Business is Bidnis

Business is Bidnis

Now that I’ve returned home, I feel that I should dedicate a blog entry to my observations at the business visits. I took notes at most of them in my Field Guide but I just want to expand a few of my thoughts at some of them.

IMD – My belief is that the Huntsman Program and IMD MBA programs parallel in many ways. The Huntsman Program is like a little mini IMD. However visiting IMD, I’m not really considering an MBA. The school looks too intense to be an option for me. Work/School/Life balance is an important value to me and I feel like IMD would put me off balance. They some things are more important than money. As I’m now considering Grad school and future career options, I’ve realized an important value of mine. I know that many in the USU administration (faculty, career services, Dean, etc.) really encourage students to look outside of Utah to get higher paying jobs. If it comes down to a job offer in New York for six figures or a job in Salt Lake for five, I would have to carefully weigh the value of each. I have really strong ties to Utah. My family has been here for eight generations. My pioneer ancestor built a little shack on south temple and 800 east. I really value living in Utah. I can extend my possibilities to the west in general. But like they say, some things are more important than money.

There is some things that the program could take away from IMD. I really like the peer feedback loops. Organized in a non-confrontational way, the feedback loops could really help students improve their character. I think everyone wants to know what other people are thinking about him or her. I certainly want to know. Know the positive and negative can help me improve.

Touring IMD got me thinking about what I want in a grad school too. Fancy lunches, modern feel, job placement, diversity, career development, and leadership training, scheduled gym time. Like I said, IMD is a bit too intense. The say their aim is to push you to your limits, but not beyond. Good thing they have physiologists on staff. Is an MBA a means to an end or a value experience?

Dean Anderson Workshop

How incredible is it that we can get a personalized workshop from the Dean in Switzerland. He is so incredibly accomplished. My respect for him has really increased after getting to know him. The lessons I’ve learned is that it’s ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. He once made a $10 million mistake. Approaching his boss, Jim Burke, in apology he was told “I just spent $10 million to educate you.”

Some other good quotes are “Master the art of truth telling.” “acting on negative fantasies make it more likely to be realized.” “ You think education is expensive, try ignorance.” Trust. I also need to remember to write Bill Childs or RC Willey.

Honeywell

VPD – Honeywell’s equivalent to Toyota’s lean management but for engineering. The whole idea is efficiently produce good ideas. Also I want to put a turbocharger on my boat. They are cool.

ICRC

Not really an organization I am impressed with. I don’t want to work for a non-profit. Why should I get an MPA?

NATO

Should’ve read the blogs of past participants. I learned from the soft skills workshop to always research a company beforehand. When applying to the Koch’s scholars program I must keep this in mind.

WTO, European Commission, and NATO were my favorite visits.