• A. Before - What was the thought process?

• B. During - How was it and what advice to succeed?

• C. After - How did it feel after and impact?

A. Before - What was the thought process?

The Catalyst: I had never given it much thought. But my dad started to encourage me to do it. My undergrad friends were talking about Engineers with MBAs being sought after for their versatility.

It became front of mind for a while thanks to the frequency illusion - seemed every Tom, Dick and Harry had an MBA.

And so I gave it some serious thought.

Maybe this newsletter might be your catalyst?

Inflection Points. The timing was good, as I had already had some solid corporate working experience under my belt. Felt in a bit of a comfort zone, honestly. So a bit of an inflection point - I was open to change and having a greater impact.

Maybe the MBA would help me level myself up?

If you are at a similar inflection point in your career, maybe it’s a sign you are ready to take on new challenges and grow professionally?

Can I do this? Initially, I had my doubts about whether I could handle the MBA program.

Let’s be honest - it sounds daunting. And it is.

It helps to have some work experience under your belt, as it provides context for the advanced concepts you'll encounter - if you can connect with the problems, you’ll connect with the models, theories and frameworks.

I had also done some other management courses, including the Henley MAP program, which eased my transition back into the demanding academic environment after many years in corporate.

Can I afford this? An MBA comes at a huge cost of time, money, energy, effort, family life. Could I afford it in all these areas?

I viewed it as an investment in my personal and career development - so with support from the family, the cost was justified.

To help reduce the drastic holistic cost, I chose the Henley Flexible Executive MBA program designed for busy professionals with families. It spanned three years, compared to the usual two years, and gave me enough time to digest the learnings without feeling rushed.

*Henley is one of a selection of global business schools to hold triple-accredited status from the UK, European and US awarding bodies

Expected Benefits: The primary benefit of an MBA is its potential to accelerate your career - you are able to problem-solve operationally in multiple domains, think strategically, and lead in the business.

But, the return on this investment depends largely on what you make of it. It's like a gym membership—you need to use it to see results.

I was also expecting the MBA to change my perspective and way of thinking (personal development) based on my research.

At the end, it was a no-brainer me at the time - I was going to do the MBA, and I was confident I could tackle it with support from my family.

B. During - How was it and advice to succeed?

There is a way to succeed: Dr Julian Day gave us extensive advice in his workshops on how to succeed in the MBA. In fact, he was specifically brought in by Henley when there was a trend identified in the past where students were struggling to finish the program.

Some of his his advice:

The backpack analogy: Julian used the analogy of climbing an MBA mountain with a backpack. You don’t want that backpack (workload) to get too heavy. Missing deadlines and requesting extensions are what makes it heavier, because now you have the next deadline in addition to having to meet the current one you are late on. I think I did mostly well, staying religiously on top of assignment deadlines with only a few extensions ensured I didn’t fall too far behind.

So What? A bit of a critical thinking improvement for me - always be asking: So what?

Seeing things from different angles: Julian used the analogy of seeing a problem through different lenses. Take your time to understand the problem. Ask, “what is the question?”. This also helps you understand the assignment briefs properly and deliver quality.

Life happens: Expect the unexpected and ensure your plans are resilient. During the 3 year course, we experience Covid-19, I changed jobs and welcomed our son Ethan into the world. But amazing support from my wife and those close to me coupled with a religious study schedule helped me stay on track.

Your syndicate (group): My syndicate group was crucial for my success. They provided a support structure, helping me acclimatize to the course demands. This camaraderie was essential, and kept us all motivated, as only they truly understood the MBA journey's challenges and triumphs. Thank you Team RaPasa!

Some great tips from Dr Julian Day there - I strongly advised the prospective students in the talk to pay attention to what he said in those coaching workshops.

Personal Development: For me, this was the best experience of the Henley MBA. Under Dr Chris Dalton’s expert guidance, personal development became a transformative experience. The focus on reflection, critical thinking, and growth was an eye opener for me.

C. After - How did it feel after and impact?

Relief, appreciation, humility, confidence: Completing the MBA brought a mix of relief and appreciation. It is a mountain indeed, and not an easy one to climb. I gained humility and confidence from the summit, and owe gratitude to everyone mentioned here.

Seeing things differently: The MBA equipped me to view everything through multiple lenses, enhancing my thinking and decision-making.

Dealing with complexity: The models, theories and frameworks boosted my management toolbox and added a strategic dimension to my thinking. I feel prepared to handle senior-level complexity, embrace bigger roles, and navigate uncertain career paths with confidence now.

Reflection: I found myself adopting a reflective thinking practice and this has helped me find inspiration to write here. The PD module and it’s teachings are one of the big ROIs of the program I felt.

Unleashing potential: I feel like the knowledge and wisdom gained during the MBA has empowered me to unleash my potential - this is the mindset I approach all my current and future challenges with and it makes things easier for sure.

In Summary

My experience was life-changing. Confidence-boosting. Potential-unleashing.

Robin Sharma said “Turbulent times build great leaders”, and the MBA is years of turbulent times that will test you to the core.

Strong family and professional support was critical for my success.

Did I suddenly get more money or job opportunities? No, But I feel it was totally worth it, and now you know why - personal growth and development.

If I had to sum each phase up into one word, I’d probably use these:

Before - Contemplation.
During - Evolution.
After - Reflection.

So, have you been contemplating an MBA?

Have you done an MBA? What’s your experience been like?

I’d love to hear your comments!

Thanks for the walk and talk - till next month, friend ☕️