I recently started a distance learning MBA - just a little something to while away non-working hours - and 20 year old memories of being a student have started to flood back. Didn’t I always say ‘never again’? So what possessed me?
Well, it can’t be a mid-life crisis. They’re much more fun and I’ve already had a couple of those.
Having an MBA is certainly an entry criteria for some roles, but isn’t that just a way to reduce the number of candidates that apply? How much difference does having an MBA actually make? What does it tell you about the candidate? I’ve known too many well-qualified people (MBAs included) that fail to make an impact in the workplace. However, if not having an MBA is a potential blocker then it’s definitely a factor worthy of consideration.
Perhaps (naively?), I simply thought that I might be able to learn something useful.
I’m a great believer in life-long learning. As a student, I learnt how to learn. As an employee, I learnt how to apply my learning and deliver results. Learn something new every day and that’s one more problem I can solve tomorrow.
I’m at the beginning of (at least) a 2 year journey, so I’m not in a position yet to assess the relevancy of the curriculum or the effectiveness of the teaching methods or, indeed, the dedication of the student. All of which I can reflect upon at appropriate junctures in the future.
One thing that I can say is that the thought of assignments and examinations remains as daunting as ever. The pressure is definitely on.
