Category: MBA

As a woman who has always had a dream of becoming great, I take pride in knowing that I’ve accomplished part of what I set out to accomplish. I often hear phrases such as, “You’re crazy to keep going back to school,” and “Who does that?” Now, I am on a higher playing field, though – back to square one. I am about to make an academic detour from my prescribed path, but it is all worth it in my opinion. One day, years from now, when I am dead and gone, I want my children’s children to be able to tell a story of their grandmother and mention how educated and career driven she was.” I am grateful for being introduced to the University of Phoenix by a previous friend I met in undergrad school. He encouraged me and I began to investigate why I should choose the online program at University of Phoenix. Four years later, I am a proud graduate of this University and I can honestly say that the skills I’ve gained while enrolled in my graduate degree program has caused me to be the great woman that I once dreamed of. Confidence, leadership, and communication are the three top skills that I’ve acquired during my graduate studies.

Embarking on my educational journey at the University of Phoenix has not only shaped me into the great woman I aspired to be but has also ignited my motivation to pursue further personal and professional growth. Reflecting on my experiences and the skills I have acquired, I am compelled to delve deeper into my aspirations.

Nursing is not an easy career path and many know that as a first time nursing student attending clinical rotation can be intimidating. I wish that my confidence level was as high then as it is now. Had I not chosen this particular educational institution, I don’t believe I would have acquired this skill to this level. One thing I make mention of to every mentoree that I come in contact with is: Be confident. Confidence is knowledge of yourself.” Many fear the unknown, which is natural as human beings; however, the key to becoming confident is to know that there is always a solution to the problem and being able to problem-solve is knowing how you will act in any given situation. Overall, this is foundation for being confident.

As a nurse with a career in corporate America, there were many things that I had not been previously exposed to. Most nurses work 12 hour shifts, three days a week. If you are a night nurse, you don’t typically associate with the COO, DON, or Presidents of the company. This concept is totally different in corporate America. Most would think that in order to lead you need to have charisma and a power of position in order to lead. I believe that this statement is not at all 100% correct. In fact, I will go as far as to say that the best form of leadership is quiet, internal, and self-leadership. In other words, if you do not live up to your own standards and values, how can you expect anyone else to live up to them? Positivity is essential in leadership. Empower your own thoughts and then you will naturally empower the thoughts of others. The ability to encourage others to do things they may have not done is leadership. Lead by example, inspire yourself first, and being a leader to others will come naturally.

I specifically remember a particular conversation with one of my previous graduate instructors. The conversation did not start off friendly, we did not see eye to eye on a paper that I’d written and I felt that her feedback was quite harsh. I recall making mention of communication being very important, especially when the course is online. She agreed and then said something so profound it never left me. She simply told me, You are correct, communication is the foundation of all relationships.” She then explained to me that as I advance in my career communication will grant me the ability to navigate through the toughest of issues, get what I want, and help others get what they want. Presently, I am still applying that simple advice and I strongly believe that because of this, I’ve advanced in my career because of this foundation.

In addition to acquiring the three powerful skills of confidence, leadership, and communication, I intend to master the additional acquired skills of project management, accountability, and adaptability. Project management is one of the most integral constituents of owning a business. Enhancing the skill of project management will enable me to strategically plan, properly guide, and control resources as a business owner. Developing my skill of accountability during my course of study in the MBA program will allow me to create an engaged workforce for my future employees. Adaptability is a critical requirement in order to lead. When a solution does not go over well and the first option is not successful, having mastered the skill of adaptability will allow me to bend without wavering. I am confident that obtaining my MBA at the University of Phoenix will enable me to master these skills and send me on my deviated career path to explore the countless opportunities as a business owner.

Ever since I visited the Indian Oil Refinery in Panipat, I have been fascinated with the process of converting crude oil into petrol, kerosene and other oil derivatives. This inclination has driven me to pursue a career in the oil & energy sector. My vast experience in this industry has provided me with the holistic view of the business besides technical know how. With MBA, I intend to enhance my business knowledge and build upon my managerial aptitude.

I work as an Electrical Design Engineer for Samsung Engineering India, a subsidiary of Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd., South Korea, which is an EPC & PM company for Oil & Gas, Petrochemical and Fertilizer projects. My job includes activities such as front end engineering design(FEED), pre-bid engineering & detail design engineering of the electrical aspects of these projects.

In the first year of my employment, I was entrusted to represent the electrical design engineering team at a petrochemical site in Dahej SEZ, Gujarat, where I co ordinated with multiple stakeholders such as client (ONGC), project management consultant(EIL), vendors, sub contractors, licensor and construction team simultaneously. The fact that I was still naive as compared to the highly experienced employees of the above stakeholders and was leading a team of 10 personnel for precommisioning activities made it a highly challenging task. I successfully delivered a dynamic monitoring model for tackling construction problems by preventing delay in schedule. Construction site query resolutions are high-on-risk and high-onpressure, leaving no room for error. A small negligence can incur heavy loss, both in terms of life and property. Dealing with these difficult situations has honed my decision-making skills and made me a better troubleshooter. I was appreciated by the Project Manager for clearing punch points and achieving mechanical completion on time.

During the detail engineering of West Qurna Project, Iraq, which was jointly executed by both India design office and Seoul Head Office, I along with my team came up with a proposal of replacing the circuit breaker assembly for high voltage motor protection with switch-fuse-contactor units, which, although was not strictly as per client specification, had the potential of substantial cost savings. After this proposal received clearance from India office, I was handpicked by upper management to be deputed to Seoul HO to present this cost saving engineering solution to the client. This proposal was agreed by client & implemented in the project on profit sharing basis. Negotiating with clients on changes in contracts considering the impact on overall project executionhas honed my analytical, negotiation and presentation skills. Furthermore, my tenure at Seoul HO has helped me gain invaluable experience of working in a multicultural and multiethnic work environment.

My consistent and exemplary work performance at India design centre, Seoul Head Office and project construction site have earned me a place in the top 10% employees of the Electrical department and I was promoted to the techno-managerial position of Senior Engineer in the year 2016. I am presently leading a team of 15 members including junior engineers, draftsmen and document controllers.

Korean work culture has instilled in me the values of proactively catering to the client requirements which lead to project commisioning even before the schedule delivery, resulting in increased credibility. My stint in Samsung has, on one hand, nurtured my leadership abilities and on the other hand, made me conversant with the art of stakeholder management, manpower management, client consulting and working across domains in a cross functional & cross cultural work environment.

Taking the right decision for a career is one of the most important factors to decide how your future is going to take shape. Nowadays PGDM (MBA) has become a prevalent post-graduation course. Because of the continuous change in technology from machine learning, IoT, Industry 4.0, and AI to transform our lives and businesses, the right blend of technical and managerial fields is the need of the hour.

Pursuing an MBA has become a prominent choice for engineering graduates lately. Now the question arises, Doing MBA after Engineering worth it?

What are the major things an engineering graduate can do after graduation?

1. Private Job
2. Government Job
3. Masters in engineering
4. Teaching
5. MBA

M.Tech (Masters of Technology) is not a good option as it just pushes the engineering graduate deeper into the hole that they were trying to get out of. This is why an MBA in India seems like a better way to erase the past follies and start life afresh.

Out of these choices, MBA and Master’s in engineering are the best suited for those who want to further enhance their knowledge and skill set. MBA has emerged as the new choice for engineering to take a different path as it gives you knowledge of the fields, Engineering as well as Management. It increases employability chances as recruiters from both fields can hire you for multitasking. One who has done engineering and later MBA has the knowledge of the field at the same time. That person is an asset for the employer as he can assist you with operational-based tasks as well as managerial. So recruiters give preference to those peers over any other. The student profile of IIM Ahmedabad shows that there are 93% Engineers, 2% Commerce, 2% arts, and 3% science students, which clearly shows the dominance of engineers. This means how much engineering prefers doing MBA over anything else.

Now the question arises why Engineers decide to pursue an MBA (PGDM) after graduation. There are two main reasons behind that 1. Halfway through their graduation and getting familiar with various mind-boggling subjects’ students lose interest in the course and decide to go for a management course, 2. The realization is that in our country MBA graduates get paid more than graduate engineers.

If one has work experience in the engineering field it works as a bonus for that person because he will be given preference while sitting in a job interview. The candidate having work experience will be a plus point for recruiters as they do not have to train that candidate and that candidate can deliver for the company from the very first day.

MBA is the first choice for students of a commerce background like a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Pursuing MBA from a reputed college also matters after post-graduation very few students go for a Ph.D. So choosing a good college for MBA also matters because one’s whole career depends on it.

There is various examination to get admission to a reputed Management college in the country like CAT, CMAT, NMAT, XAT, MAT, etc. CAT is the exam for getting admission to the country’s most reputed colleges like IIM and FMS. IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta are the most reputed management college in the country, usually referred to as IIM A, B, and C respectively. Cutoff for these colleges goes as high as 99.9%ile. There are some very reputed and good performing private colleges as well which take admission from CAT and as well as various other exams like CMAT. Few colleges conduct their own exams, for example, Xavier’s own exam is XAT. Some famous and good private colleges are Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida, Symbiosis School of Business Management, Pune, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai, etc.

An MBA is a degree that is globally accepted has a global perspective and had multiple job opportunities to work with top brands across the world. A list of such companies is as follows:

• Apple
• Microsoft
• Walmart
• Facebook
• Coca-Cola
• Deloitte
• JP Morgan

When one plans to start their own venture, in that case, having expertise in subjects like Finance, Digital marketing, and e-commerce during MBA helps you a lot. It is a very good thought for young minds to work independently and understand the reality of the corporate world. MBA is not just to study and get a 10 to 5 job, it is very helpful for those who are seeking to become an Entrepreneur. Nowadays, it’s easy to get a job but it’s very difficult to give a job. Once one starts their own venture then the person not just earns profit for themselves but also employs others as well.

Talking about the different types of jobs after pursuing an MBA in Engineering are as follows:

• Senior management posts in human resources, sales, and marketing
• Self-employment opportunities or Entrepreneurs
• Operations manager in the supply chain, logistics, and inventory control
• IT manager or consultant
• Senior product manager
• Business analyst
• Data processing manager
• Chief technology officers

These different job opportunities fit perfectly for the candidate who has done MBA after Engineering as it includes Managerial tasks as well as operational-based tasks. The best part of doing an MBA is that a lot of MBA graduates get the job of managers rather than individual contributor jobs. The MBA degree allows them to skip the queue and grab the ladder to reach mid or high-level job roles.

MBA is a field where one meets with many industrialists and managers of several other companies which creates great contact and opens up a secret gate to get other employment opportunities. In one way or the other, it also helps one to build a solid base with industry experts, business managers, and future entrepreneurs.

So it is clear that going for an MBA after engineering is always advantageous for students. However personal goals, plans, and interests always play a huge role in making this decision.

Commonly, students who are nearing the completion of their undergraduate course find taking the next step in their education tough these days. It is hard to choose the next course of action. With the best MBA College in Chennai as well as the best M.Tech College in Chennai available, the task becomes further hard. So, after B.Tech, MBA, or M.Tech? It is the question that frequents today’s modern student community.

While the solution to this problem is probably your own preference and penchant, you need to consider certain factors before throwing the towel.

The Conundrum of Choosing the Right Course and the Right Institute

Some of them are responsible to shoulder the financial burdens of their families and take up the job route after graduation. The others would naturally wish to go in for further studies with a deeper aspiration. When it comes to higher education, they are not only faced with the question of which program to take up but also which educational institute to choose.

The first thing undergraduates must clearly understand while considering the pros and cons of MBA and M.Tech making is the fact that the two are entirely different and structured for different fields. They are simply the best in their own domains while offering highly lucrative opportunities to the aspirants in their own ways.

While a. MBA degree opens avenues in non-technical fields by preparing you for generic roles M.Tech program enables you to pursue technology and takes you to the next level in it.

The Role Played by MBAs and M.Techs in Today’s Business Environment

From a global perspective, both of these programs are appraised highly and are filled with excellent career opportunities. Between the two courses, wither would surpass the other in specific instances and industries.

In the modern world that is technology-driven, there’s hardly any business that could survive without M. Tech and MBA professionals. The contemporary industry setting necessitates recruiting Engineers with M.Tech degrees as subject matter experts. At the same time, MBA graduates need to be chosen for handling other crucial departments such as marketing and sales, human resources, and the like. It is evident that these two qualifications are required by any industry to efficiently manage its varied processes and specific needs.

M.Tech or MBA – Which Career Path to Choose?

Pursuing an MBA after graduation in any best MBA colleges in Chennai will help to open up broader, lucrative business scopes. On the other hand, by choosing M.Tech in the best M.Tech College in Chennai to specialize in the specific stream of your preference, you will be enabled to magnify your value and importance in any organization.

The following are a few of the tips that would help you to make up your mind about choosing between an MBA and an M.Tech:

• Identify your personal interest and reference first: As is generally crucial for any career-related decision, choosing between MBA and M.Tech as well calls for first understanding your calling. The choice must be dependent on your interests, capabilities, and goals.
• M.Tech best suits those with a bent toward technical stuff: If you find yourself being more attracted toward core engineering subjects and future jobs related to technology, you could do well by going in for M.Tech.
• Those who are more inclined toward leadership and business may pick MBA: If you have more propensity toward the business side of your career, doing MBA in the best MBA College in Chennai will facilitate gaining diverse career choices such as retail management, operational management, and personnel management, among several others.
• For those who want to gain a deeper knowledge of their core subjects, M.Tech is best: M.Tech provides the right opportunity to hone the skills that you have derived from your B.Tech. Those who consider a career in teaching, research, and academics will find M.Tech the best option.
• MBA after B.Tech complements technical skills that you have with managerial capabilities: By joining the best MBA College in Chennai after your B.Tech, you become qualified for engineering as well as administration fields. This makes you eligible for varied industries while empowering you to make your pick of a profession among multiple companies across varied sectors that offer job opportunities.

Pursuing M.Tech after B.Tech: the Pros and Cons

Pro-M.Tech Factors

• The best career path for B.Tech students who look forward to enhancing their subject knowledge is certainly searching for the best M.Tech College in Chennai. This specialization program enables them to hone their technical skills and renders them eligible for a wide range of career opportunities in India. The M.Tech degree ensures that you gain in-depth, industry-related technical knowledge.
• Although management professionals in managerial positions are mostly involved in decision-making, it is the chief technical officer in any organization who plays a crucial role in arriving at the technical decisions, with their technical qualifications and skills.
• Pursuing M.Tech in the best M.Tech College in Chennai makes you eligible for applying to a doctoral degree such as Ph.D. later. When you succeed in getting your Ph.D., there’s a great scope to the research and development side, as well as landing a job as a professor. In both ways, the earning potential is rather very high.

M.Tech Course – the Cons

• The current industry trend—as far as recruiters and managers are concerned—is acquiring candidates who have multi-faceted skill sets. Today’s job market demands wider knowledge that extends beyond technical expertise alone. Understanding the different aspects of the business has become essential, such as finance, marketing, and human resource management. These are not strong points in M.Tech.
• The M.Tech course curriculum proves to be tough and necessitates a lot of hard work. Getting a good grade calls for focused and burdensome work throughout academics. It is essential to secure a seat in the best M.Tech College in Chennai; it might prove very difficult.

Pursuing an MBA after B.Tech: the Pros and Cons

Pro-MBA Factors

• By joining the best MBA College in Chennai, you assure of being trained to handle a wide range of business situations. MBA course in the best MBA College in Chennai enriches an engineering graduate with high management skills.
• The modern corporate world demands candidates having both management and technical knowledge. The combination of an MBA and Engineering qualification is perfect for a successful career in the future.
• Leadership qualities and teamwork strategies are inculcated when you take up MBA in the best MBA College in Chennai, thus enabling you to land the best jobs that offer high salaries.
• Setting up your own business after gaining experience and industry-oriented skills is very much possible when you have an MBA degree. This program provides all necessary course materials that facilitate understanding real-world market conditions and practical strategies to be adopted in business.

The Cons of the M.Tech Course

• The competition among MBA graduates has been increasing in India in recent years. The once esoteric course has become commonplace, reducing the scope of employment.
• Renowned business organizations prefer only those who graduate from top-business schools and the best MBA colleges in Chennai. Only a limited percentage of MBA professionals are successful in securing high-paying jobs.
• The course fee is high for doing MBA when compared with M.Tech in India. There’s a limited possibility of getting scholarships and stipends as well. With the expense of studying the MBA course increasing, not every aspiring student can afford to wait longer for getting employed.

Wrap-up

Both MBA and M.Tech have their own advantages and drawbacks. It is the personal preference of the aspirants and the possibility of securing a seat in a reputed institute that drives the decision of choosing one among these two popular educational programs. If you want to focus on core subjects and specialize in technology without deviation, M.Tech is the right choice. If you look for widening and generalizing your career scope, then go for MBA.

Whether it is an MBA or M.Tech, be sure to choose a renowned, prestigious institute that has all the essential infrastructure and provides in-depth knowledge.

MBA and Executive MBA ( abbreviated as EMBA) are management courses offered by various schools around the globe. Undoubtedly, many students are unaware of the difference between MBA and Executive MBA. Some of them have a misconception that pursuing an EMBA is better than MBA. In real terms, both of them do not hold much difference in their prestige values.

The difference between an Executive MBA and MBA grounds on several factors. These factors may be the duration of the study, the experience required, the admission process, and the degree as well. Selection of the one will not only be based on your interests but also your present standard in the business world. Befuddled about what to choose for yourself? No worries. Drive yourself through this article to understand what is the difference between MBA and an Executive MBA.

What is the definition of an MBA?

Curious to know the definition of an MBA? Here it is, MBA is Master of Business Administration. A 2-year course, which might extend to 3 or 4 years if done part-time is a business management course. MBA expects no prior practiced experience to enroll yourself in this program. The full-day program may exempt the students to do any other job outside. Mba can be done in various fields such as finance, human resource, and marketing.

What is the definition of EMBA?

Now, what is the definition of EMBA? EMBA is Executive Master of Business Administration. The time period of this program is also 2 years. EMBA expects its enrollers to have a prior work experience of at least 5 years. It is generally noticed that EMBA students are around 32-38 in age and are at a higher professional level when compared to students of MBA. Classes are usually on weekends giving it a higher flexibility to work with their jobs.

MBA vs Executive MBA Comparison

To contrast, both programs here are a quick comparison.

Comparison

MBA – DefinitonBusiness management program to acquaint students with a study of business and management. Full-time course. Academic Fee is Expensive. Daily throughout the year. Achieved a graduation degree and scored minimum required marks in the entrance exam.

Executive MBA – Business management program for employed people such as managers or executives. Part-time course. Lower expense than the MBA program. Only on Fridays and weekends. Along with a graduation degree and prior work experience as demanded by the university.

Key Differences

EMBA is more practical than MBA. The EMBA registrants can choose their electives on their company requirements or according to their career aims MBA students on the other hand is practical as well as theoretical. They are only driven into management but also given the opportunity to delve into other fields you are someone looking for opportunities and aiming to pursue management then MBA is the right choice. Moreover, if you are someone who is professionally experienced wanting to amplify and put his managerial skills to a further level, EMBA is the choice for you. A Mba course will last for 2-3 years, whereas an EMBA would take 2 year completion time.

EMBA applicants are selected on basis of their working background. Having enterprise awareness is expectable through the prior work they have done. If you are a bachelor’s graduate, a GMAT score is considered for admission. For pursuing an MBA, GMAT scores are considered qualification criteria. As introduced earlier, the choice would depend not only on your smarts but also on where you stand in the corporate world. Without any practical knowledge, you won’t be able to register for an EMBA course. Don’t be disheartened you can surely work for your hands on the experiences first. Get yourself acquainted with real-life management. It will then be much more exciting to sharpen your skills further with an EMBA.

Conclusion

Through the article, we optimistically hope to spell out the difference between what is an executive Mba and vs MBA. Mba being a management degree is for budding managers, entrepreneurs, etc whereas Executive MBA is a postgraduate degree serving as a booster for the existing great minds in the management sphere.

In my childhood, I knew that I wanted to start my own business because I did small on my own for example when Independence Day was near I bought flags, hats, and shirts from the bulk market and then sold them with little margin. I am submitting this statement of purpose for an MBA in the hopes of attaining an MBA degree that will allow me to fulfill my dream of becoming a small business owner. During college, I completed an internship as a salesman in an import and export Goods Company. That gave me much insight into the responsibilities of management professionals. Throughout the internship, I was charged with not only overseeing the progress of several projects but also ensuring workplace harmony. Perhaps one of the most important lessons I learned through this experience was to accurately gauge personnel and their teamwork abilities, assigning tasks based on each person’s ability to complete them. I hope to take these invaluable lessons with me to my master’s studies and my future career as an intern; I also learned that the MBA degree was an essential part of a management professional’s portfolio. Through this program, I hope to receive the training that I will need to succeed in the future. This program will teach me new concepts and help to refine the knowledge that I already have. Through the built-in internships and collaborations offered through this MBA program, I know that I will be able to gain the real-world skills that I will need to stand on my own as a business professional that can successfully run my own business.

I belong to a business family; my father has always taught me to earn my way to the top. Hence I have done small projects on the side to pay for my education as and when money was needed for example rebates for scanning my receipts on certain websites, sponsoring brands on social media, and full up their questionnaires. I also sold my old books and my notes. I am a silver medalist in my College and have taken a keen interest in extracurricular activities too. I was the part of debates society in my college and have participated in and won my town-level debate competitions with my team. My interests lay the computer industry too and thus I make small websites fun. Now with my computer skills in place, I need to learn management skills too to make myself equipped with all the corporate knowledge. I dream of building my own business in the field of accounting and would love to get my basics clean on how businesses work. That is why I apply for the admission course at your university.

Since graduating, I’ve seen some of my classmates make tens of thousands of dollars only to lose it all on failed investments. While no business exit is without taking risks, there are strategies and plans to minimize that risk. That strategy and plans are what I intend to find and to be able to make that strategy customizable to businesses. An MBA will give me the tools I need to understand the costs of managing a business and teach me to recognize ventures that are worth spending on. My goal is to use this knowledge to start my own account audit firm to provide companies with viable figures, based on figures give them strategies and accurate risk analysis portfolios. I always enjoyed everything about numbers, especially statistical manipulation. An MBA in accounting would place to provide me with a pool of possible clientele, which leads directly to my career goal of opening my own firm. An MBA in International Management will give me the knowledge of general management techniques that I need to know for successful management, but will also teach me how to tailor these strategies for different markets. In a world that is rapidly globalizing, flexible and customizable management strategies save firms both time and resources. My plan is to eventually become the chief manager of a firm, utilizing my knowledge of international markets to expand the firm worldwide while maintaining successful existing operations. An MBA will give me firsthand skills and knowledge from industry professionals that will set the foundation for managerial skills.

There are many things that I still want to do, to achieve, to gain something, yet I feel that my knowledge is not sufficient to achieve my goals. Now, I am in order to possibly earn a slot in your formidable university for my Master’s Education. I am planning to take up a Master’s in Business Administration and eventually get to the highest and highest level of academia to gain knowledge. Writing this statement I believe that your university is the best institution for me to further enhance my talent in business administration and eventually earn the title of MBA at the end of my education. The business leader is one that understands how to strategically implement the resources of the company to ensure maximum development and potential. Having my desire to be a leader, I want even more strongly to be part of an effective team. MBA will help me understand my leadership role as part of a company hierarchy and how to successfully work together with other business leaders to combine our expertise through my time pursuit of an MBA, I plan to take on multiple team projects. My MBA is crucial to my development as a person as well as a business leader, and hope to be able to fully take advantage of this opportunity to develop my teamwork skills. I hope to further polish my skills. My MBA is crucial to my development as a person as well as a business leader and I hope to be able to fully take advantage of this opportunity.

Management: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Pursuing an MBA degree equips one with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that a good and effective manager should possess. Moreover, better resources and great teachers ensure that students are prepared for the various tasks that are a part of managing an organization.

As Aristotle once said, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom”. This project is significant as it is a form of learning about other people’s ideas and views about what effective management requires, but more importantly because it drove me to self-reflection. It helped refresh all the reasons which pushed me to pursue this degree, and all that I need to possess to be a successful manager. It has also enabled me to reach out to people both, within and outside this field and learn their perspectives about MBA as a course and what skills, knowledge, and attitude one needs to develop in today’s fast-paced world to do well as a manager. The various responses that I received have given me a bird’s eye view of the past, present and future. That is to say, it gave me an opportunity to look back at my previous and present notions of management and use those to align the scope of my future concisely. Having an insight into other people’s opinions has broadened my own thoughts. After all, management lessons can come from anywhere and everywhere. I was able to see various options, opportunities and potential challenges that I had previously overlooked and now can take these into account, and prepare for them for future endeavors. Furthermore, writing this assignment brought on the realization that there is more to an MBA than I had thought and a myriad of new and diverse skills that I can learn. Non-professionals also talked about missed opportunities or voiced their regrets about the lack of certain areas of knowledge, and other skills crucial to the work scene today. This brought anew the realization of how important various skills like networking, communication, planning, etc. are in the professional world, and that I need to make utmost utilization of the resources available to me so as to be both a capable person and an exemplary manager.

In other words, this assignment has been extremely beneficial as it helped me streamline my thought about my needs and future goals. Adding to that, it has helped me think about unexplored opportunities and focus on acquiring skills and knowledge, indispensable in the workplace, on a macroscopic level, and in life.

In my opinion, one becomes an effective manager mostly through experience. However, in the beginning, it’s a person’s knowledge, skills and right attitude that gives him or her an edge over the others. In order to be an effective manager, one must have good domain knowledge so that he is able to apply the theory and concepts in the real world. Also, he must be aware of his surroundings and have thorough knowledge about the industry, the company he is working in, and the competition faced by the company. This knowledge will help him take sound and informed decisions and manage and guide his team better.

Apart from subject expertise, there are several soft skills that are needed for the effective and harmonious management of people. These include skills like leadership skills, effective communication, teamwork, problem-solving and decision-making skills, time management, and most importantly, the ability to see the bigger picture.

People skills like problem-solving ability, conflict resolution, and willingness to work in the team help the manager come out as approachable and understanding. These skills make him likable among his team members and they feel extremely comfortable sharing their ideas and even problems with him. This results in a healthy relationship between the team thereby resulting in a positive effect on performance. Good communication and leadership skills help the manager to be clear and assertive and make him the ideal person to represent the team before the senior leadership.

Managing an organization and its people efficiently requires a wholesome attitude. A manager needs to be dedicated to his/her work, the company, and his team, which would lead to success and reciprocating dedication from other employees. A manager should also be receptive to others’ opinions and feedback, but at the same time, must have a healthy confidence in his instincts and decisions. Other qualities like punctuality and good work ethics should also be part of a manager’s working style so as to ensure exemplary performance and efficient completion of goals.

Soliciting responses from others (a write-up sent to the respondents has been attached in Appendix 1) and understanding their views has helped me develop a broader perspective. It enabled me to open up to various options, opportunities and potential challenges that I had previously overlooked and now can take into account as I prepare to become an excellent manager.

Based on my discussions with friends, family members, and my managers from previous job, I realized that there were certain similarities in terms of their understanding of the knowledge requirements of a manager. Most respondents felt that a good manger must have knowledge of their subjects and must have the ability to apply theory to the practical situations. Also, they must have a complete awareness of their workplace, the industry their company operates in, and some knowledge about the world around them. One of the respondents mentioned that a sales manager should have knowledge of the principles of marketing which he can learn while pursuing an MBA. But going forward, as he starts working, he must also be fully aware of his company’s values, product lines, competitors, etc. He must also have knowledge of his people, their abilities, and backgrounds which will enable him to delegate in a manner that can bring out the best in every member of his team. This insight resonated with me as this was something that I had overlooked.

Some people also mentioned that in today’s times, as the world is moving towards the digital age, knowledge of social media, technology and its effect on workplace and employees is also imperative. This can help the manager to adapt to changes well in advance and transform the risks into opportunities.

In today’s work scenario a manager is expected to not only be a jack of all trades but also a master in them all. The responses gathered from a number of people point to the same, as they denoted a variety of skills that a good manager should possess.

Most people highlighted the need for good communication and networking skills along with the ability to plan and make informed decisions in a manager. This would help him interact with his team and get adequate results, and also ensure the timely completion of goals with fewer difficulties. This similarity in the responses supported my focus on honing these skills in me.

Also, people belonging to the management field pointed out a specific skill that others, including me, hadn’t pondered over. For instance, one manager talked about the multi-vertical skills required for being a good manager. This suggests that a manager’s knowledge should be such, that he can switch between verticals while retaining his efficiency and skills across multiple domains. He substantiated this claim but pointing out how he was previously a manager in the banking sphere but later went on to work in a consumer goods company while retaining his position in the managerial hierarchy. This was an important lesson to me as I have realized that though specialization is important, there is also a growing need to master skills in multiple domains which would increase my future opportunities and facilitate career growth.

‌Non-professionals or non-working respondents had more general ideas like communication and networking skills, teamwork, etc. that they wished were a part of their own formal education. They thought highly of abilities like strategic and out-of-the-box thinking. They believed that creative brainstorming and developing targeted strategies are sacrosanct to effective management.

‌Another impressive idea conveyed in a few responses, one yet unexplored by me, was the need to develop entrepreneurial abilities, especially on the account of the ever-growing trends of start-ups. A manager of a small start-up called weekend pointed out that more and more people are looking to start, and manage their own organizations. This made me consider how this MBA degree can help me develop the technical skills and the theoretical base for setting up an independent business if need be.

When asked about what constitutes the right attitude for the workplace, a pattern was observed. Majority of the those working in a corporate believed that ethics, alignment with the company’s values, and loyalty towards the company are of utmost importance. Some felt that this attitude cannot be taught through formal education but comes about as one starts working.

Respondents who were still pursuing their MBA and the non – working respondents felt that positive attitudes like sincerity, confidence, resilience, punctuality, determination, empathy and care for people are what a good manager must possess. This will help him/ her develop a never give up attitude, and a stronger and bolder personality and yet come across as caring, amicable, and approachable. They also felt that pursuing an MBA becomes instrumental in developing such an attitude, as, throughout the course, people are exposed to different situations, challenges, and tasks and therefore develop the right attitude to deal with them in the most effective way.

Based on my understanding of the importance of an MBA and the responses received from people, as I proceed in the two years of my MBA, I wish to tailor my experience in a way that is most beneficial to me.

The first thing that I want to focus on is my academics. Apart from FMCGs, I am also targeting consulting firms which give special attention to grades. SPJIMR being a premier B school has some of the brightest minds therefore acing my grades means being at my best throughout. Other than just grades, studying will give me clarity of concepts and knowledge that is imperative to do well in the workplace, given the increasingly cross-functional nature of the jobs today. I want to therefore make the most of my time here by gaining as much knowledge as I can through lectures, class participation, discussions, cases, etc.

Networking is another thing that I want to focus on at SPJIMR, be it with my classmates, seniors, faculty, alumni, or externally. MBA provides you ample opportunities for networking right from day one of college. These networking opportunities manifest through student clubs, ADMAP committees, Treks, team-building activities (during PG Lab), internships, Alumni chats, the GFT program, etc.

Most importantly I want to learn and develop skills that will not only be useful in the workplace but in life, in general. The two years of an MBA teach you various skills like working under pressure and time management since you have to manage your academics and assignments with competitions, committee work, clubs, sports, etc. It teaches you to work in a team since most of the activities are done in groups. You learn to value each other’s perspectives and manage conflicts and not forget to build friendships for life. Courses like ADMAP teach you the practical application of what you have learned in the classroom. Courses like Abyudaya give you a platform to make a small difference in the lives of young kids who are talented but are not lucky as we are financially. Projects and assignments give you an opportunity to delve deep into the subject and apply the learnings and theoretical concepts in practical problems or business situations. These help to bridge the gap between the academic and practical worlds. Other than these, MBA teaches you skills like effective communication, better delegation, and better planning, and also helps you build confidence. I wish to develop all these skills as I move forward in this two-year journey and also explore and experiment along the way.

APPENDIX – 1 (write – up sent to solicit responses)

As a part of my course called Management: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, I’m in the process of understanding the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for becoming an effective manager and how an MBA can help achieve the same. I would, therefore, like to discuss with you my reasons for doing an MBA and would also like to know your views on why MBA as a course is important in today’s world.

I am very passionate about marketing and therefore wish to start my career with an FMCG in a sales and Marketing role. However, most brands like HUL, P&G, Marico, and RB recruit students only post-completion of an MBA degree (preferably with a major in marketing)

Doing an MBA will not only give me knowledge about marketing subjects but also help me in my overall growth and learning. I will get an opportunity to learn through creative classroom discussions, with my peers (owing to the diversity of the batch), through case studies, competitions, internships, etc. In my opinion, such learnings are extremely crucial for anyone who wishes to make a career in the corporate world as it gives you exposure, and clarity of thought and prepares you for the upcoming adventures both intellectually and mentally.

Also, doing an MBA gives you the added advantage of working with some of the best companies and starting with good pay, right in the early years of your career which is like a cherry on the top.

To have more clarity on the subject I would like to solicit your opinion on the following. Request you to answer these questions in as detail as possible.

1. What, in your opinion, are the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to be an effective manager?
2. Do you think doing an MBA is important for being a good manager? If yes, why?
3. Looking back, what are a few things (if any) that you hope you could have learned from your days of formal education in school, college, and beyond?
4. As you anticipate the future workplace, what are the critical skills to be developed today?

Study Plan

I have been accepted for the MBA program, in September 2019 at the University of New Brunswick. I believe that this degree will present me with a string of opportunities that will help me develop my professional career. Therefore, I decided to pursue my MBA program in Canada, because it is one of the most suitable countries compared to the other English-speaking counties and their curriculum is adapted to current events. Canada is also becoming increasingly popular among international students across the globe owing to its high-quality education, advanced learning system, and reasonable tuition fees compared to other countries. In fact, Canada is one of the few countries where ingeniousness, variety, and freedom of living are nurtured. In light of this, I have decided to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Canada. I have applied and received multiple offers from various universities in Canada. However, I have chosen UNB due to its outstanding faculty & scholarship offer. Furthermore, UNB is one of the Top Ten Canadian Business Schools and its MBA program was considered the best MBA program in 2016 as per the online journal Canadian Business, therefore I have chosen UNB to pursue my MBA program.

I achieved a bachelor’s in Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering degree from the University of Development Alternative (UODA), Bangladesh in 2009. After completing my Bachelor’s degree, I started searching for a job related to my subject. However, during that time, I deeply felt that the scope of Biotechnologists and their future job prospects in Bangladesh were limited. Therefore, I decided I should get a professional or management course that will help me to get my desired job in Bangladesh. For further professional knowledge, I went to the United Kingdom and obtained my Professional Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management from the awarding body ATHE & completed MA in Marketing and Innovation from Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom with a Merit position. During my Master’s degree, I wrote a 15000-word dissertation titled “The Impact of Advertising on the Sales Performance of Grameen Phone (GP) in Bangladesh” which was presented at an international conference of Pacific Rim Management (ICPRM’14) in Rosemead, California, U.S.A. on July 10-12, 2014. From this dissertation, I have learned the importance of marketing on sales performance. I am proud to have this UK degree and I have been successfully implementing this degree knowledge in my current job in Bangladesh.

On my return from the UK, I started working at Phoenix Finance and Investments Ltd. Having worked for more than four years in this reputed Investment Company as a financial analyst, I have come to the realization that it will be very difficult for me to achieve a higher position in my workplace without foreign MBA degree. So, I want to overcome this limitation by pursuing a professional degree in Canada. This MBA degree will enhance and flourish my communication & negotiation skills, and analytical and leadership skills. These skills, I firmly believe, will also help me to reach the managerial level in my workplace and to reach my maximum career potential. There are also managerial prospective careers with an MBA degree from North America, especially in the financial field I operate, which is why I strongly believe that my proposed MBA program at UNB would conclusively assist me to gain this position. My overall educational goals are to learn the functions of business administration, acquire and practice leadership and negotiation skills, gain practical knowledge, solve problems, and make responsible decisions in a global context. Upon completion of my MBA, I will return to Bangladesh to rejoin my current employment where I am presently working and I will be able to provide change-oriented leadership by transferring my foreign advanced knowledge into the Bangladeshi financial sectors.

Canadian universities design their program with changing trends and bearing in mind their global utility. The proposed MBA program of UNB would be significantly based on case studies and practical work experience that an employer desires. Following the academic part of this program, I will be required to undertake an internship for 8 weeks (CO-OP). Undoubtedly, this opportunity would teach me to apply this knowledge in real life business environment. Moreover, by pursuing an MBA degree from Canada, I will get adequate opportunities to connect with different professionals. Although in Bangladesh, there are a few universities that are offering MBA programs, their education focuses more on theory rather than practical application. In addition, most universities in Bangladesh offer an MBA program for 2 years, and sometimes it takes more than 2 years due to an unstable political system, which is time-consuming. Furthermore, an MBA acquired from a Canadian university will be appreciated globally and valued highly in the job market of Bangladesh.

The financial sector is one of Bangladesh’s fastest-growing job fields. I can, emphatically, say that the qualifications I would gain in Canada would be acknowledged globally as well as in Bangladesh. I believe this MBA program will equip me with additional but substantial knowledge and skills, which will make me an advanced candidate in the employment market in Bangladesh. In addition, this professional degree will help me to gain more knowledge about leadership concepts and analytical thinking where I can improvise my knowledge to handle multiple challenges in any financial institution in Bangladesh. Hence, I believe, having a British degree and pursuing another professional degree from Canada will, for sure, enhance my professional skills and attributes.

I would like to mention here, I have inseparable ties in Bangladesh, my wife is studying towards her Masters of Arts in English Literature at Jagannath University, Bangladesh. We both want to build our careers in Bangladesh. I have a well-settled job in Bangladesh. I have an offer from my current job with a high salary and a promotion when I return and rejoin Phoenix Finance & Investments Ltd. Moreover, Banking or Financial jobs are generally very developed and prestigious compared to other professions in Bangladesh. I have a good future in my country. I do not intend to settle down in any other country. My sole intention is to pursue quality education in Canada. That’s why I returned to Bangladesh after completing my masters in the United Kingdom. Moreover, my parents have become aged and they will require my support and care. They have substantial assets in Bangladesh which I will inherit and thus I will need to be in Bangladesh to take care of these properties as well (assets valuation attached).

I really believe that your positive decision regarding my study permit would bring me a bright future, a chance to learn, and work opportunities, which would not otherwise be made available to me.

Yours Sincerely,

Nazmul Kabir

According to the obstetrician, my mothers’ estimated date of delivery for my younger twin sisters was 4 February – my birthday. My mother used to tell the story of how when she initially told me that the twins would be born on the same day as me, I promptly declared that they thus belonged to me and that she should hand them over once they arrived. Needless to say, she ended up having an emergency C-section 2 weeks before the due date but I did, however, continue to stake my ownership claim.

Ownership is a curious thing. More often than not, we desire things without being fully cognizant of the responsibility that accrues with said ownership. This is both true of material possessions as well as more abstract things, like leadership and power. I was in junior school when it dawned on me that being an older sibling came with a certain level of responsibility which in turn demanded accountability and unbeknownst to me, stewarding the twins from those early days had been my first foray into leadership. Much to my mother’s chagrin, they had begun to pick up some of my not-so-good habits and upon realizing that they had become quite adept at bending the truth and telling white lies, I had to consciously decide to become a better role model, which at 9 years of age, translated to being honest and hardworking at school. Enter – possessing integrity as a leader. TIE IN HOW LEADERS WANT POWER BUT NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH IT

Fast forward a few years later when I was selected to be a prefect in high school, I embraced the opportunity to lead fully aware that I bore a great responsibility to my teachers as well as my fellow students and I tried my utmost to discharge my duties honestly. This concept of being a leader with integrity stayed with me and was reinforced when I joined PwC and audited numerous companies which had collapsed or were on the brink of collapse due to leaders who lacked integrity and had made poor decisions, most of which were illegal, which had devastating consequences for the stakeholders. The management would assume no responsibility and would usually simply move on to other companies yet for the majority of employees, their lives would have been irrecoverably changed.

I have also witnessed how the effects of leadership which lack integrity can play out at a macro level. Having been born and bred in Zimbabwe, I have seen my country alternate between periods of great prosperity and great poverty. Both extremes can directly be linked to the government leaders we had during those periods and how their convictions influenced the decisions they made and how these, in turn, affected 16 million Zimbabweans positively or negatively. Over the past 15 years alone, Zimbabwe has undergone hyperinflation, become a multi-currency nation, and adopted policies that have chased out foreign direct investment. To compound this, Zimbabwe has high levels of corruption with perpetrators facing little or no consequences and this serves to further erode investor confidence. The majority of the leaders themselves are also mired in corruption and use their public offices in pursuit of their interests and enrichening agendas. It is only good governance and leadership with integrity at its bedrock that will save the sinking ship that is Zimbabwe.

Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. It speaks to being consistent in your actions and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to do the right thing for the right reason, whatever the circumstances and consequences. Zimbabwe currently lacks leaders with integrity – both in business and in government. I believe in Zimbabwe and I sincerely believe that sustainable change is possible. In 2018, the current administration launched “Vision 2030” – a national transformation plan to ensure Zimbabwe achieves upper-middle-income economy status by 2030 through focusing on economic, political, monetary sector, and institutional reforms. The rhetoric is good but successful implementation and execution of the plan will require individuals who not only possess strong leadership skills and the required technical capabilities but possess at their core, a strong sense of integrity and a commitment to serve and work for the greater good of Zimbabwe. I desire to be a part of this new crop of business leaders.

In my current role, I lead a team of 8 and I have managed to create an environment where trust and honesty abound. I seek to be a leader who above all else, can be relied upon and trusted. Over the past 20 months, I have seen my team grow from strength to strength with some of the members being promoted themselves. In my extracurricular activities, I work with partners who expect the highest levels of transparency and accountability and this has further helped to shape me into the leader that I desire to be. I have mentored high school kids on leadership at career fairs and this is an avenue I wish to pursue more intentionally.

Obtaining an MBA will enhance my leadership skills, refine my technical acumen and provide me with an invaluable network that will assist me as I continue to grow professionally and make an impact in my community. I envision returning to Zimbabwe equipped to join and add value to the senior leadership team of a parastatal. I also wish to share the knowledge I would have gained from my MBA and exposure to consulting work in the U.S. with fellow Zimbabweans through various channels including a leadership academy for young people so that I actively become part of grooming Zimbabwe’s next generation of leaders. I desire to be a business leader who can work with government leaders and shape economic policies that will benefit the people of Zimbabwe in the long term.

So as you consider my candidacy for the MBA program, I would like you to know that I am an individual who is eager to make a difference in my country. I am passionate about growing leaders and successful teams. I believe that we, as humanity, are at our best when we come together and work for a common good and lift each other. I believe in lifelong learning and that every leader must upskill themselves to carry out their mandate well. I believe that there is no substitute for commitment, hard work, and integrity.

It is inevitably true that education plays a vital role in everyone’s life. Without education, no one can survive in this modern world. I believe that the days when life experience was more important than academic qualification are gone, but nowadays having an academic qualification is as important as blood for the body. Several universities are available to get a better education. Tourism plays an important role in a human being’s life; people travel to several places for many purposes, it may be just for rejuvenation, recreational activities, and attending business seminars or meeting as in business tourism. When a person travels to another place or another country it is called tourism. Hospitality management plays a pivotal role in tourism. I have chosen a hospitality degree, which will help me to get a lucrative job according to my needs and choice. After completing my BA, my aim is to pursue my higher qualification in the same field, and my academic goal is to obtain an MBA in the respective field. After this study, I want to get a better job and better health, which will help me to do my level best.

My academic goal is to obtain an MBA (hospitality management). I completed senior secondary education in the same field, and after that, I came to the UK to get a higher study BA (hospitality). I want to pursue an MBA in the respective field as I want to be a manager of a hotel, and for that, I have chosen this goal. MBA is a postgraduate course. During this course, I will go through some special skills and can get a managerial position after its successful passing. This course will open the golden of my bright future as I will learn lots of things from this goal such as good organizational knowledge, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong commitment, and self-discipline.

I did lots of things to develop myself. I chose the arts stream in secondary education, I utilized maximum time for my study. I visited my hotels to check their services, hotels and other things which are required in it. After completing secondary education, I came to the UK, enrolled in a reputed university, and now I am pursuing my degree here. The things which I chose to develop me in this field went very well. I learned lots of things from the efforts which I put in. I learned better communication skills, teamwork, team spirit, and management skills.

The curriculum for an MBA program in hospitality management usually includes core business courses in accounting and economics, a bachelor’s degree, and courses in hospitality law and event management; personal references are sometimes required. Coursework can cover topics in ethical management, career planning, and research methods. Other subjects in a program may include decision-making and leadership, corporate managerial finance, event management, event marketing concepts and analysis, and tourism issues and strategies.

With an MBA in hospitality management, I can qualify for positions in a variety of businesses. Employers can include hotels, resorts, and casinos. Several possible job titles are included: event producer, meeting and convention director, or director of special events. These jobs will definitely help me in my further life and my bright future.

In this field, a lot of employees get lucrative jobs with handsome salary packages. Average employment growth of 1% is projected for lodging managers over the 2018-2028 period, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual pay for lodging managers in May 2018 was $53,390. The BLS also reported a 7% employment growth projection for meeting, convention, and event planners, which is faster than average.

We know that hospitality management is an important pillar in almost every country’s economy. While some countries are really good at promoting themselves, others need to still do some serious work. Hospitality management is a huge profit-generating industry in any progressive country. Hospitality management is a main source of the economy because people love to travel, for traveling they have to visit hotels to fulfill their needs, they have to spend money on hotels, and they love to enjoy each and every facility of the hotel.

In conclusion, I want to say that having goals in life is very essential because goals help people to live a royal life. No doubt, people have to do a lot of hard work to act their goals, whether it is academic or well-being, but the only thing which matters a lot is happiness after getting the goal. My academic goal of getting an MBA degree is very important to me. It encourages me to do more and more hard work. I will do many required things to fulfill my desire.