It has been over a year since I last blogged. Looks like writers block indeed isn't a myth. It took a great deal of caffeine, and determination to shrug off the inertia and get myself to blog again, and what better topic could I write about than my fresh-from-the-oven MBA experience.
My MBA journey has been a roller coaster ride, in fact it went by so quickly that, up until now, I never really had the chance to reflect. And how has the experience been? To put it succinctly, it was life-changing. So what really is a Global MBA? Is it just a marketing gimmick or does it really stand for something unique? Why should I go to Thunderbird and not to one of the top b-schools in India? These were some of the thoughts that hounded my mind while evaluating Thunderbird among other schools. Looking back now it seems like an obvious choice, but most certainly not back then.
Thunderbird has given me such a global vision that cannot come from even some of the best designed courses in the country simply because they would just lack the global relevance and global context that courses at Thunderbird so naturally resonante with. The cultural tension of working with diverse multi-cultural teams was as much a part of my development as the lectures and case discussions in class. I learned the importance of looking at things from another person’s point of view and respecting their opinion as much as I’d want them to respect mine. I learned the nuances of dealing with diverse cultures and the power of context in every communication. Given my global aspirations for SSA, I don't think I would have had a better avenue to enhance my cultural intelligence.
So in summary, the past several months in the US, and especially at Thunderbird have been some of the most challenging as well as most rewarding months of my life. I am amazed at how much I have learned and grown both in knowledge and stature within such a short span of time. For once I don’t feel like I’m too small to fill my father’s shoes someday, but then I am reminded...there are promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep!
