Some MBAs take the bare minimum number of classes - core classes in the first year, and 10 electives in the second year. I, on the other hand, am a glutton for punishment, and will graduate with 2 additionally electives. Why? Well, I am eternally curious and cannot seem to continue in this course without learning as much as possible.
Unfortunately, there are a few classes that are slipping from my grasp. For instance, there are a couple of finance classes (yes, you heard right, I did say finance), that I was interesting in auditing. But with a full course load, and a desire for mental sanity, I have decided to take a pass, and concentrate on those classes that I am sure to enjoy.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Smug MBA Student
I have entered into my final semester of the MBA and have already made a misstep in one of my classes.
In the very fist lecture of 'Competition and Strategy in Creative Industries' I was called out as a 'smug MBA student' by my professor.
Professor: Alright, class, I would like for someone to describe in your own words, what the following sentence means, 'The market under invests in creativity due to externalities associated with ideas'. Megan, what do you think?
Me: Ummm, well, I'm not 100% sure, but I'll take a stab at it. The market isn't investing enough in creativity. Ahhh... Ummm... I would say that, perhaps there is some misunderstanding on the value of ideas in the marketplace.... ummm... ya.
Professor: Ok, I just want to comment on something that Megan just said there. She said that the market misunderstands the value of ideas. Well, it's easy to sit there and be a smug MBA student and say that the market has misunderstood something. The market, which is filled with really smart people...
What I hear: Shame on you Megan. Have you learned nothing in the past 2 years? The market is always right. Always.
What I think to myself: If the market is always right, and the statement is true, then the market is not investing what they should. Therefore the market isn't right. Why aren't they right? Well, something must be missing. If some piece of information is missing, and they are investing based on the available information, isn't that a form of misunderstanding? I'm confused!
What I write in my notes: Never use the word 'misuderstood' ever again.
What I tell my peers: that will teach me for skimming through the reading. I don't think I was being smug, I just think that it was clear that I didn't have a clue what I was saying.
In the very fist lecture of 'Competition and Strategy in Creative Industries' I was called out as a 'smug MBA student' by my professor.
Professor: Alright, class, I would like for someone to describe in your own words, what the following sentence means, 'The market under invests in creativity due to externalities associated with ideas'. Megan, what do you think?
Me: Ummm, well, I'm not 100% sure, but I'll take a stab at it. The market isn't investing enough in creativity. Ahhh... Ummm... I would say that, perhaps there is some misunderstanding on the value of ideas in the marketplace.... ummm... ya.
Professor: Ok, I just want to comment on something that Megan just said there. She said that the market misunderstands the value of ideas. Well, it's easy to sit there and be a smug MBA student and say that the market has misunderstood something. The market, which is filled with really smart people...
What I hear: Shame on you Megan. Have you learned nothing in the past 2 years? The market is always right. Always.
What I think to myself: If the market is always right, and the statement is true, then the market is not investing what they should. Therefore the market isn't right. Why aren't they right? Well, something must be missing. If some piece of information is missing, and they are investing based on the available information, isn't that a form of misunderstanding? I'm confused!
What I write in my notes: Never use the word 'misuderstood' ever again.
What I tell my peers: that will teach me for skimming through the reading. I don't think I was being smug, I just think that it was clear that I didn't have a clue what I was saying.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
MBA - not all spreadsheets
This weekend 660 MBA students from 20 business schools across Canada gathered in Toronto for the MBA Games. We competed in 4 sports (Dodgeball, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee and Soccer), 3 academic case competitions and in various spirit events.
Team Rotman came out in full force, with friendly competitive spirit and smiles all around. We battled fiercely in each of the sports and academic events, and pulled off a gold place finish in a Jeopardy-style tournament (Jeopardy team included yours truly). We made many new friends and had a lot of fun. A wee vacation in our own dear city.
Congratulations to the University of Alberta who took home the top prize and will be hosting the event next year. A big thank you to Schulich who put the games together this year.
We had an absolute blast. And now, back to the books.
Team Rotman came out in full force, with friendly competitive spirit and smiles all around. We battled fiercely in each of the sports and academic events, and pulled off a gold place finish in a Jeopardy-style tournament (Jeopardy team included yours truly). We made many new friends and had a lot of fun. A wee vacation in our own dear city.
Congratulations to the University of Alberta who took home the top prize and will be hosting the event next year. A big thank you to Schulich who put the games together this year.
We had an absolute blast. And now, back to the books.
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