Insights from My Executive MBA Experience | Beyond the Books

2023 was a great but extremely intense year for me, thanks to my job promotion, announced M&As, MBA kick-off, and so on. As I wrap up my first semester at Mannheim Business School's Executive MBA program, I'm eager to share my journey, believing it's a way to give back to the community. The new year break offers me a perfect moment to reflect on my progress and compile a list of key readings for anyone interested.

I've noticed posts claiming, "Read these 10 books and get your personal MBA in 6 months!" While they might catch attention, I believe they oversimplify the real depth of an MBA. Reading is just a slice of the whole pie. An MBA digs much deeper.

"Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think."

This quote perfectly encapsulates my experience and the program covers diverse areas as follow:

• Navigating conflicts in project teams with varied personalities.
• Engaging in expert sessions with professors and guest speakers.
• Learning experience from leaders like top executives, former agents, astronauts, and diplomats.
• Having experts for individual and group coaching sessions.
• Dedicating daily personal time for intense program preparation.
• Delving into TED talks, reading materials, case studies, and collaborative projects.
• Benefiting from peer learning and their unique project perspectives.
• Developing business projects for start-ups or corporate applications.
• Interacting with social projects and NGOs.
• Complementary executive education series with top business schools like McDonough School of Business and Essec Business School.
• Former veteran led tough leadership sessions in France
• Learning more about US politics and APAC dynamics and their cultures.
• Having some mobility in Germany, US, France and Singapore.

To fill in the gaps, I suggest learning about different personality types and tailored communication, watching expert business talks, reading biographies of influential figures, having a personal mentor or coach, selectively viewing TED talks, finding and working through MBA case studies, keeping up with start-up news, and engaging in NGO volunteer work. This multifaceted approach can enhance your learning curve and push your boundaries.

"Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another."

This insight into leadership aligns profoundly with my learning experience, emphasizing real-world influence and practical application. An integral part of this journey has been recognizing the value of various learning methods. While hands-on experiences and observing others are key, I've found that reading complements these experiences by providing theoretical foundations and diverse perspectives. This synergy of doing, observing, and reading enriches our understanding and enhances our ability to apply knowledge in practical scenarios. In this light, I'd like to share the selection of books recommended by program Professors that can significantly contribute to your understanding and growth from an MBA program.

Strategic Insight and Innovative Leadership

1. Thinking Fast & Slow | Daniel Kahneman
2. The Lean Start-Up | Eric Ries
3. Nudge | Richard H. Thaler
4. Misbehaving | Richard H. Thaler
5. Predictably Irrational | Dan Ariely

Emerging Markets and Economic Perspectives

1. Capital | Thomas Piketty
2. The Great Divide | Joseph Stiglitz
3. The Age of Sustainable Development | Jeffrey Sachs
4. Saving Capitalism | Robert B. Reich
5. The Second Machine Age | Erik Brynjolfsson & Andrew McAfee

Decision Making and Risk Management

1. Fooled by Randomness | Nassim Nicholas Taleb
2. Bayesian Statistics The Fun Way | Will Kurt
3. Risk Savvy | Gerd Gigerenzer
4. Calculated Risks | Gerd Gigerenzer
5. Radical Uncertainty | John Kay & Mervyn King

Leadership and Organizational Dynamics

1. Drive | Daniel H. Pink
2. Human Side of Enterprise | Douglas McGregor
3. Nonviolent Communication | Marshall B. Rosenberg
4. Turn the Ship Around | L. David Marquet
5. Evidence-Based Manager | Gary P. Latham

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Valuation

1. Valuation | Tom Copeland & Tim Koller
2. The M&A Formula | Peter Zink Secher & Ian Horley
3. Scenarios: The Art of Strategic Conversation | Kees van der Heijden
4. Scenario Planning | Mats Lindgren & Hans Bandhold
5. Strategic Planning & Management | David I. Cleland & William R. King

In conclusion, while I have shared many book recommendations from our classes for 2024, it's crucial to remember, the MBA journey is about resilience and growth, loading executional business knowledge and networking far beyond just academic reading.