Making the Most of Your MBA Experience

You may be pursuing an MBA for career advancement. Maybe you want a change in career. Then again, you might not really know what you want.

One thing is for certain – making the most out of your MBA will ensure that your six figure investment won’t go to waste.

I Am Expat – an online media platform, recently released some of the best ways you can ensure you make the most out of your MBA experience.

Build Your Network

Almost every business school will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed. But not every school may provide you with a valuable network.

“A lot of the value of your MBA is the network it offers, so take full advantage,” I Am Expat advises. “Invest in building deep relationships with your fellow students and with faculty. Seek out diversity. And remember that the network you build now will last way beyond graduation.”

Diversity is key when it comes to networking.

“Most of us gravitate to people who share similar backgrounds and industry experience, so make a special effort to take advantage of the diversity in your b-school class,” Stacy Blackman writes for Wharton Magazine. “Doing so will greatly enrich your perspective and experience, and you never know when that contact from the other side of the world or completely different field will be useful down the road.”   

Make Mistakes

Making mistakes now will be better than making mistakes down the road.

“Your MBA is a unique opportunity to grow, learn and explore in a safe and supported environment. It’s also a challenge to push your boundaries,” according to I am Expat. “Even if it’s taking a course you’re afraid you might fail – before you graduate, do one thing (at least) that frightens you.”

Making mistakes means stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself to succeed. Maura Herson, MIT Sloan School of Management’s MBA program director, calls it the “stretch zone.”

“If you come into it thinking you’re an expert, you’re not going to maximize your learning,” she tells CNBC.

Prioritize

Prioritization and organization are key mentalities you need to develop during business school.

“You’re going to be busy. Very busy. So figure out a personal system that works for you ahead of time,” according to I am Expat. “Whether it’s notebooks or apps, prioritise being efficient and being on time”

In an interview with Business Insider, Ben Thayer, Kenan-Flagler MBA ’16, offers what he calls a “three-pillar approach” to prioritization: academic (reports and tests), social (clubs and fun events), and career (interviewing with job recruiters).

“You have to build up each pillar to succeed,” he tells Business Insider.

Sources: I am Expat, Wharton Magazine, CNBC, Business Insider