EMBA: last mile, graduation, statistics and some thoughts, ep 09

This is the 9th and final episode of my Executive MBA saga at HEC Lausanne. I wrote this less than 72h after the final graduation ceremony that took place at UNIL on December 15th 2023… plus some additional comment 3 months later. To have a better understanding of this journey, I invite you to check my previous chronicles (episode 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07 and 08) if you missed any part of this adventure!

Last mile

Before talking about the ceremony and share my final thoughts on this EMBA, I want to describe briefly what did happen for the last few months as this time, I didn’t have time to post any update.

As a matter of fact, I’ll start by sharing with you what did happen last year during a little exchange with previous class 2021-2022. We met ?? end of August 2022 at the Vortex at EPFL campus. It was right after our intensive “intro week”, a five long days introduction and first assignments. Goal was to exchange and get to know each other with a class that did already 12 months of the program and that was about to finish ??

We were just starting while they did some 75% of the program. We had a lot of questions… and they had a lot to say. In particular, I’ll always remember what one person said about the workload and the fact that it will get easier by August next year. He said that basically the workload gets lighter.

Let me tell you: it is not true ??

Very shortly, during the 16 months program, you generally work simultaneously on two of the 20 core business concepts. However, you’ll also have to work on 3 multi-disciplinary projects and they have a big impact on your workload as they will coincide with the “ordinary” program plus your professional work of course. Said differently, you’ll have to work on 4 different things simultaneously and during months. I did find that period extremely hard ?? and to the opposite of what that guy said last year, that’s not less but more work and pressure ??

For future generations, I recommend to not lower the rhythm and in particular during summer vacations… ???

Real test

Throughout the program, two key multidisciplinary projects stand out: the Entrepreneurship Group Project (EGP) over three months and the Strategy Consulting Project (SCP) over twelve months. The EGP serves as an initial real-world application of the concepts learned thus far. This project revolves around a practical entrepreneurship scenario, rooted in an idea proposed by a classmate. From what I recall, we started with 12 ideas ??, but only 7 were selected for further exploration by various groups. Each group dedicated itself to one of these projects, with the primary goal of determining the feasibility of the idea — leading to a decisive "go" ?? or "no go" ?? verdict, based on the comprehensive application of our accumulated knowledge.

Our group worked on a disruptive idea related to introduce AI into the HR world to help it adapt to the massive changes coming into this field. I will not go into details but at the end of this 3 months in-depth analysis, we did assume that this project could “go” ahead. Now, you may ask: how did we get to this conclusion?

1?? Evaluating an idea's viability is a 360-degree process that involves critical steps to ensure its potential for successful implementation. Initially, a reality check is essential to confirm the idea's practicality, distinguishing feasible concepts from mere wishful thinking. 2?? Subsequently, an assessment of the necessary resources is crucial, covering the time, financial investment, and specific expertise required to bring the idea to life.

3?? The third step involves a thorough market analysis, where understanding the target audience, gauging demand, and evaluating competitive landscape are key. This typically includes extensive interactions, such as interviews with prospective customers and businesses, to gather relevant insights. 4?? Next, it's important to anticipate possible obstacles and risks, developing strategies to address and mitigate these challenges proactively.

5?? The final stage is to solicit constructive feedback from industry experts or potential end-users, which is instrumental in refining and strengthening the concept. Throughout this entire process, we integrated various learned concepts and leveraged the diverse expertise within our group, ensuring a comprehensive and informed approach to the feasibility assessment.

Is it likely that the service will become available? I am firmly convinced that it will. Given the remarkable advancements in AI ??, our society is poised to experience significant transformations in the coming years.

Oh, by the way, out of 7 ideas, only one got a final approval to move forward.

Final thoughts

What an intense journey this program was. Working and studying intensively was a challenge over 16 months. Even now, only two weeks after the last defence for the Strategy Consulting Project (SCP), I still wake up with some thoughts like: “What is left to do? What is the next deadline?” only to realise it is over ??

And I’m not the only one, some classmates shared the same feeling while having a drink at graduation. I believe this will take weeks to fade away.

First of all, and I said that previously, I believe I should have done this earlier when I was in my 40s and not like now at 50 years old. It is not too late but from a career perspective, I’m sure it would have brought more value to do it earlier. I’ll be blunt on that: some cases or projects I had responsibility would have been managed differently and, I believe, with a better outcome. In particular those that didn’t go very good… ??

Like many, my learning was largely experiential, greatly enhanced by the support and collaboration of others. Generally, as my experience expanded, things progressed smoothly, and the outcomes were positive ????♀?. Reflecting honestly on my journey, I recognize that there were instances where I lacked certain tools or the knowledge to effectively address or manage the challenges encountered ????♂?

Now don’t get me wrong, I also believe this program makes sense when you have seen some life and went through some professional experience. It is why I believe 35yo to 40yo is probably the best period to start this journey. Or if you want me to put it on a typical MBA prism: the ROI ?? will be even better if you do it at 40yo vs 50yo ??

And this might be my final thought: theoretically, as retirement in Switzerland is at 65yo, I still have some 14 years ahead of me to practice all I learned here, and I can’t wait! Really, I expect to lead many other initiatives and projects in the future, and I’ll have new tools, insights, frameworks, etc. to do so. Honestly, it is exciting.

Of course, I’m perfectly conscious those are not magic ?? or perfect tricks to solve it all. But this is a learning process and I feel much more comfortable going for my next challenges whether those will be in my professional career but also, likely, in my personal life (yes, EMBA can also bring value in your private life).

Ultimately, was this experience perfect ??? Of course not ??. Before going for this program, I did evaluate some other programs from other business schools and ultimately chose HEC for some specific reasons (program, reputation, ranking, price, convenience, etc.). However, as much as I had extraordinary professors with a great content, I also faced some professors that needed to review their content (too old) or simply review their pedagogy. Thanks to the systematic feedback form, I obviously shared my views with the admin team, and I hope this will help improve the program.

Can’t end this without talking about what being in contact with my classmates brought me. I mentioned it in my previous posts but I’ll say it again: you mix with people that you would probably never meet in your “regular” career. As people come from different industries and with a very different background and experience, it is particularly important to mix and listen. Many had some very relevant thoughts and did bring a “real life” experience or feedback. This is literally gold and I want to thank one more time all the class for their contribution ??

I hope time will not destroy all the bridges we have built ???? and that some will get stronger ????

I’m also thankful to my management and company because they helped and allowed me to take this opportunity. Hats down also for meeting so many interesting professors, speakers, consultants and entrepreneurs.

Statistics

I can’t end this without providing some statistics related to the workload and all that needs to be done during this program:

Side notes:

• Slides were the ones shown in class or part of some homework;
• Amount ?? of reading and outcome varies depending on group/tasks;
• Documents produced were done individually or/and by group;
• Some documents to read like studies or publications were very dense and included many references or links to other articles (not accounted here);
• Had three fines during those 16 months, two for parking time-violation and one for changing lane on a red light... ????

Three months later

I held this post for almost three months, allowing time for the dust to settle, the rush to come down and tensions to ease. It was a period for reflection including during some well-deserved vacations. I had the chance to gauge the impact of acquiring an Executive MBA and what's the verdict? It's a mix of exhilaration ?? and a hint of apprehension ??

The journey was extreme and intense, sweeping through a myriad of topics rapidly yet profoundly. It was an intellectual challenge, one that requires time to assimilate, integrate, and apply the newfound knowledge. It bridged gaps in my understanding, transforming a once foggy view of the business landscape into a clearer picture. While some concepts were instantly understandable, others remained elusive, their meanings shrouded in ambiguity ??

After this rigorous experience, my perspective has fundamentally shifted. Now, when I encounter any product, whether exceptional or lame, my mind instinctively analyzes and reconstructs the myriad of processes behind its conception, development, marketing, and distribution. I no longer see just the end product; I perceive the entire ecosystem that brought it to fruition.

In searching for the right words to describe this transformation, I liken it to expanding one's visual spectrum. As you know, our vision is confined to a narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum, seeing colors from 380 to 700 nanometers when a rainbow graces the sky while it rains but some sun shines. Yet, this is but a fraction of what's out there ??

Just as we've built instruments to explore beyond our natural visual capabilities, the EMBA has equipped me with a new lens ??, broadening my business insights as if I've been endowed with the powers of the Hubble, James Webb, and Spitzer telescopes combined:

Now, keep in mind that I got all this for a fraction of the costs ?? of those marvelous machines (those three telescopes costed some USD 22 billion dollars) ??

This educational odyssey has been invaluable. Obviously, I also realize that it is not because I read all flight manuals out there that I’m ready to fly an Airbus plane ?? with 300 passengers in my back. However, thanks to a supportive management, I’ll be able to explore new topics in the coming months and this is a great and exciting opportunity.

Keep learning, keep experimenting, keep pushing boundaries and as one amazing person said, stay foolish ??