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Many thanks to @gavinbaker for this article. While the article focuses on business execs versus technical execs, the strategies can be used in a variety of situations where one is leading cross-functional teams. WOW! That about sums up the first week. I’ll write more about the experience in a few days, but here is a quick rundown of this week’s activities. Orientation First I&E project assigned Statistics IT setup Communications introduction IT skills assessment More Stats Funky team building activities (frustrating, but really fun) and Negotiation simulation (So far it is pretty fun, but it’s not over yet. A full update early next week). Gotta get some sleep so we can get down to bargaining tomorrow.
Four hundred ninety-five days. That is how long I have to go through the transformative process that is the University of Tennessee full-time MBA program. If day one is any indication, this is going to be a roller coaster of a ride. Orientation was jammed packed with information and filled with opportunities to meet new classmates, network with alumni, and begin building relationships with faculty. Among all of the information and advice given today, one thing stands out in my mind as vital to success in this program. Get involved and be focused. Develop a long-term vision for your life and take advantage of all of the opportunities that will be available through this program to realize your vision. Everyone in this class has been given the gift of 495 days to regroup, retool, and relaunch our careers. We have the benefit of a state of the art facility, a successful and involved alumni network, and an intelligent and talented group of classmates. Most importantly, we have a team of dedicated faculty staff at our disposal whose sole purpose is to help us refine and achieve our goals. So, here it is, one day down. I have to ask myself, “What will I make of the remaining 494 days?” Stay tuned and we will find out together. Our first real assignment is to read “The World is Flat” in preparation for a faculty led discussion during orientation. It is an incredibly eye-opening read that has influenced how I analyze new opportunities. I first read it six months ago, and re-read some key chapters this afternoon. This evening, I spent a couple hours refining my views concerning the book, in preparation for the discussion. Then something dawned on me, it’s Saturday night. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m older now or that my expectations for graduate school are higher, but this Saturday night is exactly the opposite of the weekend before classes my freshman year of undergrad. In 1993, I was a 17 year old kid making the rounds of all the cool parties trying, but mostly failing, to impress some girl. I hadn’t thought about buying my books, let alone reading them. Fast forward 15 years. As I drove past campus last night, I couldn’t help chuckling at the “kids” blasting their music out of apartment windows as they attempt to engage in immature mating rituals; just as I did. Is this sad or amusing? Either way, I just hope I don’t turn into Ralph Furley. If you know who that is, you’re old enough to understand where I’m coming from. If you don’t, then be kind to me; didn’t your mom teach you to respect your elders. It is so great to have classmates who take the initiative to make good things happen. Brianne, along with some others, organized a get together at Bailey’s Sports Bar & Grill for all the incoming full-time and ProMBA. This was a perfect opportunity to get to know each other before orientation on Monday. The turn-out was great and everyone seemed to have a great time. I can’t emphasize enough how impressed I am with our incoming class. Everyone has an interesting story and will certainly add tremendous value to the program. More importantly, though, I look forward to developing great friendships with everyone. As a side note, Vijay has promised to bring his video camera to orientation so that we can begin documenting our experience throughout the program. Some multimedia content will help liven up this account of our first year experience. |
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