LBS MBA Admissions & Related Blogs : LBS

By Adam Hoff, Amerasia Consulting Group

Time to break out an annual PSA here.  I'm talking all alarms ringing, sirens, whatever it takes to get your attention.  By "you" I mean: anyone applying to business school.  You need to stop doing something immediately.  Here it is:
STOP TRYING TO "DIFFERENTIATE" YOURSELF.  [/b]
Or at least, stop doing it without a professional by your side.  Let's dive into the 4 Rules of Differentiation before someone gets hurt.

Rule #1 - Do not "differentiate yourself" with a panicked career change.  [/b]Throwing a Hail Mary at the last second is not a good idea.  Trying to scramble to a cooler or sexier or "more noble" company is not going to make you stand out as a candidate - it's going to make you look directionless or (worse) fake.  Now, some people change jobs (even right before applying) and that is fine, as long as there is a logical reason for it - ranging from "I hate my current job and may walk into traffic unless I leave it" to "this is a unique opportunity that I have to take."  However, don't change just to change under some faulty logic that they are going to see "Adam Hoff, SpaceX" rather than "Adam Hoff, J.P. Morgan" and start doing backflips.  If there is no logical reason to go work at SpaceX, then don't go work there.  They look at your whole resume - and mainly to see what skills you have, not what brands you racked up - so it's not like changing the "current employer" line is going to change the formula for who you are. This is all risk, no reward.  Would you do anything else in your life that is "all risk, no reward"?  I am guessing not.

Rule #2 - Listing a hard job to get as your short-term goal is not "differentiating."  If you only read one rule, read this one.  Please!  Read it again. Done?  Read it again.  Okay, you get the point.  I have heard many, many times the past two years the idea from candidates that they want to pick post-MBA job X or Y because it will help "differentiate" them.  In basically every case, the job in question is somewhere between "insanely hard" and "impossible" to get after graduating from business school.  I'm talking hedge funds, VC, luxury retail, etc.  I've even heard the quote, "What I really want to do is work in management consulting so I can really see what works and what doesn't and build towards my dream of starting company Z - but I feel like everyone puts management consulting so I want to find something else."  Well, yeah, everyone puts it because management consulting firms hire lots of MBA grads.  And they do that because they need talent and energy to feed an "up or out" machine - and the reason that grads take those jobs is because they can indeed learn what works and what doesn't as they make some good money and build towards the next step.  It's a win for both parties ... so if that is what you want to do and it makes sense, why fight it?  Either way, the worst thing to do is list a job you pretty much can't get, all in some misguided attempt to stand out.  You will stand out all right -for your cratering effect on their employment stats.  Insta-ding.

Rule #3 - The "quick and easy" place to differentiate is in the WHY of your long-term career goal.  I have probably written more about MBA career goals than any subject on earth, so I won't belabor the point now, except to say that you can use your long-term goal to share parts of yourself that are deeply held, introspective, and unique.  That's how you differentiate yourself.  Not "hey, look at how I left Goldman to go work at an oil company for no reason" and not "all these other guys may want to take the slam dunk of management consulting, but I want a c-suite job at Prada!" - no, it's "what I want to do for the rest of my life is X, and the reason is [something that is unique and specific and deeply personal to you.]  That is how you do it.  If you need a mental shifting device, try this: most admissions officers would much rather read a great novel or watch a great TV show than hear a business pitch or dial up a TED Talk.  Don't try to stand out ("differentiate") with your ambition, win them with your humanity.
Rule #4 - The real, pure way to differentiate yourself is to do the app right.  Do you know how many people submit truly great apps?  No joke, my guess from what I've seen is about 1% of the applicant pool.  I'm talking about: 1) a strong baseline profile (3.3 and above, 700 and above, solid impact in the workplace), 2) a really good resume (a sales document that advertises that impact in different contexts), 3) essays that are easy to read, 4) essays that are structured correctly, 5) essays with thesis statements, 6) essays that are introspective (see Rule #3), and 7) essays that nail the DNA of the school in question.  If you check all seven boxes, you just differentiated yourself.  Rather than searching for some magic bullet, just do a really good job.  If you had to read dozens of files each day and only a few were really good, you'd be pumped when you read the handful that were.  I know it's boring and self-serving to lay this out for you, but that doesn't make the advice any less true, so there you have it.

 

If you need help differentiating yourself in a way that does good rather than harm to your app, email us at mba@amerasiaconsulting.com or visit us at https://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/contact.  You aren't going to hear buzz words or lame gimmicks, just a breakdown of the hard, steady work required for a great app.  

According to the latest top MBA salary and job trends report, international study experience is sought by 67 percent of MBA employers, and recruiters say that candidates with international experience outperform those without.

If you’ve applied to the MBA program at London Business School or have that school on your radar for the future, you’ll want to check out this informative cost-of-living post recently published on the LBS Admissions Office Blog by financial aid officer, Kathleen Bell.

Just about everyone knows that life across the pond is expensive. London Business School is a significant investment in your future, writes Bell, though the cost of living varies from person to person depending on the choices they make.

“But, we can provide you with a rough guide to understanding the cost,” Bell assures. “We’ve surveyed our student population to find out what their monthly expenses are including renting their flat, utility bills, transportation, and socialising.”

In addition to £70,800 in tuition and course materials, here are some of the key points to consider/expenses to plan for:

• Average monthly expenditure for MBA students: £2,395 ($3,433.20)
• Average rent per month: £1,273.92 ($1,826.23)
• Socializing expenses per month: £452.53 ($648.72)
• 47 percent of renters live with another person; 17 percent live with two other people

Flat sharing is a great alternative for many students, says Bell, including Arly, a 2015 MBA grad.  “He thought it was important to live close to the School and rented a flat with two other students.(…) By flat sharing, it allowed Arly to keep his cost down, which then provided the opportunity to attend more cultural treks,” Bell explains.

A majority of students choose to live close to campus, where rents ten to run higher. But, according to LBS, a number of students wish they had known how easy it was to commute to the school from anywhere across London. Living a bit further out would have reduced that significant expense.

LBS has a close-knit MBA program set in one of the most exciting cultural centers in Europe. If this is the business school for you, do your research early on to figure out the many options available to help finance your studies.
You may also be interested in:
4 Factors to Consider About European MBA Programs

FT Reveals 2015 Ranking of Best B-Schools in Europe

London Business School Fall 2016 MBA Essay Tips
Image credit:Luc Mercelis(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

The London Business School MBA Class of 2019 application will go live in early August, but until then, candidates can plan ahead with these MBA application deadlines for the 2016-2017 admissions cycle.
Round 1
Application due: September 21, 2016
Decision released: November 23, 2016
Round 2
Application due: January 4, 2017
Decision released: March 22, 2017
Round 3
Application due: February 24, 2017
Decision released: May 10, 2017
Round 4
Application due: April 21, 2017
Decision released: June 21, 2017

All application deadlines are 17:00 UK time. All Admissions Committee decisions are communicated via email and will be sent on the deadline day at approximately 10pm UK time.

For more information, please visit the LBS admissions website.
image credit: Luc Mercelis (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Today we’re discussing a unique MBA option for mid-career professionals – an option to study in a full-time, immersive program with other professionals at the same level.

Joining us today are: Stephen Sacca, Director, MIT Sloan Fellows Program; Silvia McCalliser-Castillo, Director, London Business School EMBA-Global and Sloan Programmes; and Mike Hochleutner, Director, Stanford MSx Program. Welcome!

Why pursue mid-career graduate education in business? [3:00]
Stephen: It’s not easy to hit the pause button in an established career that’s gaining momentum, but it’s really to pause and reflect on what you’ve done and what you’d like to do. I think of it as a reflection year from a personal perspective.

Mike: The world has evolved a lot. People are marrying later, having children later, etc. And they’re going through more career transitions and working longer. The notion that early career training/education will train you for a full career isn’t as accurate as it once was.

Silvia: I absolutely agree. Careers are evolving – people are living longer and working longer. Our program is actually trending older (more years of experience). The opportunity to study with other mature students with a similar amount of experience is really compelling! Students gain exposure to new frames of reference, new industries, new ideas.

Can you give us an overview of your programs? [6:35]
Mike: These three programs have some common heritage. The program at MIT was started with the support of Alfred Sloan, the retired CEO of GM – a forward thinking CEO. The idea was to create a model of education for people who already had some experience, and the potential to run great companies on a global level.

Here at Stanford, our program is in its 60th year. The MSx program is one of only two grad programs in the b-school. We require a minimum of 8 years of work experience.
The MSx program is integrated with the FT MBA: for electives, MSx students have free rein within the GSB and the full university (you can take classes across the campus). We have a global and diverse cohort. We want to help students create a network they’ll draw on for the next 20, 30, 40 years.

Silvia: The LBS Sloan Fellows Programme is a master’s in leadership and strategy. Our students have, on average, 15-18 years’ experience (no less than 10 years), and their average age is 42-44. They take a core curriculum in cohort, all together: some of our areas of emphasis include globalization and strategy in a changing world. LBS has a lot of master’s programs, EMBA programs and partnership programs. Sloan students can take electives with the entire b-school, or with part time students.

Stephen: MIT’s Sloan Fellows Program is in its 87th year. Alfred P. Sloan started the program for people with exceptional potential to lead dynamic organizations. It’s a combination of academics and practice. We emphasize 3 pillars: Academics, leadership, and global perspective. We have 110 students from 35 countries. The minimum is 10 years’ experience, and the average is 14. Our cohort is 70% men and 30% women.

Mike: The minimum experience for Stanford’s MSx program is 8 years. We’re looking for people who have experience in a managerial role: people who have grappled with management challenges.

What is the application process? [13:50]
Silvia: At LBS, we have a unique process for the Sloan Fellows. First, we ask interested candidates to submit a copy of their CV and have a chat with a recruitment coordinator to see whether it’s a good fit. We don’t want to waste anyone’s time. If it’s not right, we may recommend another program at LBS, or waiting a few years to apply, or even applying to a different school. If it’s a good fit, we encourage them to apply. In terms of the application process, it’s an online form (essays, LORs), and they submit their scores from the GMAT or the new Executive Assessment.

[Do the other programs accept the Executive Assessment? MIT: talking about it! Stanford: GMAT or GRE is required.]

Silvia: The process continues with interviews. We’re looking for people who’ve had important responsibility. Our cohort is only about 50-60 people, so it’s important to get the class dynamic right!

Stephen: The process is similar for the Sloan Fellows at MIT. There’s a registration form on the website. We contact people who seem like a good fit and invite them for a campus visit. We also do global visits in the fall. We normally interview about 40% of the applicant pool. If applicants would be a better fit elsewhere, we often counsel them to consider other programs. Our cohort is about 110.

Mike: There are lots of opportunities for people to learn about the MSx program. We do an initial review to see if it’s a good fit, so people can assess before they go through the process. We’re looking for three things: 1. Demonstrated leadership and accomplishment (made an impact) 2. Intellectual vitality (aptitude and attitude) 3. Clarity of purpose. The third point is very important! This is a 1-year program. It’s important to know what you want to do with the program. If you don’t know what your plans are, you might spend the year going too many different directions.

We ask for essays, test scores, LORs. We also consider work experience. And we work hard to assess fit.

What kind of career services support does your program offer? [22:00]
Stephen: We have a shared career services office – within that office, we have people who have experience with executive level career searchers. We’re not seeking career changers, but if they come, we’ll give them what we can offer them. There’s no on-campus recruiting. But we provide coaching on resume development, how to approach the search, etc. And we have tailored help for international students. We expect students to be fully engaged in the program. We had 46% sponsorship this year, and we would like to increase that. If somebody’s looking to pivot, we’re happy to help them, but they have to have a plan.

Mike: The career situation for mid-career folks returning to school is a bit of a quandary. We made a choice: focusing entirely on sponsorship wasn’t in our interest. About 30% of our fellows are sponsored. We have a dedicated team in our career management center that works with our students and sees how they’re different from MBA students. We also work with our employer relations team to make sure they’re aware of our more experienced students. It’s very much a networking-based job search process. It can be a challenging cohort to work with from a career development perspective. But one of the things we can help give people is a set of skills.

Silvia: The LBS Sloan Fellows are a mix of sponsored students, entrepreneurs, and self-sponsored students looking for a change. We don’t have on-campus recruiting. But we work with our contacts to promote our students. And we teach our students to manage their careers. We provide career coaching, mentoring, and advice. Each student is expected to come in with a plan. And the coaching continues after graduation.

What kind of contact do students have with the wider b-school community? [35:45]
Silvia: During electives, our students might work alongside both fellow Sloan fellows with decades of experience and 23-year-old MiM students. We also promote social interaction through clubs and societies.

Stephen: MIT Sloan offers 10 degree programs; 56% of the courses the Sloan Fellows take are electives that are integrated with other students (other courses from the b-school, and the whole MIT campus – as well as Harvard). Our competitions engage the full campus. And every year we have the 1 Sloan Initiative, to bring the school together.

Mike: The GSB has 150 electives for the MBA and MSx programs. And about 15% of the required units can be taken across the full campus, in any division (engineering, education, etc).

How would you coach somebody deciding between the MBA and MSx? [39:20]
Mike: They’re similar in terms of content. What’s different is the individual learning process. (For example, there are smaller sections in the MSx.) Some people want a 2-year program. The core of the MSx is that it’s building on what they’ve already done. If you have over 10 years of experience, that’s what they probably should be doing. We let people make the choice in terms of what’s most appropriate for them. If I think they can get more from another program, I’ll direct them in that way.

MIT has a full menu of programs – who should choose what? [42:50]
Stephen: We’re up-front: we share our portfolio of programs so people can see which program will be most appropriate for them. We’re up-front about our minimum criteria. We don’t encourage people to apply to both the Sloan Fellows and the MBA.

How do you help people determine which LBS program is right for them? [44:30]
Silvia: A lot of Sloans already have an advanced degree. Often, people who choose the Sloan program over an EMBA are people who are looking for a full-time degree.
We encourage people to talk to their employer if they’re hesitating between the EMBA and Sloan Fellows. Sloan is differentiating more and more from other programs. A lot of EMBAs are hoping to accelerate their careers. And we’re finding that Sloans are looking to take a step back, think about their legacy – many are considering entrepreneurship or other pivots (social enterprise, etc).

What do you consider the strengths of your specific programs? [48:00]
Stephen: Sloan is the business brain of MIT, where we have unparalleled strength in science and engineering. We’re also in a densely populated university environment in Boston-Cambridge, which provides a unique environment.

Mike: The strength is Stanford. It’s a unique school and a unique environment at the heart of the innovation economy – it places students in a special ecosystem in Silicon Valley, amid innovative companies in every industry. It’s a global center of innovation.

Silvia: For us, the London experience is critical. London is a world city with a global outlook. We just set a Guinness World Record for a song sung in the most languages here at LBS – and it wasn’t even difficult. This was the first non-US business school to have the top-ranked MBA program.

Can you tell us about a recent grad doing great things? 53:45
Silvia: We had a recent student from Northern Spain who wanted to grow his network in the UK for entrepreneurship. He invested in a classmate’s startup (she’s from Mexico and had been working in the US). It was such a great story of people working together who wouldn’t have met except for the program.

Mike: We had a couple of students, one from a tech background and another from consumer marketing, who were in class, and talking about how social norms can be as motivating as financial incentives when it comes to paying back loans. This led to the idea behind SoFI. A team of 4 students raised $50K in seed money from their classmates, then $70 million after graduation. And now the company is the largest financer of student loans, and it’s moved into mortgages, and is valued at $4 billion. From an insight they had during the program and their work together, this is what they created. It’s not a typical story! But a phenomenal one.

Stephen: A couple of recent grads – one from the US and one from Mexico – had sold their ventures before coming to Sloan. They did a joint thesis, and have now launched a new venture with several of our faculty members on the advisory board. Funding is looking very promising! The program allows people who have mid-career experience to harness their opportunities in ways other people might not see.

The importance of the immersive experience: it gives participants a chance to unplug, but also a chance to get skills (strategy, leadership), along with perspective. [60:50]

Can you share one piece of advice for prospective applicants? [61:55]
Stephen: Be very clear on your objectives and how the program will help. We take the essays very seriously. We want to know why you’re interested in this program, and why now – your real interest and motivation. This year we’re adding a short video.

Silvia: I agree completely! Also: talk to alumni. Sometimes people have forgotten what it’s like to be a student and underestimate how difficult it can be to return to school. Get a sense of what it’s like.

Mike: One of the criteria we look at is clarity of purpose. This is not a program for people who’re trying to decide what they want to be when they grow up. Set priorities. And get clarity in order to explore the program and also get the most out of it.



Related Links:
• MIT Sloan Fellows
• Stanford MSx
• London Business School Sloan Fellows
• EMBA 101

Related Shows:
• A Transformational Year: The MIT Sloan Fellows Program
• Insights into MIT Sloan MBA Admissions with Dawna Levenson
• The Stanford MSx Program for Experienced Leaders
• SoFi: Alumni Funded Student Loans
• The Scoop on the London Business School MiM Program
• How to Become a Corporate Executive
• Excellent Executive MBA Admissions Advice
• The Wharton Executive MBA Program: An Insider’s View

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This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.

Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help you get accepted!

The application for the Class of 2019 at London Business School will go live in early August, but until then, applicants can start preparing for the required essays of the 2016-2017 admissions season. We were interested to note that last year’s optional essay question is now this cycle’s second required essay prompt.

• What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these? (500 words)
• Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School? (500 words)

For more information, please visit the London Business School MBA admissions website.
You may also be interested in:
London Business School Deadlines for the August 2017 Intake

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

London Business School is a close-knit program with an international focus, set in one of the most exciting centers of culture in Europe. Among one of the top-ranked programs in the world, LBS is equally valued by employers in both the US and Europe.

This year LBS has further refined the essays in the application to one career goals question and an optional question. To cover all of your career accomplishments, extracurriculars and personal attributes will require using other parts of the application like your resume and recommendations.

Make sure your resume highlights what you are most proud of at work and in extracurricular activities, and that your recommenders support those stories. Your recommenders can also talk about your leadership, ambition and teamwork.

Essay 1
What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these? (500 words)


Self-awareness about your strengths and interests will help you refine what you truly want in your career. To take your research into your post-LBS options deeper it could be helpful to talk to colleagues and alumni who have MBAs in your field to identify various career paths. Make sure that your career goals are both realistic and aspirational. Think about the short term roles that may lead to your most ambitious longer term goals.

Your past experiences have certainly informed your post-MBA plans, and touching on those most relevant will be helpful to setting the background for your current pursuit of an MBA. To make this essay more than a rehash of your resume, think about explaining the rationale for your decisions throughout the essay.

Why did you pursue your past experience and what has been the impetus behind subsequent career choices? At this point, why are you choosing LBS? If space permits, you will want to discuss the question of timing – why you have made the choice to pursue an MBA at this time, and why you want to attend LBS now.

Essay 2
Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School? (500 words)

The formerly optional question from the LBS application is now required. This open-ended question is a great opportunity to touch on a personal story or add color to your career goals. This could be the ideal place to describe a unique background, experience or attribute that did not fit elsewhere in the application.

If you can’t think of a topic, consider using a story that illustrates your passion for London or an aspect of LBS culture. To inform your story, make sure you have done as much school research as possible. Ideally you have visited the school or attended an admissions event, or at a minimum, spoken to current or former students.

Because this essay is required, we would recommend using at least part of it to cover a positive aspect of your application instead of explanations of weaknesses, but taking a paragraph to address an issue like a low GPA or GMAT score may be a good use of this essay.

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

As most of you slow down for the holiday season, and some of you speed up to make the upcoming admissions deadlines, we thought it would be a great opportunity to do an encore of Linda's excellent interview with Jamie Wright, the Senior Recruitment and Admissions Manager at London Business School - Early Career Programs.

For the full show notes, click here.



Related Links:

• London Business School Masters in Management
• London Business School Global Masters in Management
• London Business School Masters in Financial Analysis
• London Business School 2016-17 MBA Essay Tips
• London Business School Zone Page

Related Shows:
• The Scoop on the London Business School Masters in Management Program
• The CEMS MIM: A Truly International Masters in Management
• UVA MS in Global Commerce: 3 Continents, 2 Masters, 1 Amazing Year
• The Schwarzman Scholars Program: Leaders of the Future Unite

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This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.

Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help you get accepted!

What do you think this person might be doing in ten years’ time? Why?

For those of you applying to US schools, you will notice this is one question that doesn't appear on any of those applications.

Here, what I like to do is 1) have the recommender comment on their career ambitions, and 2) then use eye-witness, substantiated examples cited in other parts of the letter to build a case that applicant has what it takes to reach their goal.


For a client with entrepreneurship goal:

When applicant instituted changes within the board, he first got buy-in from key stakeholders. This shows me that applicant has a customer-centered approach. This quality will help applicant gather feedback from government agencies, partners and NGOs and that feedback will help him develop a solid, in-demand product offering.

FROM LBS Admissions Blog: MBA Student Ambassadors: Diverse insights and experiences

An MBA can provide a chance for real career exploration and career change. The period before your MBA is a great time to reflect and mentally prepare yourself for this exciting change. We’ve found one of the most useful ways to maximise your chances of success in the MBA process is by speaking with […] Read the rest of this entry...

FROM LBS Admissions Blog: What makes LBS diverse?

Inventor of the web Tim Berners-Lee famously said, “We need diversity of thought in the world to face the new challenges”.  An eclectic mix of factors such as gender, ethnicity and experience can encourage the kind of cognitive diversity Berners-Lee meant. There are 195 countries in the world today. Before joining London Business School (LBS), […] Read the rest of this entry...

FROM LBS Admissions Blog: What differentiates a successful Sloan candidate?

The Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy is a highly competitive programme and each year the School and the Admissions Committee looks to build the strongest value for the class. Beyond our world-class faculty and unique programme focus, one of the greatest values of the Sloan programme is the ability to network, learn and absorb […] Read the rest of this entry...

FROM LBS Admissions Blog: The time of goodbyes and welcomes

Summer is the time of changes in the world of admissions. On Friday 14 July we said goodbye to the MBA2017 class who had their official congregation ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London. It was a bitter sweet day. On one hand we celebrated the success of the MBA2017 class who have completed […] Read the rest of this entry...

FROM LBS Admissions Blog: MBA Applications MBA2020

The applications for the London Business School MBA programme starting in August 2018 are now open and that means you can start preparing your submissions for the first round deadline. We believe that preparation and time is the key to a successful application. Therefore, to make the process as smooth as possible, we have […] Read the rest of this entry...

FROM LBS Admissions Blog: MBA2020 Applications are now live

The applications for the London Business School MBA programme starting in August 2018 are now open and that means you can start preparing your submissions for the first round deadline. We believe that preparation and time is the key to a successful application. Therefore, to make the process as smooth as possible, we have […] Read the rest of this entry...

FROM LBS Admissions Blog: MBA2020 applications are now live

The applications for the London Business School MBA programme starting in August 2018 are now open and that means you can start preparing your submissions for the first round deadline. We believe that preparation and time is the key to a successful application. Therefore, to make the process as smooth as possible, we have […] Read the rest of this entry...

FROM LBS Admissions Blog: EMBA Global Classes Unite in London

Our EMBA Global programme is a truly global experience and we recently welcomed both the Asia and Americas & Europe strands together for a memorable class week here in London. The EMBA Global programme brings together three leading Business Schools – London Business School, Columbia Business School and Hong Kong University – and draws students from […] Read the rest of this entry...

FROM LBS Current Students Blog: How Business School Will Make You a Better Entrepreneur

Going to business school is an important decision. In many aspects, it is like buying a house. It is a milestone in your life and one of your biggest investments. As every important topic, it is also a controversial one. Many business people like Seth Godin and Tim Ferriss argue that doing an MBA is not worth the significant debt and the two years committed to doing it. In spite of these ideas, going to business school is still well regarded in the corporate world. It helps you get a nice job and boost your career. Overwhelmed by the number of candidates, recruiters use top business schools as a filter. So doing an MBA is often required if you want your career to move forward. Top recruiters for the MBA of London Business School But people who want to start their own business cannot think this way. Adding the stamp of a business school on a CV has limited value for entrepreneurs. Their professional successes are not the result of a manager hiring them. Entrepreneurs are only accountable to their customers and shareholders. If you’re considering starting a business, the question you must have is: “Is going to business school worth the investment?” (Going to business school is a lifelong investment. You should take more variables than I could explore in this article. So I am voluntarily reducing the scope of the article.)   Should a wantrepreneur go to business school? From my experience coaching entrepreneurs, I see these two cases: 1. You are willing to run your own business. But it is obvious that you need more experience. You do not have yet the right network and business skills that will allow you to succeed. 2. You have wanted to start a business for years. You already know people who have done it but you have been too scared to take the risk and do it yourself. There is a fine line between these two boxes. But you should know where you stand. If you fall in the first category, going to business school can be the right decision. The Sammy Ofer Center, the brand-new campus of London Business School To help you make the right decision, the best thing to do is to talk to entrepreneurs who went to business school. Getting to know how this experience impacted their entrepreneurial journey will provide you with more clarity. So let me share with you what I learned from my experience going to London Business School. 1 Thinking More Strategically Theory has limited value. There are dozens great books that give you an easy and cheap access to business theory. (If you are wondering which ones, my reading list features a good selection.) The real value of going to business school comes out of the connections and projects that are built throughout a business school programme. Here’s a before/after business school comparison: Before going to London Business School, I was already running GoudronBlanc, a brand of very high quality T-shirts. GoudronBlanc still exists and this is an opportunity for me to compare how I used to think about strategy and how I think about it now. - So before business school, I had a basic commercial mindset: “buy low and sell high”. There was not much of a strategy at the time. - Now, I notice that I make strategic decisions with more clarity. A good strategy requires to make trade-offs. You must understand your market, see where the competition is going, and learn how to iterate fast while keeping your focusing on your long-term mission. It would have taken me years to reach the same level of thinking. But going through many business cases, discussing with my peers and my professors, and meeting with speakers helped me get there much faster. 2 Getting Support (Even After Graduating) As author and journalist Pro Bronson wrote: “There’s a powerful transformative effect when you surround yourself with like-minded people. Peer pressure is a great thing when it helps you accomplish your goals instead of distracting you from them.” Being surrounded by ambitious people pushes you to do more, especially after graduating. You see them succeed and they’re willing to help you when needed. I have had so many sessions thinking through the future of GoudronBlanc with my friends from London Business School. The thing with business school is that most people who go there are “business geeks”. They talk a lot about work but that is because it is something they genuinely like. And trust me, seeing your classmates and friends on their path to success and having their support are great motivators. None of my classmates will forget their trip to Shanghai 3 Broaden Your Horizons… Even though everyone comes with a similar goal, going to business school opens your mind like few other experiences will. At London Business School, students come from all of over the world. Some of my greatest friends are from China and India. Without them, I wouldn’t certainly not have learned as much about these two fast-growing countries. Too many entrepreneurs do not think global. Yet, adopting a global mindset matters more than ever. Having friends with people who come from other countries, it is much easier to learn about these countries and their local markets. Going to the right business school and going on an exchange programme open the door to more global mindset. 4 Grow Your Network It is astonishing how powerful networking can be when you understand what it really means. Dale Carnegie, author and public speaking expert, summarises this very well: “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” Without my friend, David Duckworth, inviting me to attend an event with Y Combinator’s president Sam Altman, I would not have been able to meet this renowned investor, who invested in companies like Airbnb and Dropbox. And Sam Altman would have never become a customer of GoudronBlanc. Networking is not just the ability to ask people for a favour. Too many people think that way– unfortunately… Investor Sam Altman wearing a GoudronBlanc T-shirt Networking is the ability to stay connected to like-minded people you can help and who may help you too, though you should not take that for granted. 5 Doing Business Is More Than the Theory One of my classmates, Nico Gerstmeyr, started a gourmet gelato shop in Munich called Gecobli. Far from the fame of tech startups, he is building a brick-and-mortar business that requires a specific set of entrepreneurial skills. Inside Gecobli, a venture started by Nico Gerstmeyr (MiM 2015) He believes that going to business school helped him by preparing the ground for his entrepreneurial journey. But as he told me: “Honestly, you cannot learn about the problems you encounter [as an entrepreneur].” He adds: “A few lessons from b-school might apply later, like how to motivate employees, how to optimise taxes and overhead etc. But the main lessons I’ve learned since then are: - Don’t try to do it on your own; - Get a partner; - Dream big; - Start small and slow; - Don’t do it for the money, do it for the vision/purpose; - Work 24/7 but take personal time whenever you can.” There are things you cannot expect to learn in the classroom, and not even working for someone else’s business. Being an entrepreneur requires some skills and behaviours that can only be learned by running a business. Part of the class of MiM 2015 going back together a year after graduation 6 One Last Thing Of course, there is the word “business” in “business school”. But not everything is about business. This is also a place where you have a lot of fun, meet lifelong friends, and learn a lot about yourself. It’s a school of life too. You meet people who are in a transitional moment of their lives. Everyone is considering what they should do next and how to approach that next step. Going to business school gives you the opportunity to take a real break, and get the time to reflect. So Business School and Startup Are Compatible? Business schools were designed to educate managers before they get a job in a large organisation. There is no doubt that business schools need to keep adapting if they want to keep the interest of future entrepreneurs. Today, their principal competitors are business books for entrepreneurs, accelerator programmes, and alternative education programmes like Udemy and General Assembly. Whether going to business school is the right move is up to you to decide. It depends on where you are in your personal and professional journey. But I sincerely hope going through these ideas is going to help you make the right choice. – Guerric de Ternay (MiM 2015) leads innovation projects at ?What If!, and runs GoudronBlanc, an e-commerce driven fashion brand.

FROM LBS Admissions Blog: How to Submit a Strong Late Application to the LBS Sloan

September is here, which for many people means going back to school or thinking about future education. For a number of you this will mean realising too late that the final application deadline for the LBS Sloan Masters in Leadership in Strategy has now passed. However, never fear! We are still accepting late applications from […] Read the rest of this entry...

FROM LBS Admissions Blog: How to Submit a Strong Late Application to the LBS Sloan Masters

September is here, which for many people means going back to school or thinking about future education. For a number of you this will mean realising too late that the final application deadline for the LBS Sloan Masters in Leadership in Strategy has now passed. However, never fear! We are still accepting late applications from […] Read the rest of this entry...

FROM LBS Current Students Blog: Welcome from EMBA 2019!

Yes – we are back at school again! We are the EMBA class of 2019. Orientation week is almost a month old now – 7 days of pure exhilaration, positivity and completely new perspectives. And the next 20 months are going to be a fun, exciting, learning, enthusing and transformational journey. A journey we would remember and cherish for the rest of our life. The journey started with that first decision – applying for London Business School. Your learning begins in the application process itself; finding your strengths, projecting yourself the best way you can, making you stand out and of course spend a few hours preparing for a GMAT or an EA test. And yes – you very well know and understand what you are signing up for. The application rounds, interviews and the thrill and excitement on receiving that admission email brings on that extremely positive spin to your life. Yes – you are joining London Business School! You already feel special. Then comes the excitement of finding out who else is on the journey with you. Some of the earliest entrants in our batch spent quite a bit of time refreshing that EMBA LinkedIn group page, wondering where the others are.J Slowly, but surely they arrived. Your LinkedIn feed goes into a frenzy eventually and before you know you have a bunch of disparate, talented individuals who become your connections. For our batch, we were just so excited to meet everyone, we could not wait for orientation week. A https://gmatclub.com/chat group was already active and probably the most active social feed for quite a few of us – and this was in July! Someone came up with this brilliant idea of meeting up on a weekend and getting to know each other. About 20 of us turned up with food/drink from their respective culture/country – it was a brilliant way to meet-up!   But there was still a huge number of people which you just did not know yet. Eventually the https://gmatclub.com/chat group began to bulge – and the blinker was always on on your phone. And before we realized, Orientation week was upon us. Some people travelled half-way around the world, some took just a few steps to the hotel, and some missed special occasions. At 3pm on the 3rd of September, we were all at London Business School. The facilities @ the newly opened Sammy Ofer centre are simply brilliant. The best you can find anywhere in the world. And absolutely everyone was overawed by it. An absolutely fantastic way to begin our journey. The first week was all about settling down. Most of us had probably never met a 120+ individuals who are so diverse, talented and motivated in the span of a week – a fantastic experience – finding that free diver, that ex professional rugby player, that martial art master, that capoeira enthusiast, that ex-infantry sergeant or that social jester and party animal. There was also the usual school formalities – Get that picture taken, get your ID card, figure out where the next lecture is, put faces to names who honestly look a lot different to their LinkedIn profile picture. And also figuring out what NOT to do in your EMBA by no less than one of your professors. The first few days of light socializing quickly turned into active class discussions about leadership and management. You quickly understand what you had been missing out all this while. There is just that little bit of an aside of finishing your assignments too. You also figure out your all-important Study group, get to know them, debate with them and socialize with them. The week just whizzed past and it was the Friday-night party! A great way to know and meet some of our EMBA seniors and get to know exactly what you have got yourselves into! By the time the party finished, everyone was letting their hair loose and what happens during/after the ‘after-party’ stays there. One lecture weekend has already gone by. A tonne of readings and assignments await us all in the next few weeks of first term. It is definitely going to be hard work, it’s going to challenging and it’s going to take a toll at times.  But we all know one thing for sure – it’s gonna be one helluva ride to enjoy! EMBA-2019 have arrived!