Why I decided to get my MBA

kellyklues
15 Jun 202308:20
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRKelly, a second-year MBA student at Duke's Fuqua School of Business, reflects on her experience and answers common questions about pursuing an MBA. She discusses career pivoting, the value of the degree in uncertain economies, and the personal growth and networking opportunities it offers. Despite the challenges of graduating into a shaky economy, she believes the MBA was worth it for the immediate career prospects, diverse peer group, enriching travel experiences, and personal development gained.

Takeaways
  • 🎓 MBA for Career Pivot - The most common reason for pursuing an MBA is to change careers, which the speaker successfully did from media to another industry.
  • 💼 Immediate Job Opportunities - MBA programs often lead to job offers in fields like Investment Banking, Consulting, and Tech due to dedicated recruitment efforts by alumni and companies.
  • 🌐 Networking - MBA programs provide access to a diverse network of professionals from various industries, expanding one's career possibilities and social connections.
  • 🌟 Personal Growth - The speaker experienced significant personal development, overcoming fears and stepping out of their comfort zone through the MBA program.
  • 🚀 Quick Career Change - An MBA allows for a rapid transition into new career paths, with many doors opening up almost immediately upon starting the program.
  • 🌍 Travel Opportunities - Many MBA programs offer travel experiences, often organized by classmates with local knowledge, providing unique and enriching cultural experiences.
  • 🤔 Uncertain Economy - The speaker acknowledges the uncertainty of the economy post-MBA, which can be a concern but should not overshadow the long-term benefits of the degree.
  • 📈 Long-Term Value - The true value of an MBA is often realized over the course of many years, with the network and skills developed being key assets.
  • 💡 No MBA? Possible Alternatives - It's possible to change careers without an MBA, though it may take longer and be less guaranteed, relying on factors like internal company mobility and supportive management.
  • 🥂 Embracing Challenges - Business school can be a challenging environment, especially for introverts, but it's a space for growth and learning to handle situations like rejection.
  • 🌟 Lifelong Learning - The speaker's MBA journey was about more than just career advancement; it was a transformative experience that enriched their life in many ways.
Q & A

  • Why did Kelly decide to pursue an MBA?

    -Kelly decided to pursue an MBA to pivot her career after working in the media industry. She found it challenging to transition into other industries without the right experiences or skill sets.

  • What was Kelly's previous role in the media industry?

    -Kelly's previous role involved launching ads on platforms like Facebook and Google to drive traffic to her company's websites, with the goal of growing content generated at her then workplace, Red Venue.

  • Which industries do people often pivot into after completing their MBAs?

    -The top three industries people often pivot into after their MBAs are Investment Banking, Consulting, and Tech.

  • How has the economy affected Kelly's post-MBA job prospects?

    -The shaky economy has caused Kelly some concern as she graduated into an uncertain economic climate, potentially a recession, which was different from the booming job market she left in 2021.

  • What is Kelly's stance on whether an MBA is worth it?

    -Kelly believes that an MBA is worth it, but she acknowledges the uncertainty of the economy upon her graduation. She also emphasizes the long-term value of the network she has built during her MBA program.

  • How did the MBA program help Kelly achieve her career goals?

    -The MBA program provided Kelly with dedicated recruiting teams from her school, especially for the Consulting and Investment Banking industries, which are usually staffed by alumni. This gave her access to new opportunities and helped her land her desired job.

  • What types of people did Kelly meet during her MBA program?

    -Kelly met a diverse group of people from all over the world, including startup founders, former nurses, and professional poker players, which broadened her network beyond her previous advertising and entertainment connections.

  • What personal enrichment opportunities did the MBA program offer Kelly?

    -The MBA program offered Kelly opportunities for course-related travel, where she could explore different countries with classmates who had lived there, providing a personalized travel experience.

  • How did the MBA program contribute to Kelly's personal growth?

    -The MBA program pushed Kelly out of her comfort zone as an introvert, helping her overcome her fear of public speaking, organizing events, and learning to handle rejection, which contributed to her personal growth.

  • What alternative career pivot strategies did Kelly consider?

    -Kelly considered organically pivoting into a different industry by taking on roles within a company that supported internal mobility, but she felt an MBA provided a quicker and more guaranteed path to career change.

  • What advice does Kelly have for those considering an MBA?

    -Kelly encourages those considering an MBA to take the leap, as she believes it offers a quick way to pivot careers, access a valuable network, and experience personal growth, despite the uncertainties of the job market.

Outlines
00:00
🎓 Reflecting on the MBA Experience

Kelly, a second-year full-time MBA student at Duke's Fuqua School of Business, shares her insights and experiences from the program. Initially uncertain about graduating into a shaky economy, she discusses the value of an MBA in career pivoting, networking, meeting diverse individuals, and personal growth. Despite the challenges of job market uncertainty, she highlights the benefits of business school, such as dedicated recruiting teams, new opportunities, and the chance to travel and learn from classmates from various backgrounds. Kelly also emphasizes the personal growth she experienced, overcoming her introverted nature and public speaking fears, and embracing new experiences.

05:01
🌍 MBA Benefits: Travel, Personal Growth, and Downtime

Continuing her reflection, Kelly delves into the additional benefits of pursuing an MBA. She talks about the unique opportunity to travel with classmates, creating lasting memories and exploring interests during the two-year program. The uninterrupted time allows students to reassess their career paths and priorities. Kelly shares her personal growth journey, mentioning how the MBA environment challenged her to step out of her comfort zone, face public speaking fears, and embrace leadership roles. She concludes by emphasizing the MBA's role in quick career pivots and the invaluable alumni network, ultimately expressing gratitude for the transformative experience.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡MBA
MBA stands for Master of Business Administration, which is a postgraduate degree focused on business and management. In the context of the video, the speaker, Kelly, pursued an MBA at Duke's Fuqua School of Business to pivot her career, indicating that an MBA can be instrumental in transitioning to a new industry or role. The degree is often seen as a way to gain advanced business and leadership skills, which can lead to career advancement or a change in professional direction.
💡Pivot
In the business context, a pivot refers to a strategic change in direction or focus, typically to adapt to changes in the market or to take advantage of new opportunities. For Kelly, pivoting her career meant leaving her role in advertising to pursue a different industry or job function. The MBA program served as a catalyst for this change, providing her with the necessary skills, knowledge, and network to successfully transition into a new career path.
💡Economy
The economy refers to the system of production, consumption, and exchange of goods and services in a region or between regions. In the video, Kelly expresses concern about graduating into a shaky economy, indicating uncertainty and potential challenges in the job market. This reflects the reality that economic conditions can significantly impact job opportunities and career growth, which is a common concern for individuals completing higher education or professional programs.
💡Network
A professional network consists of connections and relationships that can provide access to opportunities, information, and support. In the context of the video, Kelly emphasizes the long-term value of the network she built during her MBA program. This network includes classmates, alumni, and professionals in various industries who can offer career advice, job leads, and mentorship. Building a strong network is often considered one of the most valuable aspects of pursuing an MBA.
💡Career Prospects
Career prospects refer to the potential opportunities and paths available for professional growth and advancement. In the video, Kelly discusses how her MBA has improved her career prospects by enabling her to land her desired job and opening up a world of new opportunities that were not accessible to her previously. This highlights the transformative impact that higher education, particularly an MBA, can have on an individual's professional trajectory.
💡Diverse Group
A diverse group refers to a collection of individuals with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. In the context of the video, Kelly appreciates the diversity of her MBA program, which included people from all over the world and various professional fields. This diversity enriches the learning environment, fosters cross-cultural understanding, and broadens the range of viewpoints and ideas that students can draw from.
💡Personal Enrichment
Personal enrichment refers to the process of self-improvement and growth that comes from new experiences, knowledge, and skills. In the video, Kelly describes how her MBA journey led to personal enrichment through travel, meeting interesting people, and overcoming personal challenges. This aspect of her education goes beyond professional development and touches on the enhancement of her personal life and character.
💡Rejection Therapy
Rejection therapy is a colloquial term used to describe the process of learning to handle and bounce back from rejection. In the context of the video, Kelly uses this term to describe the experience of facing rejection in a competitive environment, such as business school, where high-achieving individuals vie for limited opportunities. This concept is about developing resilience and the ability to continue striving for one's goals despite setbacks.
💡Introvert
An introvert is someone who tends to recharge by spending time alone and often feels drained by excessive social interaction. In the video, Kelly identifies herself as an introvert and discusses the challenges she faced in an extroverted environment like business school. This keyword highlights the personal growth that can occur when individuals step out of their comfort zones and engage in new social experiences.
💡Career Advancement
Career advancement refers to the process of moving forward in one's professional life, typically through promotions, new job opportunities, or increased responsibilities. In the video, Kelly views her MBA as a tool for career advancement, as it provided her with the credentials and network necessary to access higher-level positions and roles that were not available to her before.
Highlights

The primary reason for getting an MBA is to pivot one's career.

Kelly, a second-year full-time MBA student at Duke's Fuqua School of Business, shares her MBA experience and answers common questions.

After working in the media industry, Kelly decided to pursue an MBA to transition into a different career path.

Despite facing rejections for roles in other industries, Kelly realized that business school could be a way to pivot quickly.

The top three industries people pivot into after an MBA are Investment Banking, Consulting, and Tech.

Kelly confirms that the MBA was worth it for her, despite the uncertainty of the economy.

The value of an MBA is not only in the immediate career prospects but also in the long-term network benefits.

Companies often have dedicated recruiting teams for MBA programs, which can lead to more job opportunities.

MBA programs offer the chance to meet interesting people from diverse backgrounds.

Personal enrichment is a significant aspect of the MBA experience, including travel opportunities.

MBA programs provide uninterrupted time to explore interests and take a breather from one's career.

Personal growth is often a surprising outcome of the MBA experience.

Business school can be a great environment for learning how to handle rejection and move forward.

While an MBA is not necessary for career pivoting, it can significantly expedite the process.

Kelly's MBA journey led to immediate opportunities and a network more eager to help than her undergraduate network.

The MBA experience is not just about professional development; it's also about having fun and making memories with peers.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
MBA ExperienceCareer PivotNetworkingPersonal GrowthDuke FuquaEconomic UncertaintyAlumni NetworkIndustry TransitionProfessional DevelopmentStudent Perspective