This might be the single most used equation for business school satisfaction. Not by everyone obviously. And not necessarily by people ten years after graduation because sometimes their priorities have evolved. But during business school and right after graduation, I propose the idea that a lot of people measure satisfaction by the jobs they get. And then they compare it to what they wanted or expected before business school. ... More >>
Are you passionate about education? Has education changed your life in ways we could even imagine? Or have you seen education change someone else’s life that you know? If so, then I want to hear from you. We’re working on an innovative education project and would love to have your voice heard. We want to hear more about your story and get some of your biggest ideas? So it that’s you, then please contact us with your name and email address via the contact form. You can also leave a comment here on this website. We look forward to hearing from you. ... More >>
Just a few weeks ago, I was asked to write an article for Kellogg’s newspaper: the Merger. There were a lot of good articles submitted, some about Ski Trip, others describing the Photo contest and others about DAK. But like most editions, I was tapped to write something a little more serious. I was asked to write the inspirational New Years article. So I considered possible topics, pondered New Years resolutions and surveyed the past few months to come up with ideas. And upon reflection, I propose that 2012 will be the year of movements. ... More >>
After weeks thinking about the storytelling platform I’m working on, I’ve recently started looking around online at other platforms that exist. They span across industries, geographies, business models and schools. Additionally, some platforms don’t resemble typical storytelling platforms today. Instead they do things that are much broader and much more multidimensional than they originally envisioned. I propose the idea that this is proof of the power of good stories not only to inspire people but also to help them take action and create change in the world. ... More >>
The stories that we tell each other are of the utmost importance. They matter not only in business but also in law. The stories we tell in our MBA applications and law school applications. The stories we tell in our interviews. And the stories we tell about our careers. We can inspire people behind us and inform others how they can succeed themselves. As such, I propose that one of the best things we can do is learn how to become better storytellers. ... More >>
The concept of the tipping point is more important than ever before. Internet companies need it to spread the word about their new ideas. App builders need it to get people download their applications from the Apple store and Android Market. Political campaigns need it to get people thinking more about what they are working on. And REALLY big ideas need it. Not only to catch on but so the world can hear exactly what the founders have in mind. So what does it take to create a tipping point? ... More >>
Have you ever considered applying to a JD-MBA program but weren’t quite sure because you didn’t know what it entailed? Have you ever wondered what the differences were between the joint programs and MBA programs? I bet some of you have. I certainly did when I was applying to graduate school. Well if you’re pondering the differences today, or simply want to know a bit more about the joint program, then check out my recent interview with MBA Crystal Ball. ... More >>
… on Facebook today. I did. In fact, I wrote it for five people. I wrote slightly different messages for each person, and especially customized my messages for those I know the best. On the other hand, for those I didn’t know as well, my message was much less custom. I didn’t have anything funny or exciting to write. And finally, there was one person whose wall I didn’t write on yet. I told myself I’d go back and figure it out later. So what does this all really mean? ... More >>
Hours ago, 18 high school students in Chicago were honored for their academic excellence. All were high school seniors, most were accepted to great schools, and some had quite lofty professional ambitions; probably loftier than ours when we were that age. Likewise, most of them had pretty great backgrounds, not just academically but also community service and extracurricular activities. It was an honor to see them get the good news yesterday and to serve a profession resource for them after school as a member of the Hispanic Heritage Fondation advisor network. ... More >>
Just an hour ago, much of the world tuned in to the 2012 State of the Union address delivered by Barack Obama. No matter which side you relate to most, it’s likely you still considered tuning in. Not only was it a chance to hear one of the great orators of our time speak but it was also a chance to hear his view on what the state of the country is. And this is especially important now, as the economy is a topic of debate, the Republican primaries are heating up, and the education conversation is more heated than it’s ever been before. In this talk, Barack not only discussed these topics but he also honored Gabby Giffords for her service to the community. ... More >>
Every now and then we are fortunate to hear some really inspiring stories. On my site you often find some of these stories from the business and legal worlds. But often times, I like to share great stories from other industries. Well there’s a recent story that comes from the political arena. Just yesterday Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords made an announcement to the US and served as a great inspiration for those who watched. ... More >>
Today the business and legal worlds are more intertwined than ever before. As a senior executive, it’s absolutely impossible to escape high-stakes complex legal issues. Similarly, if you’re a leading corporate lawyer, you consistently run into business issues, not only at your firm but also at the firms of your clients. That’s why in 2009, two school joined Northwestern by creating a formally integrated JD-MBA program and in 2010, two more schools joined the cohort. Well, Northwestern is taking the lead once again and in February we’re launching the first Business Law Conference at a business school in the US. ... More >>
As you might imagine, not many people at Kellogg suffer from talker’s block. Ask anyone a question. Seriously, ask them one. Ask them about a class. Or ask them about recruiting. I bet they can probably talk to you about it for hours. But I bet if you asked them to write about it, you’d get a slightly different response. That’s because just about every person I know experiences writers block. So I’m curious. What’s the actual difference between the two? ... More >>
Today, most of my MBA classmates are spending a lot of time thinking about recruiting. What industry they want to work in. What roles they want to have. And how much money they need to make after graduation. So they pursue roles at consulting firms, banks and companies who market products well. And I get why they do it. These jobs not only pay well, but they also set you up to have a pretty great career afterward. But in today’s age I don’t think that’s the right mindset for everyone. Instead, I propose the idea that in 2012, for some it’s time to go out on the ledge. ... More >>
Hi Everyone, just passing along a recent blog post from new Law School Dean Dan Rodriguez. Recently the Dean wrote a post about the collaborations of the law school and business school here at Northwestern. He specifically mentions the alignment of the business and legal world and discusses the JD-MBA program and how it’s at the forefront of the business world today. The article is short, but given it’s relevance to the JD-MBA and MBA world, I wanted to repost it here. ... More >>
Have you ever had a meeting only to find that you could have contributed a lot more if you had a few more minutes to prepare? Or that with a few more minutes of prep you could have cut your meeting time in half? I’ve had both experiences, and I’m sure you have as well. I propose the idea that one way that we can figue out how to avoid these experiences by thinking more about transition time. ... More >>
In some professions, such as banking and consulting, taking a GMAT prep course is a given for prospective M.B.A. students. For those students, the question is never “should I take the GMAT but instead, which one should I use. With so many companies and tutors competing for your attention, it can be difficult to choose which to use. But for others, the decision to take a GMAT class can be tough. Not only because the cost is high but also because you don’t know how much to actually study. Well, in a recent question on BeatTheGMAT I received a question about just that. ... More >>
I talk a lot about MLT here on my blog. Not only because I went through the program a few years ago, but also because I think very highly of the organization. They help you think about graduate school. Force you to think not just about business school but also post business school. And perhaps most importantly they also encourage you to think a lot about future career goals. Well, in a recent question during my BeatTheGmat chat series I recently got a question about MLT from one of the attendees. ... More >>
Many of you will enjoy the three day weekend coming up. For some it’s time off from work. For others, time off from school. And for some, time to go home and visit friends and family. But for all of us, it’s also a day where we have the chance to recognize one of the most important days in the last half century. Because on Monday it is Martin Luther King day. And in the spirit of MLK, it’s a great weekend to give back here in Chicago. ... More >>
Too Much Work is what we have as 1Ls in law school. We have to read 500 pages for our classes. Be prepared to get cold called. And outline for each class. We also have a lot of this work at times in business school. Tough Work is what we have in some of our third year law school (3L) classes. Just this week, we had to read an empirical paper about Renegotiating Debt Contracts, synthesize a short yet complete list of disparate ideas and create a 30 page presentation that only presented the study to the class but also kept them interested and pointed out potential flaws in the paper. And we have to do that in just two days time. ... More >>
This might be the single most used equation for business school satisfaction. Not by everyone obviously. And not necessarily by people ten years after graduation because sometimes their priorities have evolved. But during business school and right after graduation, I propose the idea that a lot of people measure satisfaction by the jobs they get. And then they compare it to what they wanted or expected before business school. ... More >>
