MBA Admissions Tips from Former Director at Cass Business School

Perception of MBAs vs. Non-MBAs

• It is becoming more and more important to have an MBA degree these days
• It is a security blanket that shows somebody has been through the rigor
• Sense of comfort on the part of the employer
• Humility has to be there for MBAs
• Life does not offer everyone the opportunity to get an MBA
• Some people make choices to go for Masters degrees
• Don’t make assumptions, be open-minded
• MBA is not always a ticket to success, it’s how you apply the MBA

Successful MBAs are those who:

• Have exposure to other people
• Have a more rounded education experience
• Actively engage with Alumni Networks
• Have strong relationships as relationships matter more and more

Indian MBA vs. Global MBA

• Overseas programs tend to have a greater number of international students
• Students from India should take off that hat of wanting an A+ for every assignment, it’s not going to make you a good leader

Entrepreneurship coming out of Business School

• Entrepreneurship may not just happen when someone starts their own firm, it may also happen within a large company, as entrepreneurial skills are needed in every business. As an example, in a credit card business, you need the flair to reach out to the masses, to know your next customer. Airtel, Vodafone have been extremely entrepreneurial to reach the masses even in rural areas. Pepsico has been entrepreneurial in its mindset wherein it can develop a kurkure in India to having Dobladitas in Mexico. HUL demonstrated entrepreneurship in action by coming up with small packets of shampoos, which were affordable to all
• Entrepreneurs succeed due to the quality of their relationships

Advice to MBAs as they embark on a global career

• Sensitize yourself to social etiquette when working with international clients
• Should you be socializing with co-workers/clients, maintain a certain decorum and set your own limits in order to maintain respect
• Think about the International Professional Standard and practice it in your projects and professional engagements
• Use the MBA to get a cultural quotient. Ask yourself how you can become a truly international manager in terms of your capabilities. For E.g. if you are working in China, it’s not just about eating with chopsticks, people in China strike a deal when they can trust you
• Importance of relationships

Success

• “You’re only as successful as you feel you are”

Measure your success according to your own standard. Use the outside world as your inspiration

• Programs like the MBA provide you with that opportunity to think and reflect on personal goals. Set your own benchmarks using the outside world as inspiration
• Learn from successful leaders
  • Steve Jobs
  • Nelson Mandela
• Reading is important as a global leader. Some recommendations include:
  • Works by Sumantra Ghoshal
  • Arundhati Roy (God of Small Things)
  • John Cotter’s work on leadership
  • Rosebeth Macbeth’s work on change management
  • Aung Sun Kyi
  • Biographies of famous people
  • Newspapers (Eco Times, Financial Times)
  • Magazines (Economist, Business Week)
  • Harvard Business Review

Concluding Thoughts

Never stop learning, become an expert in whatever field you are going to be in, always think about how you can top up. As an example, Anjana still finds herself learning from young and old alike. Recently, she learnt chess so she could play with her nephew and it was indeed a delightful experience for both of them.

“MBA is a beginning of the learning process.”