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MBA Voices
MBA Voices
It was January of 2022 when I stumbled upon the homepage of Harvard Business School’s Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP) while browsing a music industry leader’s LinkedIn page. At the time, with my background in music, non-profit management, and music therapy, I was under the impression that my skill set was not aligned with the demands of business school, let alone a highly-acclaimed institution like Harvard. [...]
Data-driven decision-making is a powerful tool. A first step to successfully deploying such tools is to have clear (measurable) objectives and think through tradeoffs. Ask yourself: what is the metric that I care the most about, and for other metrics, what trade-offs am I willing to make? [...]
I am a huge advocate for diversity and inclusion, especially in the business world, and I knew that Harvard Business School is committed to removing all barriers to opportunity. I was therefore excited to immerse myself in an environment where I get to learn and connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds. I knew that if I had the chance to attend the program, it would introduce me to a unique experience, expand my knowledge of business and leadership education, and enhance my tangible skills that could be applied to my future work experiences. [...]
When the email arrived – “HBS SVMP Decision Available Online” – it caught me by surprise. I took a breath and read the message: Accepted! As I planned my trip to attend HBS’s Summer Venture in Management Program, I saw scenes of Cambridge rolling like a film in my mind’s eye: discussing case studies with vigor and enthusiasm in the dorm common areas; receiving the infamous “HBS cold call” from Professor Anita Elberse, or worse, from Lebron James, Beyoncé, LL Cool J, or the many other case protagonists she likes to “bring to life”; dashing with my classmates to make it to breakfast and morning discussion groups; and trading stories of life experiences and sidesplitting tales of professional gaffes in the HBS courtyard. Whatever awaited me at Harvard Business School, I thought, would be unforgettable. [...]
Pre-performance rituals are the stuff of legend for musicians and athletes—Keith Richards eats Shepherd’s pie before every Rolling Stones concert (and must be the one to break the crust); Beyoncé prays and stretches with her band members; Tiger Woods wears red on the course. And while leading a case discussion in an MBA classroom might not be the same as singing to thousands in an arena or teeing up at the Masters, it is a practice that often inspires anxiety. We talked with four professors at HBS about how they use rituals in their teaching. [...]
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The views and opinions expressed in the MBA Voices blog are those of the authors.
Any political views shared by students are their own; HBS does not endorse a
particular party or candidate.