The Secret Sauce For Your MBA Experience

The hard work, the application process and interviews, the letters of reference…all behind you now….you are in, you’re ready to go. Soon you will be immersed in your orientation (aka “boot camp”) where you will get to know your teammates, do some team building exercises, and prepare to deliver your first presentation. Yipes!

Making the decision to participate in a cohort-based MBA program was a brilliant one, congratulations! You are making a commitment to grow personally and professionally; not just to check the box for some fancy initials. From my own experience and from helping others, below is the secret sauce to turbo charge your experience:

1.      Hit the reset switch. Enter the program with a clean slate, your mind open, and a willingness to think outside the box. You are in a program with other brilliant minds. These are not folks you are competing against...embrace the diversity and opportunities to expand your perspective.

2.      Embrace your new family. Aside from your classmates, your new family also includes:

• their families
• their employers and the industries they work in
• the faculty and staff (and not just the ones you will have!)
• alumni
• guest speakers, their businesses and the markets they serve
• countless people you’ll exchange business cards with…..

If you are successful, you will gain not just 1,000+ new LinkedIn connections, but resources who you will get to know you and your goals in continuing your development.

3.      Be an extrovert. This alone for me was worth the price of admission. I came in with the INTJ label but was determined to conquer that “I” component. It takes work, but I see the change over and over as students proceed through the program. Push yourself to embrace the extrovert side you have….REACH OUT!

4.      Introduce yourself to Career Services and Alumni Relations on day one. You really want to have these teams on your side from the very first day. Shine for them…let them know your goals, who you’d like to meet, where you’d like to see your career go. At Crummer, current students can apply to serve on the Alumni Board…that’s a huge opportunity for exposure. Go to any and all events these critical groups host.

5.      Get outside your comfort zone. Sure, you might be the Excel or PowerPoint guru….but as you work in your teams, take on other responsibilities. This is a huge sand box to explore new skills, take risks.

6.      Activities, clubs, events…YES! You’ll see the many fliers in the stairwells - groups like Toastmasters, opportunities to visit local businesses, guest speaker events, calls for volunteers – you might come across your next employer at one of these.

7.      Involve your family / employer. Involve them in your experience, invite them to join you at an event, talk up some of the interesting topics covered in class. Especially for those who are employed, integrate your experiences as you are growing in the program…how can you bring immediate value to your employer?

8.      Time Management, school / life balance, sometimes you have to say 'no.' Before you know it, you'll settle into a groove...and then it'll be turned upside down. Embrace change but always remember the priorities around family and your other activities.

I put the call out to Crummer alums....adding their recommendations here:

• Spend time with your classmates. As amazing as the professors are, you learn as much from the people you're going to school with. Andy O. '08MBA
• The relationships that you build with your classmates will become your biggest asset. Antonio M. '99MBA
• Don't quit!!! Jerry P. '09MBA
• Find your balance between work, school, and personal life and accept that you won’t be able to give 100% to all 3 all the time. '16MBA
• Soak it ALL in. Sergie A. '10MBA
• Remember that you were accepted there because you have talents that Crummer wants. Bring your unique talents to the team and use them to bring the optimum quality work to the team! Do not try to outshine anyone. Also, don’t compare your work to others. Do your best and learn from other people that have done their best as well! Kristen A. '16MBA
• Many fond memories of Crummer! Work hard and absorb all you can from the faculty, fellow students and the entire college experience. Brenda B. '86MBA
• Teamwork is key to your success! Challenge eachother to excel and help eachother grow. Share your strengths and weaknesses with your team, and work together to overcome the challenges you'll face both during and after your time at Crummer. William B. '13MBA
• Be vulnerable to your teammates and make sure they know your areas of weakness and when you are having difficulty. If you don't tell them, they can't support you. It is hard but good teammates make it easier when times get tough (and they will absolutely get tough). Candie C. '13MBA
• Give your best on every challenge. never quit. Accept that it is hard to live in three dimensions —work, Crummer and personal life; therefore, you need your family and personal understanding that help is needed to fill any void, so you can be at your best during this profesional and educational growth, you all will be better off at the end. Have fun during the journey. Build everlasting friendships. Monica R. '10MBA
• The long hours, countless presentations, quizzes, papers, frustration, possible tears, incredible memories, laughter, and smiles are all worth it. Jessica M. '19MBA
• Plan, plan, plan your time — for career, for school, for personal life. Be yourself and remember that you have as much to contribute as your peers and don’t hold back! Debbie M. '18MBA
• It will be over before you know it so make the absolute best of the experience. - Priscila K. '18MBA
•  It goes by so quickly, it is all a blur. Don't take any learning opportunity for granted because you never know where your career will take you. Invest in the network. Many Crummer grads stay in the Orlando area. Being connected to the alumni network whether you stay or leave the area can be transformative in the future and greatly extend the value of your Crummer experience. Joshua S. '10MBA

Michael Kazazis, an executive with experience in technology, finance, and operations, was co-founder of Censeo Corporation, a leading provider of assessment technologies / consulting services in the HR marketplace. In October 2011, he successfully negotiated the sale of the firm to Mercer where it has now become Talent Assessment Solutions. In 2011, Michael was named CFO of the Year by the Orlando Business Journal. He has an MBA from Rollins College and now is Director of Business Development and Partner Relations for the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College.