Dina Keswani, Executive MBA '09
Dina Keswani, Executive MBA 09

Thursday, September 11, 2008

..and time makes more converts than reason.

It feels like been a bizillion days since my last blog entry.I promise I have good excuses and I have a lot to report. I have been busy at work, having taken on more responsibility and executing newer projects. Thank God again for Lotus Notes and scheduling my entire life on it! Alas - that great summer break, post the close of the first year at business school, seems like a distant memory now.

The visit to Ithaca this time around was influenced by a compass of familiarity. A very different feeling from what the innocent '10s were perhaps experiencing as they took their baby steps orienting themselves into the program.I have discovered, well the obvious - the first year truly is the building block towards success in the second year. There is a world of difference between the second year of business school and the first. To start with, the workload is of a different caliber. You also have the advantage of knowing what is expected of you and how long it takes you to complete class assignments and other requirements. Let me attempt to illustrate.. for example, take a huge bowl of fundamentals from our memorable Statistics course, then add a table spoonful of Managerial Finance, blend this with chilled Corporate Finance core concepts, next spice this up with a soft dash of French/German essence, and finally sprinkle a few M&A ingredients .. and Vola..you get a tasty course in Valuations!

This awesome Valuations Principles course as well as the course that covered practical applications of Marketing Strategy concepts,were both, a cool way to start our third semester. Professor Vithala Rao's Marketing Strategy class had a decent portion of the grade based on class participation and how well we prepare for the cases discussed in class. This means (well at least for some) to fiercely wave hands high in the air and hope that he calls on you when you are confident about a certain topic and cower if he brings up a topic you aren't so sure about :)

The courses that follow in Palisades i.e. International Finance and Managerial Decision Making, frankly,are two highly engaging courses. I guess having your own study group and an exciting Global project assignment has a lot to do with it. I wondered how 'diverse' this group could get. Aren't we all type - A overachievers after all? I feel really good about the prospects for my 'self-chosen' team mates.We are five intelligent, creative, group-oriented individuals 'with humility'. I'm not sure where it comes from - maybe it comes from being team sports driven in high school, or a patient yet persistent sales professional, or maybe it comes from just being first generation American with an entrepreneurial view - all of which, the individual sees his or her own accomplishments, however great they may be, in light of the relative overarching success.

Top Executive MBA programs are, typically, full of folks who are accustomed to being superstars in their old field. Once in business school, they are thrust into an environment where they are surrounded by other superstars. For me, this keeps things in perspective and helps me rationalize the true impact of my accomplishments. There are people in my class who have defied far greater odds and have achieved far greater things. Take for example our classmate Jim Bridenstine who co-owns the first independently owned team in the world's most exciting new sport, the Rocket Racing League.Do check out his website at http://www.bridenstinerocketracing.com/

Honestly, I'm constantly finding myself grateful for my classmates insights, experience, and well, their attitudes too, and for being definitely privileged to be associated with this highly acclaimed academic heritage here at the Johnson school.