Bluey Road To MBA - INSEAD

P2

2008-03-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

We received our P1 examination results today. Attached to our original examination answer booklets, INSEAD provides a summary of how we fare against the rest of the classes taught by the same professor for each module, ie, our Z-score in a normal distribution against the mean Z-score of 2.50.

Most celebrate to have survived the challenge of P1, only to be reminded by our professors that P2 examination is only 1 -month away...
Experience from P1 seems to suggest that, while some will attempt through all creative methods to persuade the rest not to study, thus creating an ideal 'Nash Equilibrium' that could benefit everybody, the actual defect rate was expectedly high.
As much as a Prisoners' Dilemma is undesirable, in practise, would be commonly found in the real world.

P2 is so far a period of enjoyable learning, albeit being a tough period. Having gone through the initial adjustment period, INSEAD obviously wants to push our learning curve steeper again to justify our reputation of an intensive and top 1-year programme. Aptly commented by a Process & Management Operation professor, the intensity of assignment deadlines and complexity of cases would force us towards full capacity (bottleneck), ideally propelling us towards better teamwork, since it would be virtually impossible for a 'normal' individual to accomplish all tasks without external sharing of workload and internal re-distribution of scarce (time) resource.

In our learning here, collaborating is always preached as a better way than screwing up others in handling many situations. It is then up to us to digest and hopefully apply in our lives after INSEAD.

Anyhow, most begin to enjoy the classes more, and look forward to electives in P3.
Most modules appear synchronized in content to train us a better business intuition to handle complicated scenarios. The qualitative + quantitative trainings make what we learn in classes look a lot more applicable in real world. No longer were the days when everything seem to be a mysterious matrix of figures.

the science of the relationship 'ice-berg'

2008-02-26T09:54:00.001-08:00

The most interesting class of this Period is probably the Leading People & Group, ie. Organization Behaviour a.k.a. Group and Individual Psychology.

The subjects brought above the surface and discussed would likely benefit many of us many years post-MBA (with some optimism).

Isn't life more than just having a successful career? with all the hype about 'work-life balance' nowadays?

Group dynamic is agreeably a hell more intensive than observed at our previous work place, due to the facts that at INSEAD:
- there is no clear hierachy and thus assigned authority among participants
- everyone have paid/are paying a high price, in addition to monetary cost, to spend a year here. Previous comfort zone is given up and probably has diminished, opportunities forgone, relationships sacrificed.(the list continues)
- we have different expectations and priorities
- we behave in unconscious manner influenced by our (many many) different backgroup, experience, culture, belief, religion ...
- dealing with often egoistic, occassionally overconfident or self-centred MBAs on a daily /hourly basis
- average number of work experience is higher than most other top MBAs. It's a double edged sword. Some get insistent of their viewpoints backed by previous rich experience while some bring in a more matured perspective

Most top MBA school imposes an allocated study group system that requires the group to 'stick' together for some months. Love it or hate it. According to sources, the INSEAD culture is relatively more 'collaborative' and 'friendly' than our counterparts who view one another strictly as career competitors at Wall Street.
(Of course, we will have to compete. Just that, everything is in relative terms)

1 Period will be over in a week's time. It's way too early to judge if this MBA process will be the most enjoyable/memorable/beneficial period of our lives, in the way always testified at a graduation speech.

One thing for sure : everything fly pass like a falling shooting star here.

To all MBA prospective students:
- be realistic of what to expect. best of luck !

Values

2008-02-20T15:02:00.000-08:00

Financial Market & Valuation projects have been a good generator of LPG assignment raw materials. The subjectivity of the explicit and/or implicit impact of the variable inputs on the final valuation creates the perfect setting for hours of 'intellectual' debates and sometimes, senseless display of the power of persuasion.

The sense and sensibility of persuasion is absolutely in play, even though the end-product is so 'mathematical'.

Among the groups, holding constant the factor of previous professional experience in financial valuation, there are those who apparently fight with one another for every single possible reason, and quote every possible 'supportive evidence' from lecture notes and textbooks and/or his/her more 'valuable' work experience in attempts to justify his/her academic argument. Meanwhile some are happy to devote time to more 'productive' activities, which definitions are subjected to the respective objectives of spending $$ and time at INSEAD.

By the way, it's never strange to find a wide range of valuation result for the same case, and different approaches adopted by the professor and by students who have financial valuation work experience.

It must be a coincidence.

During one of the consulting firm presentations this week, (which, coincidentally, the academically focused people have no time to bother about), a director suggests that conventional valuation theories and practices, particularly in the derivation of Beta and Discount Rate, are increasingly inadequate in assessing the real business risks nowadays. Business sustainability, in its own complexity, demands much more sophisticated analysis which does not involve simply quantitative financial datas, but a deeper understanding of the interacting forces in business.

Some of us can't help but wonder, if one is so caught up by every tiny detail in a case, why doesn't he/she enrols into a Master/PhD of Finance instead?

I.N.S.E.A.D. towards the end of P1

2008-02-18T14:24:00.000-08:00

I.N.S.E.A.D - I Never Sleep Enough After December (2007...)
because ... I Never Stop Eating And Drinking ?? :p
(if you are an INSEAD December class)

It's crazy how 2 months fly pass and the first term examination is approaching !!
(and Euro 10,000 tuition fee is now Realised Cost... oh how we really splurge !)

The wiser seniors claim that P1 is the most 'academically stressful' are probably right. Now the real hangover effects of partying, travelling and socialising really produce headaches. We never meant it this way, but when at Fontainebleau the only competitively priced product is alcohol, and there is hardly any public enterntainment facility, you can hardly blame us for attending one party after another...
(No...I am just joking...)

The truths are:

So much readings undone and so little time is left... The academic stress
P3 students who started their year at the Singapore campus always claim that INSEADers at Fontainebleau campus study much harder...the library at Singapore campus rarely hosts any diligent bookworm after 10pm, while the Fontainebleau library is opened 24-hour to accommodate an inelastic demand... wisdom from the senior promotion suggests that such painful situation will gradually improve as we learn to prioritize/multi-task/be less bothered by GPA, and particularly if we get to immerse in the Singapore campus culture for some months. we shall see.

Within the first 2 weeks many banker-aspirants found themselves pulled into the tornado of finance summer internship programme information sessions and company applications. Those genuinely motivated and armed with relevant experience naturally have the necessary bullets admist this financial crisis. Stress mounts as the illusion of having a luxury to first explore then decide bursts in the face of tougher selection by the banks. Luckier are those company-sponsored free souls and those un-seduced by the finance sector.

Networking is generally less efficient when we have >300 names and faces to remember. It adds to the challenge when we have names and accents from >70 nationalities. Study group is either a blessing or a curse. Most of us have little clue of how to complete the 2000-3000 word LPG (a.k.a. analyse your study group's characters, dynamic and functionality) essay due next week. To write 500-625 words about each group member is a great deal of over-diagnosis and description.

P1 is such a roller-coaster... it is so over-whelming and yet so sweet that I start to be nolstagic.

First 2 weeks @ INSEAD

2008-01-17T12:55:00.000-08:00

Many feels that 2 weeks here felt as if a term has passed. The extent of 'shake-ups' experienced differ for individuals, but probably few will be discount the impact of introspection created by the various debates on leadership, ethics and corporate social responsibility of business decision-making 'game' players, whom we obviously aspire to become by coming to INSEAD MBA, and the after-effect internalised through the orientation Outward Bound activities.

Some MBA applicants and newly admitted students may question what is the real value of INSEAD experience, in comparison to the many others which 'brand name' may be more prominent outside the MBA world, but sometimes mainly contributed by their other star faculties other than MBA, or by more pro-active marketing. After just 2 weeks here, I dare to say the learning and reflection only possible in our truly diverse environment is the most valuable (but perhaps under-valued) distinction for INSEAD.

One grows the most when placed in a challenging position outside the comfort zone.

While the transition could be tiring, I believe my school fee and opportunity cost will proved to be well invested.

Freecycle

2008-01-06T11:12:00.000-08:00

Great way if you like to contribute to this dying earth or pick up something 2nd for free

http://www.freecycle.org/

The long-anticipated beginning

2008-01-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

yes ! school will start officially tomorrow

Most of us here live at a house with many housemates. It promotes interactions and probably provides a great setting for house parties for which Fontainebleau campus is well reputated. So far, everyone (well..almost..) look courteous and approachable, as always at most first few social meetings.

The schedule for the orientation week seems manageable, and for most of us, the only concern is about going for Outward Bound team-building activity here in winter ! Temperature can drop to sub-zero sometimes and it would be fun to break the ice among us.

INSEAD class is divided into sessions of 75 students, and into allocated study groups of 5-6 students. With the release of the list recently, everyone is eager to 'learn more about the group mates' with whom we must stick together for the next 4 months for all core modules.

Good Luck !!

INSEAD P0

2007-12-07T21:27:00.000-08:00

I'm really in P0 of INSEAD now.

The amount of preparation work, administration work, current job handover is crazy. I will be glad enough if I could have 7-hour sleep a day.

A tragedy ...

2007-11-04T01:45:00.000-07:00

I can't believe another tragedy happened again... It's a great loss to the INSEAD community...

link http://wimdebruyne.blogspot.com/2007/10/very-sad-news.html )

My deepest condolences to their family and loves ones... May the Lord be with them...

When one of the students passed away earlier this year, I remember how saddened his classmates were ... A few of his friends initiated a scholarship in memory of him, and I was deeply moved by such meaningful act. Am sure his classmates will always remember them in their special ways...

For My Sweet Dreams

2007-11-04T01:31:00.001-07:00

For my sweet dreams...if I could have...since the experienced wise ones always warn that time will be the rarest commodity at INSEAD :p

Housing search is another 'fun' process. How I envy those who has no budget concern :p

Fonty offers many beautiful chateaus and well furnished rooms to rent. For a city turtle like yours sincerely here, a spacious accommodation in proximity to the nature, not to the typical crowded places filled with air and noise pollution, seems so surreal.

Have contacted my French landlord using my very limited French, with English subtitle. Hope to receive a good news soon :)

Financing a VERY expensive investment

2007-11-04T00:50:00.000-07:00

They like to assure you that financing should be the last consideration when you plan to study at an ivy-league MBA
Everything will be resolved, so they claim.
(p/s. you most probably can't borrow to finance living expenses from a Asian bank)

Well, I manage to kinda solve mine... after much pulling of hair (mine..)and frustrations due to earlier miscommunication and misinformation ...
In the process, I have probably self-taught a mini-module on financing for a business venture with minimal capital :p, the importance of positive relationships and network (because the banks need co-applicants), and financial analysis of leveraging options (a.k.a loans...)

It is extremely important to obtain from the bankers ALL relevant information. Keep asking if there is anything they have yet disclosed, because from my experience, they somehow reveal gradually the terms and conditions, charges $$$ etc, perhaps so not to scare us poor students away?

Eg,
- Different processing fee may be applied for different number of co-applicant. The difference for the bank to just 'process' the loan can amount to over $1000.
- If you need a buffer for the loan amount approved to prepare for an unexpected drastic forex movement, what's the cost?
I was offered to pay an additional $400 admin. fee for such service. The cost is upfront and not refundable even if I don't eventually utilize that extra amount. Did some calculations and figured that it won't unnecessary for my case since my tuition fee instalments are all due within the next 5.5 months.
I applied a simple analysis of option pricing (in theory).

a) the buffer my approved loan amount already gives.
b) the maximum threshold for the exchange rate to rise beyond what my loan amount can absorb.
c) the estimated risk of such drastic forex movement between now and the last instalment.
d) estimated extra cost to be paid in cash. I used 2-3 rates to calculate my cost.
e) compare (d) with the option fee charged by the bank.
f) take into consideration of cashflow needs

Perhaps the following considerations would also be useful as you explore your options.

- If the bank requires the co-applicant (ie. guarantor who is required to disclose their income and liability) to be a family member, holds a residency status, is below a certain age, has a good income etc.
- If the bank allows your guarantor to have access to the loan account. May need to compromise on your privacy.
- Any penalty on refinancing or early redemption of loan

And, I recommend any loan owner to get insurance. It provides the co-applicant, who kindly agree to risk their asset and creditability with the bank, a better peace of mind.

busy busy bee

2007-10-22T01:07:00.001-07:00

Have been occupied by all the preparation work prior to departure to France.
To be a R3 admit means I have few weeks to arrange for financing before the deposit deadline, ie. bank loans, personal loan, lottery (in my dream...), and to arrange for housing at Fonty etc.

will write more on financing later.

by the way, a small observation. From INSEAD's student portal, we are able to view the profile of each future classmate and their choice of campus to start the programme. There seems to be a trend for European to prefer the Singapore campus and for Asian to choose the France campus.

I presume the reasons are:
- to convince the Adcom of our 'internationalism', an important aspect highly valued by INSEAD's diverse community, and our enthusiasm to adventure into the less familiar zone, we strategically opt for the campus at the other continent from where we currently base :)
- the grass opposite is always greener. Or, after too many years of living in a familiar culture, we see more of the imperfections of an area, and tend to fantasize about the others, like in a relationship.

The choice of campus will be determined by our targeted geographical location for future career.
After the first 2 terms (INSEAD requires us to spend at least 2 periods at the campus where we start), what would be our preferences? to be observed.. :)

INSEAD - Admitted !

2007-10-11T00:27:00.000-07:00

I was on my mp3 when my phone rang at 5:30pm (France time 11:30am). On the screen it showed an overseas number +33...it was from France !

On behalf of the Admissions Committee, it is my great pleasure to offer you a place in the INSEAD MBA Class of December 2008, starting in Fontainebleau on January 7th. Congratulations and welcome to the worldwide INSEAD community.

It's 2 days earlier than expected ! I'm not sure if all B-school adcom calls to personally congratulate the admitted applicant, but I am certainly moved and thrilled to receive the call from France !

At last, I feel so settled and relieved. It's great to receive the news earlier, if not a few hundred dollars of other schools' application fee will fly away without a purpose :p

I have around 2 months to arrange for financing (ie. bank loan), VISA, housing, driving lesson, pre-MBA reading, relocation, gathering with friends etc etc etc
Probably won't need to attend the optional 'Business Foundation' course. Attended a lecture on Financial Market & Valuation before, and found it manageable. To be confirmed after more research.
The only thing I can confirm is the date of my flight to Paris, which I have been dreaming about for months :p
And if time permits, would like to travel to Italy before school term starts. Hmm...how should I spend my Christmas and New Year Count-down? :)

stretching to reach the finishing line

2007-10-01T23:36:00.000-07:00

I'm so grateful to my friends who have been listening to my never-ending MBA -related stories all these while...

It's the way of my species to release emotions and distress :) without us, telecommunication business' profit will suffer, pubs and cafes would not flourish as well ...

I'm so thankful that I met this nice friend at one of the information sessions. we have been encouraging each other, keeping ourselves sane admist this application craze, and of course complaining about those essay topics that could paralyse some of us within 5 seconds of reading it...it does take someone who has gone through / is going through the same stamina-testing process to comprehend the stress, pain and joy...

(do you really have NO such moment of feeling some blood gushing out from your chest??? come on...)

Best wishes ! For it is worthwhile !

The Clock Is Ticking

2007-10-01T23:10:00.001-07:00

it's really weird. I have not been able to access Tuck's admission webpage since last week. Tried to use yahoo and google to link to the webpage too, but it did not work. Have emailed Tuck for help last week but have yet received any reply.

will learn INSEAD's admission decision next friday. I'm getting more and more restless. The decision will be so important, as I desperately need to have an idea of where and how my life will be for the next few years, and to work on a new trajectory instead of waiting for the news. Every decision is made with a consideration of a pivotal change in the very near future.

all other school application deadlines are so near now, yet I find myself inefficient in getting all essays well done. there are 1001 tasks to be completed, and to be prioritized.

I wish I have more time to efficiently complete all tasks, yet can't wait for the important day to come !

speechless...

2007-09-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

Incident 1:

Met a neighbor. Her first greeting to me, a stranger, was ‘ Are you from China or --- (my present residential country)’
‘None of the above. I’m from ----’ My reply.
‘Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m just friendly. You know, there are people of many different nationalities here now. Maybe you should travel overseas more to learn this… blah blah blah (continue for about 5 minutes….)’

Incident 2:

Our French teacher shared that in history, New Orlene was sold by Napoleon to USA for a sum of money and feels that it is a pity (jokingly).
Immediately we had a protest from our super patriotic American, ‘ Don’t ever talk bad about American ! blah blah blah...’.
But… He was talking about Napoleon !!
And this beautiful lady whose rich husband is a French, would never degrade herself by associating with fellow classmates even of the same ethnic as hers.

Incident 3:

We had the pleasure of an economist to teach basic economics to my fellow colleagues who lacked such background training.
A casual remark blurted out from this economist, ‘It’s simply an inescapable trend. The employment of -------people is so cheap and good,’
Room of laughter. The new associate from the country mentioned, a recently graduated scholar, kept silent.
Interestingly, all of our forefathers, who in fact immigrated from the same mentioned country just 2-3 generations ago, were also ‘cheap and good labors’ in the eyes of the British.

Hopefully I will get much less of such experience in my future MBA community.

Services

2007-09-25T23:04:00.000-07:00

The service at Dome Café at Alliance Francaise is impressive.

Example 1:

I arrived earlier than usual to revise for my first French test. The café was not ready for business yet but the kind waiter let me order a cappuccino anyway. My hot cappuccino was served ten minutes later, on the house ! The waiter even apologized for making me wait even though I was the one troubling him…I insisted on paying but eventually accepted his generosity.

Normal practice in this city:

Will be told to return later by a staff because the official business hour has yet to begin. Attitude of the staff varies at different places.

Example 2:

The filling of the chicken pie was cold obviously because of insufficient heating-up. The waiter took back the partially eaten pie, and served me a new one with additional salad.

Normal practice in this city:

Waiter may apologize, sincerely or not. Serve the re-heated chicken pie later.

My classmates, who come from different parts of the world, often lament the service standard here. There is room for improvement for sure. Here’s my attempt, after some mid-night chit-chatting and discussions with my night-owl friends, to explain such general situation in the country. Of course, it is possible to find great services here, but they usually demand a higher outflow of thy purse.

Perhaps this little illustration of a local phenomenon will help.

Long queues are generally perceived as a direct result of a demand for highly appealing product or service with limited supply. Thus, to avoid disappointment, some people develop the instinct to join the queue whenever there is one, or follow the majority to test the truth. It’s a common scene even at the key commercial district, where people typically have only an hour to grab lunch at those super-crowded eateries.

Yours truly here, sometimes unable to suppress curiosity, will ask those people in the queue if they know the prize for their suffering. Voila ! many of them have no idea at all. It’s akin to Forrest Gum’s box of chocolate, you never know what surprise awaits you! It might be a bottle of mineral water so promptly quenches one’s thirst after 45 minutes of queuing. Sometimes, it is a complimentary bottle of travel size shampoo, for one to look forward to the next trip.
Perhaps hours of queuing under the scorching tropical sun and in such high humidity is a great way to train one’s patience, and can produce similar effects of practicing calligraphy to calm one’s senses.

Imagine some of the service industry practices are brought here. Free food if you are not satisfied. Total refund, no question asked, within 30 days of purchase if you are unhappy with your purchase, never mind if it has been used once or twice. Complimentary free item if the service is not unsatisfactory.

In the name of exercising the right to receive great services, consumers can do many things… I can imagine queues and queues of people…

INSEAD Interview

2007-09-18T00:28:00.001-07:00

Have completed the interview requirement. It's now back to the waiting game, and I should duely refocus back to my preparation work for other B-Schools, my work and French lessons.

Realize that I may need to force myself to do something I really drag to - driving. It has not been abolutely necessary but it may well be for survivalship in the near future. I need to tune my mind to believe that it can be enjoyable from now on... believe ...believe...

:)

Columbia Information Session

2007-09-18T00:21:00.000-07:00

Attended the information session sponsored by Citigroup, which representatives also used the opportunity to briefly introduce their Management Associate (ie, management trainee)programme.

The alumni spoke a lot more enthusiastically about the school. Whether the alumni feel strongly about the benefits they have derived from the MBA programme, during and after the 2-year course, is an important consideration. It helps that the admission office representative gave useful information otherwise not available online too.

Art of Capturing Attention

2007-09-11T00:04:00.000-07:00

The Q&A session is always most informative if not entertaining.

When hundreds of competitors gather at a seminar or presentation, the challenge is to create an impression to the key decision makers, whose opinion, no matter how subjective they are, could influence our prospects for the next few years.

The problem is, how to make a smart impression by asking the right and intelligent question, instead of appearing foolish/immature/arrogant (due to ignorance) by asking those 'oh-goodness-could-you-please-do-you-due-research-and-exercise-your-common-sense' questions, maybe sometimes for the sake of voicing yourself?

As witnessed at those seminars when speakers are renowned national and corporate leaders, so as at sessions held by ad-coms.

Of course, at the other end, there is a proposition that simply by voicing yourself and making your presence felt, a person would have marketed himself/herself better than a quieter thinker, and hence can obtain more opportunities and thereby achieve more success.

It's a sophisticated art to be further polished at MBA school.

Chicago Business School Information Session

2007-09-10T23:43:00.000-07:00

Attended Chicago Business School's information session.

The core content included mainly typical ivy-league B-School marketing speech. After months of researching on MBA schools, I do not find the first 1 h 30 minute of presentation particularly informative. The sharing by alumni, 5 out of 6 of them are here for short-term company training and are based in other key financial centres, provide certainly more insights since they are the ones having real personal experiences as students as well as alumni.

Some of my takeaways from the session.

- Be prepared to be always intellectually challenged, sometimes aggressively, during class discussions and lectures.
- Offers very flexible programme, with 11 concentrations and various courses offered by other Chicago schools to choose from.
- 50% case studies, inclusive of some case studies written by Harvard; 50% lectures and other traditional teaching methods to provide a strong foundation of business fundamentals.
- Chicago is one of the best business idea think-tank as evidenced by the many prestigious awards received by their faculty.
- about 50% of graduates are employed in financial sector.
- Have 4 campuses - Full time MBA course : at 2 campuses in Chicago, Executive programmes : at the London and Singapore campuses.
- Chicago city offers a wide array of fantastic activities and entertainment.

- Cost - approximately US$140,000- $150,000 for an average lifestyle.
- USA work visa issue - will be a valid concern for international student

MBA Information Session in Asia

2007-09-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

MBA Schools are coming to Asia :)

Check out these few schools which will be hosting information sessions in Asia in the coming weeks.
** The list is not exhaustive.

I have also included the specific dates for sessions in Singapore.

Chicago MBA - 10 September 2007
Columbia - 14 September 2007
Cranfield, UK - 18 September
Stanford - 02 October 2007
London Business School - 13 October 2007

Cheerios !

INSEAD Interview- still waiting

2007-09-07T22:40:00.000-07:00

2 weeks after the interview invitation, I am still waiting for INSEAD AdCom to provide me the contact(s) of my interviewer(s). The AdCom has been very helpful and efficient in answering my queries, but seems to have some difficulty to find an available alumni who has knowledge of my current and post-MBA industry.

I presume this is due to the common long working hour for people in these two industries, especially for the alumni who hold important positions, and for working in this workaholic country. :p A recent global survey revealed that we actually clock longer working hour than those working in HongKong.... we are overtaking them ! Should we be glad for this ?

While I am eager to complete the interviews, it might be a blessing that I have more time to prepare for it/them. Having not done any formal interview in the past 4 years, I really need to practise on my interview skills and to consciously practise speaking proper and formal English (:p), which is hardly required on a daily basis here...

By the way, I have noticed a stereotype of Asian student in the MBA world... it seems that Asian student is typically perceived as excessively diligent and determined to achieve academic excellence =p. Almost every MBA student/alumni I have spoken to have advised me to enjoy the fun of socialising (ie, partying :p) and travelling, and not to spend too much time mugging at the cold cold library... oppss....

Significance of Time

2007-09-03T04:12:00.000-07:00

One and a half month to have my destiny in the next 1 year unveiled. Year end has a totally different meaning and gives a different type of stress to me now. Counting down :)

1-2 weeks to INSEAD interviews. The school has yet to notify me the interviews' contacts. It could be a blessing in disguise that the adminstrator mixed up my present location so I could have probably a few days more to prepare for THE interviews. I have not done any formal job interview for the past few years and thus it will be important to practise more :) Did a mock interview with a current INSEAD student over last weekend. Got some useful pointers, but still have to prepare more for the actual ones. He gave a positive feedback, but he could be just kind to me.

4 more days to my first French mini test. Most of my classmates have some background knowledge in French prior to the class, either from their spouses/friends or from their living experience in French-speaking places, and for me it has been akin to trying to catch up with the Mercedes car speed with a small humble Japanese car. =P

News broken

2007-09-03T03:59:00.000-07:00

Have broken the news to a few closer friends and colleagues about my MBA plan, which hopefully will start in January'07. Generally the response from my friends have been supportive and heartwarming, while the response from some colleagues, as expected judging from previous cases of anyone who chose to leave this organization, have been rather skeptical of my decision to study an internationally recognized MBA, to switch to another career and to relocate to a culturally different continent. The process of explaining, if I should bother to sometimes, brings more frustration and being the lazy person as I am, I really prefer to just smile and leave it.

At the end of the day, it only matters that my close friends and family understand my decisions. :)

Interview and Francais

2007-08-29T22:12:00.000-07:00

I was restless since the moment I woke up last Friday. Or rather, the anticipation of a life-changing news got me tenser for the entire last week. God must be kind to let me have a minor wisdom tooth surgery last week to give me a valid excuse not to work :p

I told myself not to check the email every hour. As morning in France started, my heart pumped faster. Fortunately a friend who knew all I have been going through was back in the country and we decided impromptu to watch Ratatouille. Wise choice. I was entertained and dreamed about flying to France to attend INSEAD.

Reached home after the movie and checked the email. My heart almost jumped out when I saw the email title ‘ INSEAD Confidential Selection Process’,

“You have been pre-selected for interviews.”

YEAH !! One step forward to INSEAD !!

Went to register for intensive French class @ Alliance Francaise on Saturday morning, and was probably one of the last few students to enroll into the class which has a maximum size of 16. Thank God ! Though it seemed the administration lady and the registration person gave me different information on the language proficiency level I would be able to achieve at the end of 2 terms, it will contribute towards my MBA and career eventually.

Something extra I have learned though the process. French is actually more commonly used than what I had thought previously, by people in Canada, Switzerland, North America, Africa etc.

Need to refresh my memory of INSEAD application essays, be more familiar with the school’s program and practice some common interview questions and skills before the real test comes. The school will inform me of the interviewers’ contact later. INSEAD allows R3 applicants selected for interview to start applying for financial aids, which application deadline will be in mid-September.

There will be more MBA information sessions and alumni gatherings coming in September. Essay writing for other school applications has to be put aside temporarily.

As such, my days now are occupied by Interview preparation, Other B-School applications, French class, and my work – in order of priority now.

Law of Attraction

2007-08-16T21:11:00.001-07:00

Bought a much-discussed book 'The Secret'. Have yet finished reading, at first glimpse the 'secret' is not exactly a new idea, but I am trying to apply the Law of Attraction now. Keep thinking of what I want and the mysterious forces will attract more related forces to my life. Or perhaps, by focusing on something in my mind, I simply become more alert to all related information and contacts, and friends will notice my concern and hence share more related information too.

By next Friday, my fate with INSEAD would be revealed.

http://www.thesecret.tv/home.html

I contemplated to take CFA level one examination to improve on my financial knowledge but later figured that I couldn't afford the time. Incidentally, a friend of mine had finished the examination recently and now finds all level 1 textbooks redundant. In the good spirit of being environmentally friendly, I happily adopted those above 5-kg heavy books and hope will disciplinely digest these 'mind-stimulating' materials before MBA starts.

Typically, I enjoy getting my future as clearly planned for as possible. Should all things run smoothly, I want to fulfill INSEAD's 3rd language requirement before school starts. Am researching on available recognized courses in the country. The date of the assessment test, which apparently is only available semi-annually, however might clash with a company trip I kind of look forward to. Just another conflict between my MBA dream and my current job. The winner is obvious isn't it ?

Interestingly, I have been reading here and there information on France. Someone called earlier, and without any clue of my INSEAD application, jokingly asked if I am in Paris now. Is it a positive sign ? :p

Best wishes to me as I wait for the important news !

The Green Truth...

2007-08-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

It must be misleading... It wasn’t intentional, please pardon me. The truth is, Harvard is not in my top 3 targeted school list, and I’m not 100% sure if I will apply. I simply happen to hear a few related stories recently. Perhaps, my mistake must be to forget to upload a draft written in July. Here it is.

I have submitted application for INSEAD January 2008 intake.

Since early this year, I have decided to take on the MBA challenge. Most schools only have a September intake and that makes applying in October (Round 1) a natural strategy. Each top school has its strengths and weaknesses, ie diversity, location, teaching strengths, reputation in my targeted post-MBA industry, availability of financial aids, student community culture, strength of alumni network etc. To zoom down to a few top choices is the first challenge.

It’s fair to comment that without the information session and interactions with current students, I would not have applied for the January intake, which means to automatically say goodbye to my chances with other excellent B-schools. It almost parallels the Registration of Marriage vow that demands a commitment of ‘never to consider other potentials’.

INSEAD has always been in my top 3 choices. For some reasons, I always love Europe more and dream to work in London, despite feedbacks that Americans are friendlier and more open-minded towards Asians. My preference for Europe is built on previous pleasant stays and it must be biased, since I have never visited USA and have only met American travelers. I will love to experience USA of course. Any offer of free air-ticket and accommodation?

The pivotal experience was a private information session with five INSEAD students who enthusiastically shared their analysis of why INSEAD and why not other MBA schools. Among others, INSEAD is famed for the cohesiveness of its school community and alumni network. For establishing of an international career and relocating to a foreign land, to have a supportive alumni network and strong friendships built during MBA must be beneficial. Of course, most students will admit their views are biased, having invested a large amount of money and time in a life-changing MBA program, and going to live with pride as the school’s MBA alumni in future. Nevertheless, their honest sharing put me into better perspectives to derive my own decision. Having done my school research and application outline and asked my recommenders to write references earlier, it was tough but possible to meet INSEAD’s July deadline.

After having done my part, the rest is up to God. Praying hard now. Since I will only confirm my INSEAD application status by mid-October, I will still be working hard on other MBA application essays now and get happily distracted by all the MBA information sessions coming to town. =)

Harvard B-School Admission Tip ??

2007-08-10T03:53:00.000-07:00

Two more stories of recent Harvard admits from my residential country.

2 is a small number for applicant pools from USA / UK / other Europrean countries, but 2 is a big representation for this country with a tiny population size and located thousands-of-miles away from USA. Thus, can I infer from their stories the trick to HBS?

Case Study 1:

Engineering graduate chose to be a full time singer @ a local pub. After a few years, the divine power showed him the Harvard path. He applied, and got admitted.

Case Study 2:

A degree holder chose to showcase his talents by busking full time. Got inspired to get a MBA and applied for Harvard. Admitted.

Moral of the story ??

If you acquire early the wisdom of the value of an ivy-league MBA, or aspire to be part of Harvard Business School:
- start planning your life early so you could write a story of pursuing a passion deemed unpopular by the society's conventional wisdom/ voluntaring work at a developing country / setting up a business / travelling (backpacking is preferred) extensively to different less-adventured corners of the world / accomplishing great things for the well-being of humanity/ leading a team to conquer the Mount Everest / etc etc etc

If you are the aspired parent-of-a-HBS-graduate:
- start an endowment fund early so that your child can afford to pursue his/her dream without worries of university study loan repayment, high living cost in a city and financial commitment to family.

They often say every applicant has an unique story. I'm glad that my story is not totally boring. However, never have I wished more than now that I had accomplished more extraordinary achievements. :p

GMAT

2007-08-08T01:58:00.000-07:00

Weeks of revising mathematical concepts and English grammar, days of sacrificing all unnecessary social activities, hours of stress and worries…

The GMAT is at last done ! Though not exactly in the way I had wished for…

I chatted with some other candidates, felt reasonably relaxed and ready for the test. Everything appeared normal. Till I started the test.

From the very first minute, if not second, the cold test room was filled by constant annoying loud noises of coughing and sneezing. I had my ear plucks but still could almost sense the vibration of the sound waves. I had no choice. The noise producer was sitting right next to me.

I couldn’t concentrate well. The algebras and inequalities did not look easily comprehensible and approachable to me… It felt as if all the nights of fighting against these mathematical puzzles had become useless. According to GMAT Strategy number 101 : the first 15 questions are crucial in determining the score. From the 15th question onwards, the questions thrown at me did not appear like those testing the limits of 95th percentile scorers. It was tempting to cancel today’s test score, but the idea of having to incur the cost again and having to wait for another month was even more irritating.

After understanding my concerns, the GMAT centre administrator was kind enough to offer me the option of a free retake next month. They suggested that at the end of the test, I could either get the test score, satisfactory or not, to be submitted to the five schools, or click the ‘Cancel’ button to erase all earlier efforts. The poor sick candidate apologized and promised to control his noises. The GMAT administrator handled me a big headphone in addition to the ear plucks. I decided to proceed to take on the Verbal challenge.

The ten minute optional break was over. My neighbour substantially reduced his noise, but a nearby construction site started producing their noises. Very interesting, I thought. Fotunately, perhaps in a way I had better adapted to the noise pollution, I managed to focus better and complete the 41 questions in time.

It was time. The moment of truth unraveled. Surprisingly it was not as disastrous as what I had imagined. I did well in the verbal session to compensate for my underperformance in the quantitative session.

My GMAT score – 720. Not a fantastic score, but an acceptable one.

I am unsure how this imbalance between Verbal and Quantitative scores will affect my application, and if I should explain for this in the optional essay.

And, should I bother to retake the test or simply move on to the more challenging essay writings?

MBA tour

2007-08-08T01:55:00.000-07:00

To Fly to Attend MBA tour or Not ?

My country of residence is not a favorite place for every ivy-league MBA school to hold their information sessions /admission receptions. And MBA tours and many MBA events are scheduled to visit here only in late October / November, meaning they are likely to benefit those who will apply in R2 or later.

Can’t blame them. If the overhead and effort involved in each MBA tour participation or information session planning are relatively similar, a school’s yield will be much higher if the event can reach out to a larger population.

This translates to if I need to attend a MBA tour / a few MBA information sessions in August/ September, well before the R1 October application deadlines, I need to
- travel by air to a neighboring country
- Spend probably 1-2 weeks in another country since the different MBA events are scheduled to be some days apart.

The $2000- question is therefore whether I could score points with the admission committees and derive insights about the schools in a way otherwise impossible without traveling overseas solely to attend a MBA tour and related events ?

Adieu and See U !

2007-07-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

Attended a farewell party for friends who are leaving for their September MBA classes.

Enjoy getting a preview of what it would be, and hopefully soon for myself. I have the habit of imagining myself in a position much look forward to. The images fuel my motivation and negate the not-so-enjoyable process of GMAT preparation and essay writing.

I also got to meet a few current MBA students and tried to get more application and interview advice. It’s always important to have a clearer idea of what are required in a successful application and what to expect in an interview. Every opportunity will be a networking practice particularly with people of different background and nationality, as years of staying in the same country and working in a largely localized position have not been providing much training ground for this aspect, and networking is crucial for thriving on an international business career. The bonus is always to receive from current MBA students a positive brief assessment of my application success rate. At a stressful time like this, any boost of confidence is never too much.

The SunTze Art of War says:
To win every war, thou shalt know in depth your opponent and yourself

Side point:
The farewell party and a recent wedding dinner only further illustrate the interconnectivity of my social circles. It can get freaky sometimes… although I have displayed unintentionally tell-signs of my alternative future, I’m not interested to let my colleagues unravel the puzzle too fast.

Beat the GMAT

2007-07-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

I'm using Kaplan GMAT Prep and The Official GMAT Guide to prepare for my GMAT scheduled 3 weeks later.
Kaplan is great. It provides good analysis of the different question types and their relevant strategies.
The Official GMAT Guide simply gives lots of real GMAT questions to practise.

Manhattan Review seems to receive very good reviews but it is not available at any of the major bookstores here. Funny...

Have been attempting to wake up earlier to pratise GMAT questions. It will be helpful since the test will take place in the morning, and I'm an owl definitely more alert at night...

One advice from Kaplan to programme the right frame of mind for a great score:
- View GMAT as an exciting challenge which you eagerly want to beat ! :)

Alright... WHO invented this GMAT test ?

Little Surprises

2007-07-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

I derive some side benefits during the process of essay writing. It's nice to have surprises now and then :)

- radio songs past midnight are wonderful and soul smoothing. great way to keep myself accompanied and relaxed while my braincells sacrifice themselves in this war

- to download email via phone browser is much easier than what I imagined. the minus point: can't download any email attachment. Plus point: avoid falling into the trap of high downloading charges.

A story of a recent Harvard admit

2007-07-07T00:15:00.000-07:00

A story of a recent Harvard Business School admit :

Harvard - Admitted
INSEAD - Admitted
London Business School - Dinged
Stanford - Accepted
Columbia - Dinged
Chicago - Dinged
Kellogg - Admitted

He applied for all 7 schools at one go... just the thought of writing 7 sets of customized essay can blow my mind...
( should admire his recommenders too...)

Conclusion from him:
You could never know what the schools are really looking for.
You could never know what plan God has for you.

Application essays

2007-07-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

I’m working on my application essays.

My approach was to consolidate the points from my essay outline, as advised by the MBA essay writing books and MBA bloggers’ tips I’ve been reading, and sent out the first raw draft to 5 readers for reviews. Despite all the useful guidelines gathered, a writer under the effect of ‘MBA essay fatigue’ definitely needs some third party's opinion. I asked for honest and critical (which could be brutal) reviews of the overall content from an admission officer’s position.

I selected 5 readers to help review my drafts
- a current student who kindly offers his help and insider perspectives
- one of my recommender who recently graduated from a MBA and who is in-charged of my company’s scholarship scheme
- my best friend who is a psychologist and had previously involved in a prestigious scholarship selection committee.
- my close friend who has a similar overseas experience with me
- a recent admit who shares a similar background as me

I can’t underscore further the importance of establishing contacts with the current students. The most insightful pointers could come from the most unexpected source. The theory of diversification improves overall returns is applicable everywhere.

It’s extremely useful that each of them notice different areas for improvement and blind spots. I was unconscious of these shortcomings of my writing style without them pointing out.

- be extremely direct to the questions
- sell, market, advertise harder
- remove unnecessary personal traits
- modesty is not a virtue here
- remove passive and indirect tone
- focus on the pull factors, be forward-looking
- think big and think like a man. Afterall, it’s a business course dominated by male.

I doubt it’s enjoyable to edit essays, and am extremely grateful for having these people’s help! These are the best birthday presents I could ever have this year !

Courtship

2007-07-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

You get to know a few potentials.
Among them you focus on a few to spend time knowing them better.
First impression typically doesn’t last. Love at first sight can’t work. You only have one chance for a lifelong relationship.
Wanting to verify the claims and uncover the truth underneath a well-groomed façade, you talk to his family and friends. Their experience and opinion help paint a fuller picture.
The helpful ones even offer insightful advices.
You invested efforts to give a positive impression throughout. He’s a great catch.
It’s a mutual selection process. The guessing game can be a torment.
You wait for the targeted proposal.
And will accept it. Because you believe he is the right one to grant you the happiness you pursue.

The ‘ring’ will come in the form of a thick admission acceptance package.

My inventory

2007-07-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

As I look at the inventory of events which have impacted my development, I realize that many of them happened without a purposeful plan in the beginning. Of course, there will be achievements attained when I started with an objective and goal. However, many were just activities I participated in the name of exploration and fun. They nevertheless individually taught me useful lessons along the way. Simply put, the higher the variety and frequency of experiences, the more understanding of my strength and weakness I could derive. I am therefore grateful for all these experiences, particularly those which have impacted my life positively, albeit the occasional pain and tears.

MBA tour and Internship

2007-06-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

The idea of a pre-MBA internship grows into a possible earlier job switch into my targeted post-MBA sector. The firm might not be willing to invest their training resources on someone who could only commit for less than a year. After the first few months of steep learning curve, the net yield derived by the firm may not be high. Impact on my present job commitment will need to be assessed and minimized before any conclusion is possible.

Dates for MBA tours are released online. Check out the websites for further details.
www.topmba.com
www.thembatour.com
Note the dates and participating schools. Tour dates before October’s application deadlines will be ideal for R1 applicants. I suppose the tours scheduled in December and beyond serve mainly R2 applicants and admitted applicants who need to decide which school to eventually attend.

I’m hoping that the organizers will hold a MBA tour in my resident country soon. I always love traveling, but a self-financed task-oriented short traveling during the Sep/Oct peak period with some stress and guilt would not be enjoyable.

Might need to forgo my year-end overseas countdown trip.

It’s interesting how the MBA application process can be the catalyst for so many changes in plans, perspectives and understandings.

Application Process Starts

2007-06-26T00:36:00.000-07:00

I'm done with my work-related examination and can now focus on MBA applications.

GMAT test will be in August. Application essay questions should all be released in July/Aug. School research continues.

One suggested strategy is to apply to 3 tiers of B-Schools.
Tier A: Dream Schools. Just Aim High. Wil fly to the moon if get admitted.
Tier B: Targeted School. Need to stretch but they are still reachable.
Tier C: Realistic School. High confidence of getting accepted.

With each top MBA school charging an application fee of around USD 250, and I desperately need to start my MBA in 2008, should I diversify my risk or put all my chances at my dream schools?

Really hate those self-doubt moments when I worry so much over my 'qualifications' to get admitted by my dream schools. The wait is torturous.

Qualifications

2007-06-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

Fake qualification claims cost a top hotelier his high position and a within-reach promotion. He apparently attended classes at both top universities but did not graduate from them.

I’m definitely not defending his wrongdoing of lying, but simply wonder if the lack of ivy-league formal academic achievement should undermine his years of proven credentials in the hotel industry? Everyone, including the MBA graduates, would agree that success is attributed by many qualities not necessarily acquired by paying high school fees.

It might sound strange coming from a MBA hopeful. Because dishonesty is no way a virtue for top management personnel responsible for the business empire, in which thousands of employees’ and shareholders’ interests are at stake. A MBA graduate, having worked hard for his golden plated qualification, would not approve of a free rider.

Some people might still question, if this hotelier, like many other successful people without a MBA training, such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, have achieved success, then why are people crushing through the narrow gates in pursuit of a MBA??

With the countless number of self-help guide books claiming to reveal the secrets of MBA training or teach the contents of a MBA course, why pay through our nose and sacrifice 1-2 years of income-earning precious time?

To these arguments, perhaps it is because while we (perhaps) attempt to be the next one-in-billions Steve Jobs or Bill Gate, a quality MBA admission is a useful testimonial of our potentials (hopefully). By surviving the stiff competition and intense trainings, we demonstrate our competency to manage challenges.

We might not be the crème de la crème, but we are working to get better.

Steve Job's speech @ Stanford's commencement

2007-06-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA

Stanford Report, June 14, 2005
'You've got to find what you love,' Jobs says

This is the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.
The first story is about connecting the dots.
I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?
It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.
And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.
It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:
Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.
None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, its likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.
Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.
My second story is about love and loss.
I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.
I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.
I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.
During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.
I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.
My third story is about death.
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.
I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.
This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope its the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.
Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.
Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Thank you all very much.

Exam is coming ...!!

2007-06-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

Had a full day class last Sunday in preparation for my BIG exam 2 weeks later.
(oh glorious Sunday... when will I have my free Sunday...)
It's BIG because it's the final paper before I could add the title in my resume.
It's BIG because the torture will last one whole day - paper 1 in the morning and paper 2 case study in the afternoon.

I ought to utilise all free time to revise. I shall use my mind power to focus on this IMMEDIATE important task.

But... reading Economists or the newspaper prove to be more mind-stimulating and interesting than revising the > 50cm thick pile of notes. It does not help that many contents are repeating information phrased differently. And... some calculations are killing me...

It's ok... I will focus....I will focus...I will focus... (hynotising myself)

INSEAD information session - 8 June 2007

2007-06-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

Just returned from INSEAD information session.

The best part of the formal information session was a Case Discussion by Professor Paddy Padmanabhan, INSEAD’s Chaired Professor of Marketing. We had a case discussion which gave us a glimpse of how a typical class would be conducted. Learning in a mind-stimulating process in itself is truly enjoyable. Of course, it could be very stressful when one is loaded with hours and days of it, and I have to learn to fight for more airtime should I eventually enroll into the program.

The friendly students really made the interaction enjoyable. It’s heartwarming to meet people who enthusiastically share their experiences because of their conviction that INSEAD is the best investment.

Here’s my summary after the session of why INSEAD could be the ONE ?
There is no right or wrong. Simply a matter of whether it matches what one looks for.

- 85% of an usual 2-year top MBA program is condensed into a 10-month program, allowing the student to return to the workforce quickly
- Could be a good demonstration of your competency and willingness to work hard since you either compromise on extra-curricular activity or sleeping hour
- Financial opportunity cost is much less for a 10-month process
- Should you choose to spend some terms (out of 5) in Singapore, the cost would be more manageable as opposed to studying in Europe & UK ( the Euro Dollar & British Pounds have been appreciating….)
- Thus it’s a wise investment decision with a faster breakeven and realization of returns. Suppose you invest €60,000 for the one year program, versus to almost double the cost, start with an average €80,000 post-MBA income package, the breakeven point could be (hopefully) 2-3 years after MBA.
(** For information on financing MBA, please note that many factors will affect the investment returns, particularly lifestyle, availability of cost-free funding and post-MBA employment package)
- INSEAD offers one of the most diverse and global class mix
- Since almost everyone is a minority and a foreigner ( French and Singaporean only made up around 16% of the class), the student community having to spend time together intensively is closely knit. It thus probably explains for its strong alumni participation.
- Internship is still possible provided you enroll into the January intake
- And of course, it is one of the top MBA worldwide.
-

Other 2-year top MBA might counter the case with the followings:

- a 2-year period provides more time to establish stronger relationships with your peers and visiting alumni, who quite probably would be your colleagues, supervisors, business partners etc
- might have a better chance of building long lasting friendships since you suffer and play hard together for longer
- can afford to have (in terms of time, not necessarily of money) more career treks, seminars by prominent speakers, projects with companies, leisure travel etc
- internship is definitely possible and almost crucial if you aim for a finance/banking position
- given that most of us need to work a further 30-years, a 2-year career break in an exciting school sounds enticing
( well.. while one might achieve financial independence to retire earlier, working by choice is usually encouraged for health reasons)
- other geographical location might be more attractive

Some of us proceeded to have a drink with a fun-loving MBA student (…he’s youngest among us..argghh..). It’s great to know friends with the similar ambition and demeanors, and exchange information on different MBA schools.

In general, the feedback is that the European MBA culture is friendlier. Not that the key motive to get a MBA is to socialize with friendly people, but it will make the learning process much more enjoyable. Coming from an academic background of people so reluctant to share and learn together, I have been moved by the generosity of people who do not only care for themselves.

The information session exceeded my expectation. I was told that if anyone loves INSEAD, he would not like London Business School, and vice versa. The two offer quite different MBA experience. It’s an individual’s preference and there will be more to find out.

Successful management

2007-06-07T23:52:00.001-07:00

Someone commented that a successful manager aims to create a self-sufficient system and groom a successor. This is to make himself eventually redundant at the mundane operational ground and be free to focus on navigating the business forward.

Why MBA ?

2007-06-07T23:44:00.000-07:00

I had lunch with a nice colleague who recently graduated from a MBA and has been very helpful for my MBA preparation. Frankly I do not have the luxury of being acquainted with many MBA graduates. Such qualification is not deemed necessary in my industry and most of my friends who plan to do a MBA have yet to act. Local courses are usually preferred as the total related cost will just be a fraction of getting a top MBA overseas. The local MBA my friend took costs him approximately USD $15,000 and zero extra living expense. The institution from which he graduated is decently included in the top 100 MBA worldwide. By the way, he has a good credential and a 700 GMAT score, thus in my opinion should be a qualified top MBA candidate if he wanted to. He has high praises for the MBA experience which broadens his perspective of how the various aspects of an organization function together.

The key consideration is of course financial.

I am not a deep-pocketed person. So he asked, why do I bother to burden myself that much? Is the key motivation to study overseas?

It all boils down to the different career path we are seeking. I think.

Living overseas certainly is a huge pull factor. Less so for the glamour attached to an overseas study experience which I already have, but more for the exposure and exploration while I am still young and carefree. After spending 14 years in the same country, it is time to venture beyond this comfort zone and learn different skills. I can’t wait to learn in a dynamic environment with classmates from all around the world. Thus, even if I eventually enroll into INSEAD MBA, I would spend a maximum of one term in Singapore for my mother.

From what I understand, to switch career to my targeted industry post-MBA, a top MBA well recognized for its strength in finance will give me a higher success rate at getting a job overseas. It is impossible to get the same quality of learning environment, internship opportunity and experienced faculty staff except at the top MBA. The overall MBA experience should accelerate one’s career progress, among the rest, to justify the high opportunity cost involved.

The networking opportunity is another reason for choosing an overseas MBA. Who could undermine the power of networking to bring you to the right places? The industry here is still at its developing phase and the main playing fields are thousand miles away. I need to learn from the best before deciding the place to settle down.

The road chosen is tougher but challenging. So best wishes to all who are seeking the same path.

Moving Forward

2007-06-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

Having to start a new life so fundamentally different without all my close friends and family around is overwhelming.
To at last have the chance to fulfill a dream much delayed is exciting.
The journey began because the fear of living in regrets when I am older grew stronger. As life got absorbed into the hectic mundane, the energy to pursue one’s dream could be worn out.
Here’s wishing all of you a fulfilling life which embraces any change bravely.

Friendliness is not necessarily preferred

2007-06-04T03:19:00.000-07:00

It's a fine thin line between being friendly and having no opinion.

I usually prefer to be courteous and listen more when approaching strangers, especially when I'm at the receiving end of a favour or advice.
Who likes to help someone who takes thing for granted?

It appears however, a higher dose of aggressiveness or super-confidence is preferred when at the other end I have the successful confident MBA achievers.

Pardon my ignorance, but if I already have 100% information on the 'what-to-do-and-not-to-do' I would not throw myself to ask 'stupid' questions. Forgive me for I don't view myself as the 'come-beg-me-to-attend-your-topMBA' candidate.

I practise risk management, ie. use all known resources to assess the possible strategies so that the risk is minimized.

When the stake is high, I have many considerations.

Asian female in Global MBA

2007-05-26T02:39:00.000-07:00

Generally female forms on average 25%-30% of most MBA student communities.

On average, Asian students represents less than 20% of the MBA student population.

There are, however, more active MBA bloggers who are female.

Would really love to establish contacts with fellow Asian female MBA students/applicants. :)

Hellooooooo !!!

information management

2007-05-26T02:20:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to juggle a couple of things cocurrently, namely preparation for a financial industry professional qualification exam in June, MBA school research, brainstorming of points for application essays, preparation for GMAT in August, and of course my work.
Of course, it should be well expected of any working MBA applicant ...
(nice comments from friends : you ask for it....fine...)

Anyway, I am truly impressed but occasionally crushed by the vast amount of MBA related information online. The different perspectives and insights provided by different MBA students and applicants could be really useful. Afterall, a full time MBA is a serious financial and personal commitment with high opportunity cost. However, it is impossible to go through all information and the marginal utility of reading them decreases after a point.

Perhaps some suggestions for those who are going through the same process:
- website links recommended by fellow MBA student and applicants are generally of a proven quality
- Start organizing information gathered as early as possible, eg. a chart to categorize different qualities and characteristics of the schools.
- Avoid over-research. Excessive information is not necessary for a successful application. Concentrate however on the priority schools.

- The Smart People Learn From Their Mistakes, The Smarter Ones Learn From The Mistakes Of Others