perspective to offer your classmates. Does it track with your goals? Are you applying to INSEAD or LBS, Wharton Lauder?

Its great to have intl WE, but more paramount to honor the quality of WE: impact, leadership...and also does this make sense with your overall narrative and application strategy.

Posted from my mobile device

Thanks again for the insightful response with detailed explanations. My short term goal is to work in consulting (MBB) post-MBA, focused on engineering or tech. companies, and my long-term goal is to become a C-suite executive at an engineering or tech. company.

Also, you bring up a good point with regard to the LDP being high-impact vs. exposure. From my understanding, the PM role would have more high-impact and the LDP would be more exposure-based. Given the information above I have some follow-up questions:

1.) Given my short-term and long-term goals, would you say that the PM role would be more in-line with that trajectory rather than the manufacturing engineering role or the LDP?
2.) If I choose the LDP route, I would be applying mid-way through the program, so my work would not be as impactful as the PM role. If this is the case, am I correct in my understanding that you believe that the more high-impact projects related to the PM role would help my application more than the selectivity of the LDP?
3.) How exactly is high-impact best measured? Monetary impact? Critical nature to company? Cutting edge developments in your area? It just seems to be a very broad category that I can't fully get a grasp on in a concrete manner.

Thanks in advance!
Show more

I understand your reservations; there's not enough information for big-picture decisions, especially given a public forum. I think I'm a bit too far out for one-on-one consultations, but will look into it maybe a year out from my applications. Thanks for the help!