Comments on: The Babson MBA, One Year Later http://www.thommitchell.com/2009/11/06/the-babson-mba-one-year-later/ Navigating through the intersections of business and technology Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:06:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew http://www.thommitchell.com/2009/11/06/the-babson-mba-one-year-later/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Andrew Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:06:43 +0000 http://www.thommitchell.com/?p=513#comment-191 Hi Thom, I've read your blog and appreciate the candidacy on the Fast-Track MBA. I've been seeking out an MBA in order to develop well-rounded business acumen in innovation, strategy, marketing and simply the ability to foster an idea from inception to implementation. I've been admitted to both Babson's Fast-Track and Cornell's EMBA. I understand and value Babson as the top ranking MBA for Entrepreneurship. However, I don't necessarily plan on starting my own company, but would like to shift careers from business analysis/information systems to product development/brand management, or strategy consulting. How would you rate Babson's MBA for seeking out those types of opportunities when compared to a higher ranking business school in general, like Cornell? My gripe with the "traditional" MBA is its vanilla set of tools (accounting, finance, marketing, blah...), and I've always wanted something different, more creatively inspiring yet capable of developing and honing solid business skills. But I'm afraid Babson's reputation outside of Mass. may not resonate as much as bigger, more widely recognized institutions. Being an MBA grad from the school, and having firsthand knowledge of the types of students that attended the program, and organizations they work for (if any), how would you address those types of concerns? Thank you! -A Hi Thom,

I’ve read your blog and appreciate the candidacy on the Fast-Track MBA. I’ve been seeking out an MBA in order to develop well-rounded business acumen in innovation, strategy, marketing and simply the ability to foster an idea from inception to implementation. I’ve been admitted to both Babson’s Fast-Track and Cornell’s EMBA. I understand and value Babson as the top ranking MBA for Entrepreneurship. However, I don’t necessarily plan on starting my own company, but would like to shift careers from business analysis/information systems to product development/brand management, or strategy consulting. How would you rate Babson’s MBA for seeking out those types of opportunities when compared to a higher ranking business school in general, like Cornell? My gripe with the “traditional” MBA is its vanilla set of tools (accounting, finance, marketing, blah…), and I’ve always wanted something different, more creatively inspiring yet capable of developing and honing solid business skills. But I’m afraid Babson’s reputation outside of Mass. may not resonate as much as bigger, more widely recognized institutions. Being an MBA grad from the school, and having firsthand knowledge of the types of students that attended the program, and organizations they work for (if any), how would you address those types of concerns?

Thank you!

-A

]]> By: Thom http://www.thommitchell.com/2009/11/06/the-babson-mba-one-year-later/comment-page-1/#comment-186 Thom Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:18:38 +0000 http://www.thommitchell.com/?p=513#comment-186 Shan, thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. The Babson MBA degree is the same regardless of whether it is the traditional two-year full-time program, the one-year, the part-time or the Fast-Track program. And it is a full Master's of Business adminsitration - not a certificate or executive education program. The fact that all degrees granted carry the Babson name is part of the reason for the rigor of the program. Good luck. Shan, thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. The Babson MBA degree is the same regardless of whether it is the traditional two-year full-time program, the one-year, the part-time or the Fast-Track program. And it is a full Master’s of Business adminsitration – not a certificate or executive education program. The fact that all degrees granted carry the Babson name is part of the reason for the rigor of the program. Good luck.

]]> By: Shan http://www.thommitchell.com/2009/11/06/the-babson-mba-one-year-later/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Shan Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:47:19 +0000 http://www.thommitchell.com/?p=513#comment-179 Hi Thom, One quick q: on your MBA Certificate, is it stated that yours is Fasttrack MBA.... or Is it same as FullTime/Parttime MBA certificate.... Hi Thom,

One quick q: on your MBA Certificate, is it stated that yours is
Fasttrack MBA…. or Is it same as FullTime/Parttime MBA certificate….

]]> By: Thom http://www.thommitchell.com/2009/11/06/the-babson-mba-one-year-later/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Thom Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:39:43 +0000 http://www.thommitchell.com/?p=513#comment-46 John, You are on the right track that's for sure. The mentoring - from classmates, professors and networking opportunities - is an essential part of the MBA, in fact it might be the part with the most long-term value. What makes it especially valuable is that it occurs outside of the normal workplace hierarchy, thereby benefiting from distance and perspective as well as an objectivity that is rarely found with in mentoring relationships inside of a company. And you are absolutely right - leverage your experience, knowledge and business challenges to find the most value from the classroom. Your classmates can also be of value with subject-matter expertise that you may not have, even it it is within a corporate framework, while you'll provide significant value to them with your real-world entrepreneurial experiences - both the successes and failures. Good luck and let me know how it's going. John, You are on the right track that’s for sure. The mentoring – from classmates, professors and networking opportunities – is an essential part of the MBA, in fact it might be the part with the most long-term value. What makes it especially valuable is that it occurs outside of the normal workplace hierarchy, thereby benefiting from distance and perspective as well as an objectivity that is rarely found with in mentoring relationships inside of a company.

And you are absolutely right – leverage your experience, knowledge and business challenges to find the most value from the classroom. Your classmates can also be of value with subject-matter expertise that you may not have, even it it is within a corporate framework, while you’ll provide significant value to them with your real-world entrepreneurial experiences – both the successes and failures.

Good luck and let me know how it’s going.

]]> By: john shams http://www.thommitchell.com/2009/11/06/the-babson-mba-one-year-later/comment-page-1/#comment-45 john shams Mon, 31 May 2010 03:53:20 +0000 http://www.thommitchell.com/?p=513#comment-45 Thom, Thank you for your informative and insightful response. In my position, being my own boss and not having the mentorship opportunities that someone in a corporate environment has, the Babson MBA seems to be one of the best ways to fill in the cracks in my business knowledge. I guess the challenge is for me to find ways to apply the knowledge to what I am currently doing and what I plan to do in the future...which is undetermined. Hopefully, this experience will steer me in the right direction. Thom,

Thank you for your informative and insightful response. In my position, being my own boss and not having the mentorship opportunities that someone in a corporate environment has, the Babson MBA seems to be one of the best ways to fill in the cracks in my business knowledge. I guess the challenge is for me to find ways to apply the knowledge to what I am currently doing and what I plan to do in the future…which is undetermined. Hopefully, this experience will steer me in the right direction.

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