MBA

Profiles

Dianne Esber, MBA 2009

Since college, Dianne Esber has had a clear focus: "I knew I wanted to pursue a technical degree first, then get a broader business background that would allow me to apply technology to business." With an MBA in mind, the question was, "where?"

"As soon as I visited HBS, I knew it was the school I wanted; in fact, it was the only one I applied to," says Dianne. Three things especially attracted her: the campus, the classroom experience and section life. "Most business schools just have a few buildings; HBS has its own campus, a self-contained community," Dianne says. "The classes I saw were incredibly dynamic. And you get to know people from all over the world, very well – that would be difficult to do without the sections."

Opportunities for growth

If there is a guiding theme to Dianne's experiences at HBS, it is the wide variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth. "I've been amazed by how willing people are here – faculty, students, staff – to meet and talk with you, to give their time to answer questions or help you prepare for interviews."

In fact, the school deliberately structures student time to encourage productive interactions and individual reflection. "When we arrive on campus," Dianne notes, "recruiters are not allowed to approach us until November. That gives us two full months to get to know our classmates and get immersed in our classes. You have the time to do research, to really determine what you want. When you do meet with recruiters, you're just much better prepared."

In addition to course work, HBS offers numerous leadership activities through treks, immersions and student-led activities. "The hardest part about HBS is that there's so much going on," says Dianne. During the winter break, for example, Dianne participated in the Middle East immersion led by students from Dubai and Cairo. "It was a chance to do something I couldn't do alone," says Dianne. "We met with the leading developers and fund managers behind the region's incredibly expansive growth." Additional activities have included the annual Marketing Conference, the Middle East/North Africa Conference and the technology-oriented Cyberposium 13.

Managing technology

Dianne's summer internship will probably lead her to the Bay area for work within the tech industry. After she completes her MBA, she plans on exploring options in product management. "It's fun working with products you can touch and feel and use," Dianne says. "Product management allows me to combine my technology interests with my business skills. And I like the challenge of entering new categories and growing new markets."