Congratulations! – The fact that you’ve stumbled upon this blog, is a testament to your efforts to venture beyond the comfort bumble and try to carve out a niche for yourself. Every MBA story and thereby the overarching professional quest is a highly tailored chronicle and thus does not offer a blanket “formula” for success. Moreover, to encapsulate all the learnings garnered over a larger part of a decade in a short blog seems nothing short of a herculean task! Well, come to think of it, it rather seems an apt task for a Full-time MBA grad – parse through the clutter, boil down to the key “lessons learnt” and present them in a simple, succinct format…
As I look back over the years, I can consolidate the whole experience into 3 distinct buckets which I will further explain below:
Though it is always said (and rightly so) that you should come to an MBA programme with an open mind – helping you broaden your horizon with the experiences you garner over the period thereby making you cognizant of diverse opportunities that you may pursue – it is also important to have a pensive understanding about oneself AND have a certain set of broad goals in mind. Though you may change your industry/business function OR take a completely different direction, having certain guidelines will prevent you from wandering astray.
For me, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management was the only business school that I applied to in Germany – It provided the required blend of exposure in – finance, general management, and technology – that I was looking for to substantiate my technical capabilities. FSFM boasts of not just the financial wizardry that it is famous for, but also of the rapidly evolving expertise in diverse business areas as well leading faculties in cutting-edge technologies. The Blockchain & AI Lab was a cornerstone of my MBA application focus.
From the savvy campus to the sprawling library and from the world-renowned faculty to the bustling metropolis of Frankfurt – you have everything at your fingertips! You will have excellent academic grooming – providing you with all the necessary tools to equip yourself for the practical world out there, but do not let it be your sole focus. Apart from the Full-time MBA programme, FSFM also has equally acclaimed Part-time and Executive MBA programmes and during your entire duration of the programme you will have opportunities to interact with industry executives from innumerable professions. Many activities such as boardroom sessions, panel discussions, speaker series, etc. carried out on the school level lets you have an unparalleled access to networking opportunities.
Challenging case studies, class presentations, thesis, and capstone projects would provide you with ample opportunities to nurture your soft skills. Moreover, many events, meet-ups, hackathons, etc. are being continually hosted by different companies/forums across the city thus providing you a conducive environment enabling you to shed your inhibitions. It is up to you as to how you utilize the resources at your disposal.
Despite the bolstering environment, a large part of your “success” will depend on you! For this, I have 3 simple observations: 1. Map your profile to the market (do a SWOT and identify barriers to entry – eliminate them gradually); 2. Strive for industry immersion via any available opportunity – industry visit, paper presentation, projects, working student, and internship opportunities (if possible) and finally 3. learn German!
I hope this synopsis helps you in some form in your MBA quest. ?
Frankfurt School gGmbH
Adickesallee 32-34
60322 Frankfurt am Main
