In March 2023, I decided it was time to obtain a Master of Business Administration (MBA) certification after over fifteen years of experience as an accountant, eight as a senior management member.
I believed the MBA would come with the following benefits:
- Career Advancement: An MBA would open new opportunities for leadership roles and higher-level management position in the firm for me:
- Skill Improvement: An MBA program usually covers a broad range of topics, includes Corporate finance, Operations, strategy, Management communication, and leadership courses. The curriculum will help me develop a well-rounded skill set.
- Networking opportunities: The program would provide extensive networking opportunities and interaction with other executives. This would also help me build a valuable network that would be beneficial throughout my career.
- Credibility and recognition: An MBA from Lagos Business School will enhance my credentials in the business world.
I commenced the journey in late August, just after my summer holiday and was expected to have one intensive week of lectures every other month, it was on this basis I chose the MEMBA program as against the EMBA program which I believed will work better with my already busy schedule. I was required to take four courses; Corporate Financial Account, Management Communication, Analysis of Business Problem and Data Analytics and till date we had two intensive weeks, in September and October. The first semester examination had been scheduled to commence in December. However, since the second intensive classes in October, several second semester lectures (pre-modular) have been scheduled by the faculty weekly. Most of these lectures are unplanned, mostly scheduled with less than a week’s notice. Some are scheduled for weekdays (Friday evenings) and others Saturday morning and evening. The faculty has also provided several reading materials which the executives are required to read before the classes. At this point it is safe to say I am completely overwhelmed, confused and re-evaluating the decision to obtain an MBA.
The unplanned lectures have made it difficult to get the most out of the lectures or prepare for the first semester examinations in December with the additional expectation to meet up with my work engagements. As the lectures have consistently clashed with important office activities scheduled for weekends such as training or MPR (monthly performance report) meetings.
I wondered if I was alone in this or just didn’t have an adequate plan in place, so I reached out to my MBA colleagues, and they are facing the same dilemma; overwhelmed and wondering if this was not a wrong decision.
In summary, it has been a rollercoaster, with so much unpredictability, several cases to analyze, several presentations and constant bombardment with assignments that has made a part-time MBA into a full-time MBA and Full-time job into a part time job.
I take solace in the fact that everyone says it is because it is the first semester and we will get used to it and with time I will get the hang of it, and it will be a journey to savor at the end. Ahead and ahead, we proceed.
