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Whats the most valuable thing you learned in business school?

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Christopher’s Answer

There are two aspects to this. The first is gaining technical skills, and the second is gaining soft skills.

Given that I am currently working in mergers and acquisitions, I would say that my accounting and finance classes contributed significantly to becoming proficient in my current job, especially the valuations and financial modeling classes. During my master's degree in finance, the focus on the latter two was much greater. You have to learn how to think critically about issues and link many concepts at once. Each business case is different and each time you will be challenged with a certain issue, whether it's an accounting treatment or a logical assumptions.

As for soft skills, they were important in how you communicate and convince others with your ideas. The is the biggest gain, because no matter where you go and who you work with, if you establish rapport with the person in front of you, it will make the workflow much easier for you. Some people have this skill naturally while other develop it over time and with practice.

Effectively, technical skills can be picked up, but soft skills cannot always be acquired. Soft skills take time to develop and nurture.
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Doc’s Answer

For starters Michael, the skills you learn in a business program can be easily transferred and adapted to just about any future career or job position imaginable. Business programs place a huge focus on teaching students the ability to think critically, problem solve in innovative ways, and manage their time logically. Few programs of study these days really examine things beyond a local lens, but studying business will force you to look at things globally, especially in today’s international economy. This is great for those who want to work towards having a more global perspective and outlook. In your business program, you’ll learn a number of valuable communication skills that will be useful in any job down-the-road. From learning how to write coherent reports to even communicating with people from different cultures, you’ll strengthen your ability to relate to and speak with the people around you. A big part of studying business is also learning how to read body language and practice active listening. And when you think about that, those are skills that will benefit you not just in your future jobs, but in your everyday social interactions as well.

What many people don’t realize when they consider a business degree is that, often times, it is also possible to combine a business program with another program of your choice. This way, if you’re interested in business but ultimately want to pursue a career in another field, you may still be able to combine other online business courses within your program of study to obtain a double-major or similar accolade. This is quite common, and many universities offer these types of programs in a five-year capacity. Imagine being able to walk across the stage and collect not just one, but two degrees that are going to help you reach your career goals—and potentially being able to do so with just one extra year of study. Who doesn’t dream of someday being able to work as their own boss? The skills you learn in your business program can help to make that dream a reality. From knowing how to more wisely manage your money to learning the ins and outs of writing a business plan or finding your own clients, you’ll have the skills you need to start your own business. Whether you dream of running your own large organization or would simply like to work as an independent contractor, a degree in business is a great way to start paving those first blocks towards a path to independence.
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Rahaf’s Answer

I learnt that each function of a business can not operate on its own. The most important thing about leading a successful business is having synchronization across all departments and neglecting something can cause the business to fail either from Profit - Loss perspective or moral and operations.
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Simeon’s Answer

The most valuable aspects of my business degree were learning the basics of how businesses are organized and function. Between accounting, finance, and marketing (among other skills), there are a lot of foundational pieces of knowledge for successfully running a business. These are the most important things that you pick up when you are using education as a background for business-related jobs.
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Chirayu’s Answer

I learned a lot of valuable things in business school and some of the most essential skills and knowledge include understanding financial statements, budgeting, and financial management are crucial for success in business. Also learned how effective management involves leading teams, managing operations, and making strategic decisions. Developed the ability to analyze and evaluate complex business problems and make informed decisions is an essential skill for success in business. Lastly built good communication skills which are key to success in any business setting, including writing, presenting, and negotiating skills.
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Paul’s Answer

For me it was how to work with people within the environment of an organization.

Everyone has a particular strength that they bring into a business, but the trick to solve is being able to find those strengths, utilize them, without causing friction and making people want to walk out the door.
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Padraig’s Answer

During my MBA, the most valuable lesson learned, was about Cash Management (Cashflow).

You can have the most profitable business in the world, however, should cash not come in, your business can go bust overnight. (this is why 80% of startups fail).

'Cash is King' is a cliché, but so very, very true.
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Jamie’s Answer

Hi Michael,

Depending on the area of business you want to work in, the answer may differ. However, having a broad range of knowledge across various business areas is beneficial. Skills such as professional written communication, proficiency in MS products (or other technologies), public speaking, etc., are crucial. However, more specialization into your interests such as strategic management, digital marketing, financial analysis and due diligence, business law, global supply chain, etc., can help you stand out amongst your peers.

The course that ended up being most valuable to me for comprehensive business knowledge was actually an entrepreneurship class. Developing a business plan, interviewing experts, and presentation to a panel of judges, helped me develop invaluable skills. Understanding the process of starting a business and managing risks across a variety of areas, developing forecasted financial statements, engaging in product development and distribution plans and understanding your customer market and creating a value proposition, were just a few of the skills I learned.

I believe classes in entrepreneurship are extremely beneficial because they push you to be creative, but also strategic and analytical. A career in business cannot be built solely on facts you can learn, but also through developing your ability to deal with more abstract situations or tasks. Hope this helps in any way!
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Agustin’s Answer

Hi Michael,

The most valuable learning has three pillars:

*Prioritisation: For context, I did my master’s while working full time and raising a family. The hidden “subject” during my studies was being ruthless with prioritisation. This relates to all spheres of life: work, personal life and health. We cannot do it all and at different stages of life you want to make sure that you are intentional about prioritising based on what is important to you. Ask yourself what is important to you, and it will be important not only what you prioritise, but also what you say NO to.

*People: as you transition your career, you realise that the best outcomes come from a group of people rather than just individuals. I like that Business Schools pressure you to constantly operate on group assignments, where you need to deliver and work with a group of people that could be very different from yourself. I learnt of my shortfalls and strengths, and it is such a great scenario to learn, since there is no corporate hierarchy and therefore the dynamics are as raw as you can get them. Maximise these experiences and be intentional about learning how to improve in working with others.

*Theory & a bit of practice: I am very mindful that learning happens best on the job, but having exposure to frameworks and concepts powered by your personal and work experiences are very powerful to continue to learn and grow in your career. Even when you are exposed to a concept that you feel familiar with, remain curious and open to new learnings which will come both from professors as well as your colleagues from different walks of life.

Agustin recommends the following next steps:

Practice doing a mind-map of what is important to you in spheres of Work, Personal Life and Health
Plan and prioritise weekly, monthly and quarterly to make time for what is important to you (or relevant to your job)
Expose yourself in group dynamics from as early as possible in your career, it will be a great skill into the future
Keep a growth mindset and remain curious, your brain as a muscle can be trained and there is so much growth to be unlocked from doing this.
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Carolyn’s Answer

During my time at business school, I was employed in the government sector, which made it somewhat challenging to directly apply the concepts and principles I was learning from my coursework to my daily work responsibilities. Despite this, I discovered that one of the most enriching aspects of business school was the opportunity to interact with and learn from my classmates, who came from diverse professional backgrounds in various business settings.

By actively engaging in conversations with my peers, I was able to gain invaluable insights into the real-world business problems they were facing and their strategies for tackling these challenges. These discussions often provided me with different perspectives, which ultimately proved to be incredibly beneficial for my personal and professional development.

Moreover, these interactions enabled me to shape and refine the projects I was working on, by incorporating the practical experiences of my classmates along with the theoretical framework provided by the business school's curriculum. As a result, I was able to develop a more well-rounded understanding of how the concepts learned in school could be adapted and applied to various organizations and industries.

One key piece of advice I would like to pass on to future business school students is the importance of networking and actively learning from your classmates. In addition to the formal education you will receive, your peers can serve as a vital source of knowledge, expertise, and practical advice that can significantly enhance your learning experience.

Take the initiative to strike up conversations, exchange experiences, and collaborate on projects whenever possible, as these interactions can lead to lasting professional relationships and even future career opportunities. By doing so, you will not only broaden and deepen your understanding of the business world, but also create a strong foundation for personal growth and future success in your chosen field.
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Richard’s Answer

There's a lot to the MBA, of course there's the basic nuts and bolts of business that come through (e.g., how to read a balance sheet, what does it mean to take on debt, how do businesses choose their strategies etc.) and all of that is useful (especially to someone like me who didn't have a strong business background when I got my MBA. That said the most useful skills were all soft, areas like how do you lead a team, how do you work with other supremely intelligent people, how do you identify which stakeholders are the ones who are important to really get on board to get your work done, and how to have tough conversations. In theory you could have all of those experiences in the "real world" but I found the lower stakes environment of the MBA the perfect place to experiment and really discover your leadership style which has then paid dividends down the road.
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Tom’s Answer

Michael,

The key lessons to absorb from business school revolve around cultivating your networking skills, embracing diversity, and perfecting execution.

Networking - This is a lifelong skill that's essential for your chosen career path. It might be daunting to initiate conversations, but remember, opportunities won't just fall into your lap. Being genuine is crucial when discussing your achievements and skills, and showing genuine interest in others' passions.

Diversification - Now is the time to broaden your horizons. By delving into various business sectors like finance, accounting management, strategy, systems design, business law, and international business, you'll discover where your strengths and interests lie. Don't limit yourself to a single area just because you excelled in it; keep your options wide open.

Execution - Grasp this concept early on. The professional world demands results. Whenever you're assigned a task in school, make sure you comprehend the goal and what a successful result entails. Simply being busy won't cut it; you need to deliver.
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Rebekah’s Answer

Hi Michael!

The most important thing I learned in business school is that people buy from people they like, know, and trust. So whether you are working as an entrepreneur, in B2C, or B2B this applies. Networking professionally is vital to any success you want to see in your career or with your customers.
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Vincent’s Answer

The most important things I learnt in business school were 1. logical problem solving, 2. dealing & influencing people having different opinions, backgrounds, incentives.

1. intuition is important, and is often based on accumulated past experiences. But this needs to be complemented with logical problem solving to reduce biases that are inherent in how we process information. The hard skills useful in business include modeling, decision trees, simulations, scenario planning, etc.

2. soft skills are as important as hard skills in business. In business school, the multiple projects involving group work will help sharpen collaborative skills. The right answer without wide support is not going anywhere unfortunately.
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Adrian’s Answer

The most valuable thing in business school varies from person to person, depending on their individual goals and interests. However, there are a few things that most people would consider to be valuable:

Network: One of the most important things you can gain from business school is a strong professional network. You will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with students, alumni, and faculty who are working in a variety of industries. This network can be invaluable when it comes to job hunting, finding mentors, and learning about different career paths.

Education: Business school provides a comprehensive education in topics such as finance, marketing, accounting, management, and entrepreneurship. The knowledge and skills you gain can be applied to a wide variety of careers and industries.

Practical experience: Many business schools offer opportunities for students to gain practical experience through internships, consulting projects, or other hands-on activities. This experience can help you apply what you've learned in the classroom to real-world situations, and can make you more competitive when it comes to finding a job.
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Helana’s Answer

Michael,
Many people have answers the various educational aspects of business school, which is important. You want to be well rounded and business school will sharpen your previous knowledge in accounting, finance, marketing, etc., but also expand knowledge in strategy, operations and economic policy that you may have not done as much in during undergraduate.

That said, business school is also important to expand your network. You will never been good at every thing. By having a network that is diversified, driven and highly educated like yourself, it will allow you to succeed in anything you could want because you will have the support and knowledge where you need it.
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Lennon’s Answer

The most valuable thing I learned in business school actually isn't related to technical knowledge. Naturally, there are plenty of important pieces of industry, technical, observational knowledge that is key in business. But, the most helpful lesson I've learned here is in regards to approach. Much success in business and entrepreneurship is based in an individual's ability to problem-solve and think critically. Finding my best approach to that (via soft skills, hands on experience, case study, etc.) was the greatest lesson I learned. Hope this helps!
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Dawnyale’s Answer

Hello Michael,

When I was working on my MBA, I learned that understanding risks is very important. There will be risks that are worth taking and others that are not - as a manager or owner you will need to assess the differences between the two. Some risks are necessary in order for the business to grow and move from stagnation to profit. However, some risks involve financial or cultural impact that might be difficult or impossible to absorb once legalities and PR are considered. Ultimately, if the risk is greater than the potential reward, or the impacts of the risk leading to failure could result in damages that aren't recoverable, it's best to seek council before proceeding.

I hope this helps!
Dawnyale
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Alejandro’s Answer

Recognize your team mates and specialization in your network, you can not know everything, is impossible, so always get support from them and build bigger things.
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Keith’s Answer

The ABCs.
Always. Be. Closing.

The most important thing that must underpin that concept is INTEGRITY in your work.. Lack of integrity may result in short-term wins but won't create lasting success. You are only as good as the advocates you create.
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Eleanor’s Answer

Project Management! There's so much involved in project management that is super valuable, like decomping a project phase down to it's workable tasks that honestly I use for everything. I would strongly suggest taking at least one PM course!
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Julie’s Answer

Business school did a good job of taking the mystery out of all the different aspects of being in any kind of business. It helped me become a generalist - meaning I could be valuable at many different types of companies and in many different types of roles because I understood the basics of all key aspects of managing a business - whether it was a nonprofit, for profit, etc. The most helpful specific thing I learned was creating a pro forma budget and understanding the basics of accounting and finance. Learning how to think through business planning was also very helpful, for starting a new business or just a new program within an existing business.

Julie recommends the following next steps:

Business school is great for people who are not sure what they want to do. It is a "generalist" degree, that can allow you to change fields.
Business school takes the mystery out of what it means to run a business. You will learn all the aspects that apply to most organizations - for profit and nonprofit.
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Hassan’s Answer

Besides all the technical skills that I have learned, I believe what I found valuable that businesses and management is not only about learning a checklist of technical skills, you can learn to network, brand yourself and how communicate effectively.
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Usman’s Answer

The most valuable subject I learned in Business school was Financial Accounting.
This subject gave me opportunity to learn about company's financial situation before making an investment.
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Connor’s Answer

School was a great training ground to develop my technical skills. During school I focused on gaining as many technical skills as I could before I went out into the real world. Your time literally is to learn so I made sure that I understood what I was learning in the classroom and then found opportunities outside of the classroom to apply these skills. Going into a real job I feel like where I am helping are in those fine skills that others who are older were not introduced to in school and don't have the time to develop now.
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Gregg’s Answer

The basics about finance. It is helpful at work for budgeting, networking with others, and for my personal life.
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aditi’s Answer

10 Most important skills that can be learnt at business school-

TIME MANAGEMENT. We all agree to the fact that, Time Management is the key to build a stronger foundation for success.
QUICK RESPONSIVENESS
CONCISE PRESENTATION SKILLS
IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
TEAM WORK
NETWORKING
WORK LIFE BALANCE
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Rebecca’s Answer

I think the most important thing is I have established good network with the elites coming from different industries. Our classmates are from different industries background. We can exchange our experience and information. On the other hand, we can leverage the network in a many occasions.
The business school also invites great entrepreneurs and gurus of different industries to share their experience and insight. This is also another valuable thing we gain in business school.
And, last but not the least, we have learnt a lot of business knowledge and skills on how to be an entrepreneur or run business.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
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Orain’s Answer

Hello Michael,

I hope all is well with you.

Great question: Other from technical and soft skills, the most valuable thing i learned in business school was that applying and obtaining an internship from Sophomore/Junior year do set you up for an easy transition from the school realm to work realm. It also put you a level above the rest when you can showcase you had an internship and therefore experience for the job you will be applying for post college.

Please feel free to reach out with further questions.

I hope this helps

O.M
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Sirlei’s Answer

Hi Michael,

I have both a Bachelor's in Business Administration and an MBA.
I must say that, from my Bachelor's, the most valuable think I learned was the basics of business management. Especially Accounting and Finance.
However, it wasn't until I took my MBA, after having been in the industry for a while, that I was able to learn while applying what I was learning. It was a really different learning experience.
Leadership, Organization Management, Accounting...it all took a different meaning, because I was able to visualize the instances in which I would be applying those skills.

That's one of the reasons I really believe it's important to obtain an internship while in college (and maybe even in high school). It will really help you apply what you're learning and make it "stick".

Best of luck!
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Maylene’s Answer

Most valuable lesson I learned from business school is it develop the basic skills in business management practices. It also help me become familiar with modern-day business technology and applications, and build my skills to facilitate interactions with others in a variety of roles and industries.
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Dhimant’s Answer

Managing People Effectively
Developing Soft Skills
Achieving Work-Life Harmony
Crafting a Fulfilling Life
Mastering Mergers and Acquisitions
Strategizing for New Ventures
Understanding Microeconomics
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Business Success
Exploring Money and Banking
Deciding on the Perfect Pricing Strategy
Unraveling Consumer Behavior
Navigating Consumer Finance
Delving into Behavioral Economics - The Impact of Behavior on Consumer Choices and Decision-Making Skills.
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Jason’s Answer

Someone always knows more than you. Its an important lesson regardless of what specifically you learn in school. Important to listen to others' ideas.
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D'Mauri’s Answer

Hi Michael,

In my college years, I discovered that one of the most enriching experiences was learning from individuals with diverse perspectives and higher educational backgrounds. This gave me a deeper understanding of the potential risks associated with various events, internships, and prospective job opportunities, as well as the key aspects to be aware of. It's always beneficial to rely on others for insights, as the saying goes, "it's not about what you know, it's about who you know". This wisdom has been instrumental in my networking endeavors throughout college and continues to be invaluable in my interactions with senior leaders in my current role at Rocket Mortgage. I hope this perspective broadens your horizons, Michael!
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Lauren’s Answer

Hi Michael,
Great question! The most valuable thing I learned was being able to take away key concepts discussed in each of my business core courses that touch on areas such as accounting, finance, marketing, supply chain, etc. If it's not your business major, it still gives you that foundational perspective which can help you in the business industry after college. I also think another valuable thing to learn while you're in college is excel, especially formulas and short-cuts. If you're able to master excel in college even if it's something you learn on the side, you'll set yourself up really well when you start your career in any business profession.
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Damien’s Answer

I learned so many wonderful things in business school. Here are a few of the things that I most valued.

1. I learned how to manage my workload. Business school requires more reading, teamwork, studying, and homework that you can possibly do, the trick is to prioritize what you need to do and when, and meet those requirements vs. just saying yes the work and attempting to do it all (you will not be able to succeed this way, at least not without sacrificing your own time and well being, this is part of the lesson and a valuable skill to master before you being your career in business)

2. I learned the hard skills/functional skills that I had yet to master from my high school/undergrad days (in my case, quantitative analysis, but yours might be marketing)

3. I learned how to network with peers and potential employers by building my confidence, learning how to answer questions about myself with ease and simplicity, and positioning myself as the type of leader that inspires others - this came through a lot of practice with a career coach and included some tough lessons including watching a video of myself in a mock interview environment - lean in on this one, even (especially) if it makes you uncomfortable!
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