Appetizers

Starting with some basics.

 Fun Starters

Getting to know the human side.

 Main Course

A quick deep dive into the day-to-day student life.

Tell us about yourself and what you're studying.

I am a first-year MBA student at MIT Sloan. Prior to coming back to school, I spent about one year working in M&A and four years working as a product manager at tech companies in the FinTech, Insurance-Tech space. As an MBA student, my focus is primarily on entrepreneurship and innovation.

How did you end up in your field? What do you like about it?

I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I started my career in finance because I thought that I needed to understand how companies operate financially in order to become a successful entrepreneur. However, after my first foray into entrepreneurship, it became clear to me that building a company takes much more than financial knowledge.

I decided to switch my career into product management where I learned how to work cross-functionally with various teams to build products that customers love. I really enjoy the collaborative aspect of my work and find the impact that we have on the customers and our company extremely rewarding.

What classes are you taking right now? Which is your favorite and why?

I am mostly taking entrepreneurship classes at MIT. I would categorize the classes that I am taking into case base classes and hands-on classes. For case base classes such as Entrepreneurial Founding and Team, we read real-life cases on the team conflicts that many founding teams encounter such as equity split, and then have a live discussion in-class on how to resolve those conflicts.

For hands-on classes such as New Enterprises, we form a team with our classmates and attempt to build a start-up by following step-by-step a process that takes us from market segmentation all the way to building an initial product.

Let's say the school day just started, what's a typical morning look like?

I usually wake up around 8 AM, eat a quick breakfast, and then go straight to class. Most of my mornings are pretty busy with classes.

Cool, then what does a typical afternoon look like?

I typically try to get a quick workout in as well as finish any remaining readings and homework before going to my afternoon class. If time permits, I try to fit in one or two coffee chats with my fellow classmates before class. After class, my classmates and I usually go for dinner or drinks. I see meeting new people and making friends as a significant part of my MBA experience.

How are your classes/exams and how do you keep up? How many hours per week do you spend studying or doing assignments?

The classes and exams in most top MBA programs are moderately intense. However, most professors recognize that not every student is here exclusively for the academic experience. Some people are doing an MBA to switch careers and therefore will be focused on finding a job. Others are here to expand their network and meet new people and therefore will spend more time in social settings.

Every student has their own priority and will spend a different amount of time studying and doing assignments. Personally, I would say I spend about 10 hours a week doing assignments.

 Dessert

Now for some juicy insights in the tea room.

What's the most challenging thing about your grad program?

Finding the right balance between academic, social, and career development is challenging for most of my peers. There are countless events happening every day: networking events, industry conferences, speaker series, recruiting events, happy hour, group travel abroad, FIFA tournament, etc. Students need to prioritize their schedule well otherwise they may easily get overwhelmed.

What are some characteristics that help someone succeed in your grad program specifically?

They need to be good at prioritizing. They should come to business school with a clear purpose yet be able to keep their minds open for new opportunities. They should embrace diversity and appreciate diverse perspectives.

Any advice on how to stand out and get into your grad program for those just starting off?

I believe there are four aspects that make up a strong MBA application: GPA, GMAT, professional accomplishments, and the impact that you've had on the community as a leader. While having a high GPA and GMAT score will help put you in considerations for most business schools, I believe your professional accomplishments and community leadership/impact are the key factors that will separate you from the rest of the applicant pool.

What's something that surprised you about grad school?

I knew that most people in top schools have tons of academic and professional accomplishments before coming to business school. However, what surprised me the most is how humble most people are and how willing they are to get to know you as a person rather than judging you based on your prior accomplishments.

Any last thoughts, advice, or recommendations for someone who wants to get into your grad program?

Focus on the four aspects mentioned above and dream big. You miss 100 of the shots you don't take.

Drinks

Chat more over coffee or tea?