Welcome to Randhir's Blog!!!

Welcome to Randhir's blog!!! You will find links to popular categories/posts on your right. If you are new here, please subscribe to our RSS Feed and visit Randhir's website at www.randhir.net

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Why MBA?

I get this question (or a variant such as Why did you go for an MBA, Why HKUST, Why after 6 years in the industry, etc). I thought I'll take a stab at that question in this post.

Here are a few reasons (in my order of priority) for why I went into an MBA and now that I am done with the MBA and spent some time in the industry, feel that doing my MBA when I did was the right decision.

  1. Increase your salary (over and above the opportunity cost lost): Over a lifetime or even 5-7 years post an MBA, if you do an NPV calculation, am sure the returns of the money spent on an MBA are quite good.I have to admit this was one of my top reasons, but post my MBA has gone down lower in priority. There's a lot more to life than money and a lot more to a job than just how much you make from it.
  2. Skills enhancement (Negotiations, Financial Modeling, Investment Management, XL, Deck prep, Problem Solving Skills, Business Plan Preparation) - These would be relevant in both your personal and professional life and some of the things I've learnt, I apply on a day-to-day basis (esp. Problem Solving, XL and Consulting style deck prep).
  3. General Management Capabilities (Frameworks / Concepts in Marketing, Finance, HR, Ops among others): You may or may not apply all of them unless you are in Management Consulting. But you would be the one sought after in a cross-functional project and will be able to provide a more holistic solution. I have been sought after for several key projects in my current company and I would like to think my MBA played a big role here.
  4. Career Change Opportunity (Opportunity to step back, try multiple career / industry options via internships / projects and finally make the call): I don't think I would have got into analytics and been as effective (I hate to say successful - still early days) if not for my MBA. I did consider alternative career paths such as Finance, Marketing and Consulting and made a conscious decision not to go in there for various reasons.
  5. Increase your brand value (:-)): Of course, an MBA itself helps and an MBA from a school such as HKUST and LBS definitely helps. Let HKUST/LBS stay in the Top 10 in FT and other rankings and keep doing the right things and along with the HKUST Brand, my personal brand value should also go up.
  6. Network (The Network that your school gives you automatic access to), network (Learn the do's and don'ts of Networking), network (All of the Networking Practice opportunities you get to strengthen your skills): I am an introvert by nature and found the networking sessions during school quite painful at times. But over time, soon mastered my own style of networking.
  7. Ability to think through life/career situations through the various models/frameworks you've been exposed to (This is the topic of another post I am planning in which I'll expand with examples)
Depending on where you end up post your MBA, some of these may not be relevant or at least as relevant. My MBA Network is weak in India - so the obvious bitch is that it is not as useful. But I still made great friends and have had multiple people from my class reach out to me (when they were in India or had an India question), have friends I have sought help from when I am in Thailand or UK or China on work and vacation and some day when I move to HK or Singapore, it is going to become relevant again. And who is to say the HKUST Alumni Network in India will remain weak for long (I recently had a junior reach out to me seeking help in getting into a previous company I worked for.). 

What was/is your reason for doing an MBA and do you think it worked for you? I would love to hear your story via the comments section of this blog or on Facebook/Twitter.
---
You might also want to read:
Ahead of the Curve - Book Review and comparison of B-School
My HKUST Interview
My First Semester at HKUST
---

To ensure you don't miss any of my blog posts, please click on subscribe to add my blog in your favorite RSS Feed Reader.

You can also follow me on twitter @rhebbar to get frequent updates on this and my blogs and talk to me on anything under the sun

36 comments:

  1. I absolutely adore reading your blog posts, the variety of writing is smashing.This blog as usual was educational, I have had to bookmark your site and subscribe to your feed in i feed. Your theme looks lovely.Thanks for sharing.

    trade4target

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good day! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing.

    computer store

    ReplyDelete
  3. I dead adore representation your journal posts, the tracheotomy of activity is break.This journal as usual was educational, I eff had to bookmark your place and concur to your feed in i eat. Your strain looks lovely.Thanks for sharing.



    Computer Hardware Store

    ReplyDelete
  4. I leave a leave a response whenever I especially enjoy a article on a blog or I have something to valuable to contribute to the
    discussion. Usually it's triggered by the passion displayed in the article I browsed. And after this post "Why MBA?". I was actually moved enough to write a leave a responsea response :) I do have a couple of questions for you if you tend not to mind. Is it only me or do some of the remarks look like written by brain dead individuals? :-P And, if you are posting on other sites, I'd like to follow you.
    Would you make a list the complete urls of your communal sites like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or
    linkedin profile?

    my blog post: social bookmarking service

    ReplyDelete
  5. Can I simply say what a relief to uncover an individual who really knows what they are discussing on the web.
    You definitely understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
    A lot more people must look at this and understand this side of
    the story. I was surprised you aren't more popular given that you definitely possess the gift.

    Here is my site; World Of Tanks Hack

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've learn some good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much effort you set to create any such magnificent informative website.

    my web site :: Starcraft 2 Heart Of The Swarm Hack

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi there, I want to subscribe for this weblog to get newest updates, so where
    can i do it please help out.

    my site - recycling facts

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't even know how I finished up here, however I believed this publish used to be great. I do not realize who you're however definitely you're going to a famous blogger if you happen to are not already. Cheers!

    My homepage - permanent hair straightening

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, this piece of writing is pleasant, my sister is analyzing
    such things, thus I am going to let know her.

    Also visit my web-site :: refinishing hardwood floors

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very good information. Lucky me I came across your website by accident (stumbleupon).
    I've saved as a favorite for later!

    Have a look at my page; Coconut Oil For Hair

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi to all, how is the whole thing, I think every one is getting more from this site, and your views are pleasant
    designed for new users.

    my blog post: Unknown

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just like the valuable information you provide to your articles.
    I'll bookmark your blog and test again here frequently. I am quite sure I will be informed a lot of new stuff proper here! Best of luck for the next!

    Feel free to surf to my site: unknown

    ReplyDelete
  13. I need to to thank you for this good read!! I absolutely enjoyed every little bit of it.
    I have you saved as a favorite to check out new stuff you post…

    Review my weblog - Unknown

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi! Quick question that's completely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My site looks weird when viewing from my iphone4. I'm trying to find
    a theme or plugin that might be able to correct this problem.
    If you have any recommendations, please share.

    Appreciate it!

    Also visit my blog post; Unknown

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello to all, it's truly a pleasant for me to visit this website, it consists of valuable Information.

    Here is my site; Unknown

    ReplyDelete
  16. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though
    you relied on the video to make your point. You obviously
    know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to
    your site when you could be giving us something informative to read?


    Feel free to visit my webpage :: Unknown

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am in fact glad to glance at this web site posts which includes lots of useful facts,
    thanks for providing these kinds of information.

    Here is my blog post; Stretch Marks

    ReplyDelete
  18. Today, I went to the beach with my children.
    I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said
    "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She put the shell to her ear and screamed.

    There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.

    She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic
    but I had to tell someone!

    Also visit my web blog :: coconut oil For hair

    ReplyDelete
  19. Fine way of describing, and pleasant piece of writing to take data concerning my presentation subject matter, which i am going to deliver in university.


    Also visit my web-site ... diarrhea Remedies

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello there, I think your website may be having browser compatibility issues.
    Whenever I look at your website in Safari, it looks
    fine but when opening in IE, it's got some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Besides that, excellent blog!

    my web page - Ginocupp.Datingish.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is my first time visit at here and i am in fact pleassant to read everthing at
    single place.

    my web site :: Http://Friendsite.com/

    ReplyDelete
  22. Does your blog have a contact page? I'm having trouble locating it but, I'd like to send you an e-mail.
    I've got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.

    Take a look at my webpage :: http://Deltfdepste.livejournal.com/646.html

    ReplyDelete
  23. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I've really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I'll be
    subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

    Here is my web site ... World Of Tanks Hack

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi there would you mind stating which blog platform
    you're working with? I'm planning to start my own blog
    in the near future but I'm having a tough time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I'm looking for something unique.
    P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!



    Feel free to surf to my web page; how to jailbreak my ps3

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this blog loading?

    I'm trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it's the blog.
    Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.


    Have a look at my weblog: Ps3 Jailbreak 4.41

    ReplyDelete
  26. Paragraph writing is also a fun, if you know afterward you can write
    otherwise it is complex to write.

    my blog free microsoft points

    ReplyDelete
  27. I read this paragraph completely concerning the difference of most recent and previous technologies, it's amazing article.

    Here is my website; Psn Code Generator

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi there, You've done a fantastic job. I'll certainly digg it
    and personally recommend to my friends. I'm sure they will be benefited from this site.

    Here is my website Candy Crush Saga Hack

    ReplyDelete
  29. Link exchange is nothing else but it is only placing the other
    person's web site link on your page at appropriate place and other person will also do similar in support of you.

    Feel free to surf to my homepage: The Interlace

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a
    amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you!
    However, how can we communicate?

    my site Code Psn Gratuit

    ReplyDelete
  31. What's up, its good post concerning media print, we all understand media is a wonderful source of facts.

    Review my website: 7zip download

    ReplyDelete
  32. With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any
    issues of plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a
    lot of exclusive content I've either authored myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my permission. Do you know any methods to help prevent content from being ripped off? I'd really appreciate it.


    my web-site: world of tanks hack

    ReplyDelete
  33. Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am
    impressed! Very helpful info particularly the last part :) I care for such info a lot.
    I was seeking this particular information for a long time.
    Thank you and good luck.

    Also visit my website - free psn Codes

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thank you for sharing your info. I really appreciate
    your efforts and I am waiting for your next post thanks once again.


    Here is my site Minecraft Gift Code Generator

    ReplyDelete