Memoirs Of An MBA
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It's been nearly two months since my last post, but now that I've had time to absorb and reflect upon my two years in Michigan, I'd like to pontificate a little bit...



When I first arrived at the University of Michigan in the summer of 2004, I sat in Hale Auditorium surrounded by more than 400 young and eager business people that would be my future classmates and cohort. Looking around me, I felt a sense of inadequacy, and I wondered if I had made the right decision to move to Ann Arbor to pursue my MBA degree.

That ever-faithful voice inside, reassured me that I had. After all, I had done all of the requisite research before making my decision. I pored through all of the major published grad program rankings (note: US News does not fall into this category) just to be sure I was enrolling in a program that would net a high investment return per tuition dollar spent. I consulted all of my colleagues and mentors that had either gone through the same process or that could offer their wisdom and shed insight into my decision. Still – why was there doubt?

Maybe it was because I had oft heard the varied opinions about the value of an MBA degree. I'm no stranger to the debate, and like any good debate, there is no objective or correct answer to the question: is an MBA degree worth it? Sure, you can calculate the NPV of the investment – but what about the intangibles? It seems that as business people we are quick to overlook personal development, experiential development, and something I like to call “life expansion”. So be it. Let those that view the MBA as a personal profit vehicle go to schools where their peers feel the same way. I am a Michigan graduate now, and I assure you, the majority of my peers share my holistic view of the MBA education.

So now that I have a freshly minted MBA from the best business program in the world (U of M alumni are also humble and without bias), I have my own perspective to share about the true value of an MBA, and about what I learned during my time at Michigan.

Top 5 Lessons of an MBA

5. Be Content (Have Fun)
True, the real world is difficult and not always fun. Still, it is important to seek contentment in what we do, and try to have fun where we can. My two years at Michigan went by way too fast, and the rest of life will go by even more quickly. Have fun and be content – it makes all the difference.

4. Maintain Balance
Yes, that’s why I put “(Have Fun)” in parentheses. It is important to maintain a healthy balance between work, fun, and everything else in life. Sure, I was able to balance my commitments during school, but let’s face it – I had it pretty easy. I really admire my colleagues and non-student acquaintances that have managed to pull this off with more pressing life commitments - those that are married, those that are working, and especially those with families. I continue to learn from these exceptional individuals.

3. Learn By Doing
One of the hallmarks of the Michigan MBA is something called “Action Based Learning.” This ethos is intertwined throughout the curriculum and embedded within the spirit of the program. MAP ( M.ultidiscplinary A.ction P.roject is a 7-week course where students work with real companies on real business projects) was a unique foray into experiential learning. Beyond the curriculum, there were multiple opportunities for students to become involved in extra curricular activities and events, providing a platform for further growth and learning. The Michigan M-trek, business plan and case competitions, and student led clubs (see Weekend Warriors) and events were just a few of these unique opportunities. In my opinion, learning is best accomplished by doing.

2. Seek & Build Character
Even though I’ve listed this as #2, it could very well be #1, and should realistically be even higher. My MBA experience was an intensive affirmation of this truth. Even though none of us would like to admit that we lack character, the truth is that everyone has areas of weakness. The real difference between those with character and those without is self awareness. People with character are constantly looking inwardly, striving to grow in areas that are lacking, and inspiring growth in those around them as a result. People without character are harder to identify. If you are anything like me, you choose to give most people the benefit of the doubt, choosing instead to see their good qualities first. Still, I can’t iterate this enough: steer clear of those with deep character flaws, and draw near to those with strong character.

1. Take Risks
As much as I hate the cliché, the underlying idea is essential in life and in business. Do things that cause you to “step outside of your comfort zone.” While this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to jump out of a plane, or SCUBA with sharks, it does mean to seek opportunities to expand your own horizons. You can learn a lot about yourself through new activities, and in doing so, your sphere of empathy and understanding will increase. It’s also a great way to build confidence. For those who know me, it may be hard to believe that I was actually petrified before perfoming in front of 800 peers in the Michigan Follies production. The fact that I was so nervous could only mean that the experience would be a good one - and it was. So important is this learning, in fact, that I made it the central theme to my Ross Profiles submission.


Looking back, I can safely say that my MBA experience was well worth it. If you are considering an MBA degree, appreciate the fact that you will learn so much more than business acumen. In order to fully capitalize on your MBA learning experience, don’t overlook life beyond the classroom. Be sure the MBA program you choose offers a well-integrated platform for professional and personal learning.

posted by Jake B. @ 8:28:00 AM