Why SJSU’s MBA Program With The Silicon Valley Experience Is The Ultimate Career Boost

The year was 2016. Nintendo’s Pokemon Go launched into the stratosphere, the Chicago Cubs were no longer “Lovable Losers” and the nation was gripped by a tumultuous presidential election. And in the epicenter of technology, something new was shaking and moving for MBA students in San José State University’s Lucas Graduate School of Business.

Setting their sights on developing the “whole student” for success in the business world, the thinkers and doers heading SJSU’s Early Career MBA curriculum debuted a new core program called the Silicon Valley Experience. Seven years and hundreds of graduates later, the program is thriving, giving students unparalleled exposure to a valley replete with worldwide business leaders. Using a multifaceted approach, the Silicon Valley Experience elevates beyond four classroom walls and extends beyond one brief semester.

Incoming Lucas MBA students are immediately introduced to the program, which expertly guides them through professional development activities that include industry guest speakers, networking opportunities, company visits, resume development, mock interviews, case competitions, and more. Students accumulate points and career skills simultaneously with every activity they participate in.

The program is currently led by faculty member Vivek Agarwal, a seasoned tech industry professional and executive coach, who emphasizes the fact that students are gaining knowledge that can’t be found in a textbook. One of the most popular components of the Silicon Valley Experience are site visits to iconic Silicon Valley companies, which have included Meta, Google, Intel, Netflix, and PayPal.

From the sustainability efforts that keep Google unfazed by rising energy costs to Meta’s employee parking lot resembling a Tesla dealership due to their overwhelming support of electric vehicles, students are seeing firsthand how companies like Google and Meta are transforming Silicon Valley.

Agarwal recalled a recent corporate visit to Intel that left students wowed not just by the swag, but by the organizers at Intel whose full itinerary and attention to detail made the students feel welcomed, valued, and appreciated. According to Agarwal, “Students really felt there was a sense of belongingness to the Silicon Valley.”

Among the many other facets of the Silicon Valley Experience are the workshops supplying students with the various soft skills and tools needed to succeed in their careers. Ryan Renelle, a first-year MBA student, is already reaping the benefits of one of the program-led events.

“I left the resume writing workshop with the feeling that I had truly grown as a professional, it gave me direction,” he said. “By providing context to my experiences, detailing the actions that I took, and explaining their impact, I am able to better communicate the value that I bring to an organization.”

Despite having had resume writing components in multiple undergraduate courses, he says they were no comparison to what he learned in the workshop.

Worth highlighting is that the Silicon Valley Experience looks at both sides of business, enriching students with exposure to nonprofit entities and charities as well. For those striving to build a nonprofit business of their own, there is much to be gained by learning how local organizations are flourishing and how many opportunities exist in that arena.

Thanks to the Silicon Valley Experience, Early Career MBA students will graduate with a professional toolkit filled with educational insight, wisdom gleaned from countless successful leaders, as well as the business acumen to make their own mark on Silicon Valley and the world.

Yvette Trejo has been part of San Jose State University’s Lucas College and Graduate School of Business for 15 years. Her current role is SISTech and Communications Analyst. She finds the most rewarding part of her job to be advocating for the student population. 

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