Starting With the End in Mind

Every good story has a start, a middle, and an end. However, when prospective students contemplate pursuing an Executive MBA, this thinking must be turned upside down.

The decision about which specific campus or programme to pursue needs to start with the end in mind.

One might ask questions such as, "What is my end goal? What am I trying to achieve? What will success look like?" The answers to these will help identify the right path forward.   

For some, the endgame might be the next step on the career ladder; for others, it might be a move across industries, geographies, or functional areas.

For some students, it will be about transitioning careers, transforming from corporate employees to entrepreneurs, or perhaps moving into other aspects of entrepreneurship, like joining a VC or PE firm. 

Whatever it is, having that clarity on the end goal can tremendously help to design the study path to align with that goal.

Pivotal steps can include creating opportunities for networking with industry experts, choosing a specific campus to explore new geographies, or starting a start-up while studying to tap into the entrepreneurial community.

The "in-between" phase

Once the programme starts and has been ongoing for a few months, many students find themselves in a space of transition or "in-between." It's the state when we are no longer where we were but have not yet achieved the end goal. 

This phase includes career breaks, start-ups, side ventures, and other non-traditional employment opportunities.

This transition will often present unconventional challenges that not many have experienced before.

Dealing with high levels of uncertainty, having self-doubts, feeling some level of anxiety about the future, and reflecting on questions around one's professional identity that perhaps were never explored before are common experiences. 

It is in this "messy middle" phase, as I like to call it, that significant change happens. Many find themselves growing, advancing, and becoming different leaders than before the programme started.

Some will take some time off to pivot, reflect, and experiment. I highly recommend this approach based on my personal experience, as it is challenging to explore new avenues when juggling a full-time job, family commitments, and a demanding study schedule.

Brand new opportunities are also less likely to enter our lives if we don't take the time to create new networks, research new industries and companies, or if we are so overconsumed with current work that we don't have any space to think of the next direction.

The new beginning

The GEMBA programme allows time to reflect and reevaluate one's current life and future directions. Some students experience a change in value systems, some find themselves changing their yardstick for success, and many, if not most, start looking at the broader impact they can create for this world beyond their direct work or organisation.

Many MBA students will experience a sense of purpose and meaning as questions seeking answers arise during the programme. 

The positive news is that as uncomfortable as being in this "in-between" space might feel, it does end one day.

Most transition and slowly find the new space they want to achieve or decide to accomplish during the programme.

Graduates emerge taking higher-responsibility positions, starting their own companies, or shifting their careers to where they can make even more contributions. They find work opportunities where they can fully use their skills and knowledge to fulfil their potential and do more for the world.

One thing is clear—we all become better leaders through this programme, making more conscious and thoughtful choices about our following pursuits—both in our lives and careers.  

And this represents a start—for a new journey ahead.