By: Lorraine Wong
Prepping for cases, attending learning team meetings, absorbing information at Career Management clinics… oh, and I almost forgot, going to class! A typical day in the life of an Ivey MBA student is a real test of time management skills. The first week back in a classroom was a big change for me, but overall, I found that the transition to life and school in London, Ontario has been relatively smooth. Of course, instantly gaining 67 new friends doesn’t hurt! To give you some insight into my Ivey experience in the last two months, I’ve put together a list of 10 things
I have learned:
1. Yes, Guinea Pigs
It was a bit risky, but we took a chance on joining the inaugural class of the new one-year MBA program. Given Ivey’s reputation as a leading business school, we are confident that the quality of the Ivey MBA would be maintained, if not improved. So far, so good.
2. Thinking Cross-Enterprise
The most engaging cases we have reviewed so far in class have been the ones that allow two or more instructors to take us through the various issues affecting one company. For example, the “IT” instructor does not only delve into specific IT issues, but also integrates aspects of leadership into the discussion.
3. Speak Up!
Participation in class discussions frequently count for at least 30% of your grade. That being said, contribution marks are awarded based on the quality of comments as opposed to quantity. Class is a “safe environment”, so we shouldn’t be afraid to speak up.
4. Teamwork
On the first day of class, we were assigned to learning teams that comprise 6 or 7 students from various backgrounds. In my team, there are two engineers, one IT consultant, an HR specialist, an investment banker and me (miscellaneous accounting and finance person). The different perspectives that each of us have really contribute to the lively discussions in our meetings, while our different skill sets allow us to rely on each other if we are weak in any specific areas.
5. “Work Hard, Play Hard!”
Various local establishments have benefited handsomely from our class. Every week, our schedules are packed not only with school-related events, but many social outings. Formally, there are two Social Reps who plan official events (this week, there’s a mini-golf tournament and a beach day). Informally, we frequently get together at local bars and restaurants, in addition to playing volleyball, basketball and golf.
6. Making Some Big Decisions
A one-year program means we have to make decisions fairly quickly on our post-MBA career path. Last week, our class went to Toronto where representatives from various companies held mock interviews and information sessions. Career Management did a great job of pulling everything together; now it’s up to us to narrow down our choices, research the available opportunities and begin preparing for interviews. Recruiting season begins in less than two months!
7. 24, no, 48 hours
The infamous 24-hour reports are truly a unique experience. Two weeks ago, my team was immersed in a case that was given out to us at 1:30pm on Wednesday. A written report was due at 3pm on Thursday; 5 hours later, the PowerPoint presentation slides were due! The next day, each team made a presentation to the Faculty and several executives from industry. To avoid losing sleep two nights in a row, our team developed a timeline/schedule and clarified the responsibilities of each team member.
8. “The Country Club”
Some of us have described the Spencer Leadership Centre as having a “country club” feel. Although I heard how fantastic the facilities are at Spencer, I did not fully appreciate it until I was sitting on the balcony of the lounge during the 24-hour report, looking out at the beautiful surroundings, on a much-needed break. There are beautiful lounges, new lockers, beach volley-ball pits, a basketball court, and a restaurant (much nicer than the cafeteria on main campus!). And on most days, you can see a gopher or rabbit on the grass!
9. Not Just Talking, but Communicating
A component of Module 1 focuses on the importance of communicating effectively. Watching videotapes of ourselves making presentations in front of the class, we quickly learned the importance of “planting”, moving our hands above the shoulder, and removing “filler words”.
10. Endurance is Key
Congratulations on making it to number 10! It’s easy to get worn out quickly in this intense program. There are many things going on simultaneously and sometimes it’s difficult to keep up. This experience is like a marathon, so I just try to pace myself and know that I can count on my classmates for support.
“This experience is really what you make of it.” I can tell you that this was repeated to us a few times in the first week of class, so I will be the first to pass this on to you. You may have heard this already in your past, but at Ivey, it really is turning out to be true. We only have a year together, so we have to make the most out of this experience!
Lorraine Wong
Ivey MBA Candidate, 2007
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