By Jay S Khan. BA, MBA, CMgr
When my editor asked me to write this piece, giving me just 48 hours’ notice, I was a bit apprehensive as I felt that it may be too personal, however I am glad that I accepted the challenge as it gave me the opportunity to reflect 7 years on.
MBA stands for Master of Business Administration and is generally aimed at busy professionals looking to advance their careers. In today’s climate the job market is difficult, if not cut-throat, and so many undergraduate students are now seeking out higher education to get a competitive edge. Even professionals who have several years of work experience will often attend graduate school to compete with other jobseekers or increase their skills for a current position.
The MBA is a specific type of Masters degree which focuses inherently on business skills. Entry requirement does not necessarily require experience previously in business and therefore is open to everyone and is sometimes regarded as a more prominent Masters. However, the key to enrolling on an MBA is having work experience. An MBA provides a detailed understanding of contemporary management literature and theory on aspects of organisational situations and helps to improve management practices. It provides a holistic approach towards future challenges in the global environment.
My reasons for completing an MBA are plentiful and have a wider perspective than simply for career progression. To start things off, this was a natural progression for me in terms of academic achievement as I have an undergraduate degree. I have always had the intention to complete a post graduate qualification, yet since completing my undergraduate course the timing just did not materialise for various reasons. The reasons I chose the MBA program is that it is a globally recognised qualification, and the acronym is well known from Europe, Asia and America and has an element of kudos attached. Having an MBA makes you a more attractive proposition for future employment. More importantly it was a personal challenge to complete it successfully. Both my parents were great advocates of formal education and this was a way to honour them even though they sadly were not around to witness my graduation. Finally, I saw this as a way of future inspiration and motivation for my kids and something for them to potentially aspire to completing.
Those who have completed an MBA will identify with some of the challenges and indeed would have many of their own. There are several challenges that I had to overcome during the completion of my studies. Firstly, I was in full time employment during the program and therefore had to juggle between the two and ensure that I maintained a strict regime to continue to meet my obligations at work. I have to say that I had a very supportive employer and manager which goes a long way. I have always been a very organised person and I apply the motto ‘Everything matters and always be prepared’ to both my professional and personal life.
Going back to university was exciting as it brought back memories of when I was a full-time student. Sitting in the university canteen and observing the fresh-faced students as they discussed their assignments and contemplated their futures was somewhat nostalgic. The challenges faced throughout this process has indelibly made me the person that I am today. Still impacted by my mother’s death 9 months prior to my start date, I had vowed to complete the course. In addition, at the time I had a young family which presented additional challenges. Spending quality time with my family is very important to me and I wanted to ensure that this was not compromised. My wife and kids were very supportive throughout the year which made it that much easier. During the year my kids saw me studying all hours of the day and I had to commandeer the dining table which was littered with books and all manner of study materials which I would catch them peeking through on occasions. I hope seeing me studying stays in the forefront of their memory and inspires them as they grow.
Embarking on such a challenge requires preparation and to anyone considering this I would suggest completing a shorter course before you take the journey. Before I started the process of identifying a suitable MBA I wanted to see if I still had the capacity and capability to return to a formal classroom setting. 14 years had passed since I graduated or completed any type of formal learning over a long period. In preparation, I enrolled on a 6-week teaching classroom-based course to refresh myself and see if I could climatise to this type of learning environment. What surprised me the most was how it re-ignited my love for learning.
The key to my success was the desire to succeed and the fear of failure. From a practical nuts and bolts point of view it was discipline and organisation that got me through successfully. I devised a regimented plan and timetable and stuck to it without deviation enabling me to keep focused. It is also important to factor in some downtime, as fatigue can easily set in due to information overload and of course the challenges of everyday life. Another great tip is finding a suitable study partner to work with, share ideas, act as a sounding board, and help motivate each other. It would be remiss and unforgivable of me not to acknowledge my study partner.
Completing a post graduate course, particular in later years, provides the opportunity to meet some wonderful people from all backgrounds. An MBA brings together people from all types of professional background and my class was no exception. My class consisted of people from the IT, healthcare, police, and travel industry, and all at different levels within their respective organisations. As mentioned above, it is a very tough and intense course, and this was evident in the 2nd semester where a few people dropped out.
Writing this piece is the first time I have reflected on this journey and it opened my eyes to the challenges that I had faced. If I was to have my time over again, I would probably follow the same process as I have no regrets and would highly recommend exploring this type of journey.
If anyone is considering an MBA, I would be happy to pass on my experiences and advice.