According to research, an MBA program should go beyond the four walls of a classroom. While the structured curriculum sets the tone and foundation for learning, the core of an MBA foundation transcends traditional classroom boundaries. In this article, I will share some invaluable non-classroom learnings that I find impactful and significant to my development as an MBA student.
An important factor in choosing my preferred business school was the opportunity to network with seasoned professionals, like-minds, and people from diverse backgrounds. Networking is relationship building, and Lagos Business School (LBS) has mastered this. Beyond the curriculum, the school creates avenues to facilitate networking between different cohorts of the MBA program. Conferences and workshops that promote networking with industry leaders, alumni, and fellow students are regularly organized, and student participation is always encouraged. As an MBA student, my ability to build and leverage a professional network is a necessary skill that is instrumental to the success of my post-MBA career journey.
In addition to networking, the MBA program at LBS incorporates international components such as the GNAM week, international module options, and international exchange opportunities. Learning in a global context exposes students to diverse cultures, differing business practices, and economic environments. Even though I am yet to get to this stage in my program, judging from the feedback from the alumni and even current students, I expect that these experiences will instill cultural competence, adaptability, and a global mindset – a prized skill in today’s multicultural business environment. My ability to thrive and navigate cultural nuances will set me apart in a global arena.
A hallmark of non-classroom learning in the MBA is leadership and exposure to varied team dynamics. The MBA program fosters team spirit evident in the grouping method applied for studies. While case studies provide theoretical insights into leadership and teamwork, my leadership and team-playing skills are truly tested outside the classroom. Several group projects, club activities, and social extra-curriculars serve as the melting pot to hone leadership skills as an MBA student. Whether you are a group leader or not, navigating conflicts and inspiring others are skills that the program nurtures in students. These experiences drive adaptation in tackling real-world complex challenges.
Contrary to my days as an undergraduate, when all I had to worry about was schoolwork; as an MBA student, I am expected to juggle coursework, extracurriculars, networking events, my job, and my home. These demands have forced me to improve my time management and prioritization skills. Time management requires discipline and resilience. I have learnt to shut off the noise and concentrate on one task at a time. My ability to juggle all these areas of school and life, meet deadlines, and adapt to a dynamic lifestyle, is fast becoming second nature.
Throughout the program and in life, we are expected to make decisions; whether big or small. These decisions must reflect our non-classroom learnings from the MBA, especially, as students of LBS. Ethical decisions are the hub of the MBA program. As an MBA student, now, more than ever, I am conscious of the ethos of my decisions and their impact on the people around me. This instilled consciousness prepares me for a world of ethical considerations in business, stakeholder management, social responsibility, and even personal life.
