Day 3 - Lessons from my MBA

So it's Day 3 and I skipped Day 2. It wasn't my fault, I tell you. It's all the fault of SisiJacobs who failed to deliver the necessary prodding this time around. Well, technically it wasn't her fault too, but you see, I find it hard to blame myself, so I seek the easiest person around to cast the blame on - poor SisiJacobs. (lol!)

My human frailties aside, let's gist about something much more interesting, like my MBA experience.

I graduated from the University of Lagos with a First Class in Computer Science. I majored in Software development, and it was rumoured that I could write a program to do literally anything! (Pardon my hubris) I won a competition, or two...sought to be hired by some IT firm or two...etc. I was living the good life. Or so it seemed.

But somehow I knew there was a lot missing. There's only so much a first degree can give you in terms of knowledge. In truth, it's kind of a straightjacket experience, my first degree. I wanted to know more...to be more... I didnt want to live my life glued to a computer screen, no matter how enticing the salary. So I decided to write ACCA. Looking back now, that would've been one of the greatest mistakes of my life. Lol! I found (somewhere along the line) that crunching financial numbers could be very similar to churning out computer codes. But by some stroke of luck, I decided to do an MBA instead. Maybe the fact that I got a full scholarship helped in the decision-making process, we'll never know now, would we?

Anyways, I was in a bus yesterday, squeezed tight between two people, enroute to a meeting, and I was thinking back on how far I've grown during this two-year MBA period. When I got to the meeting, someone asked me what my greatest learning is from the MBA. After I bit of thought, I settled on the answer: The MBA changed my way of thinking! Maybe it's the hundreds of real life business cases we did, or the interactions with real business people and real business problem, or whatever. But somehow, I handle issues very differently like I would have 2 years ago. Also, I don't feel as inadequate as I felt after finishing my first degree. In fact, i feel sort of complete. Not complete like I dont need to know anything else. Far from it. Complete, as in, I now know what I know, what I need to know, and how to go about knowing it! (Lol!) It's kinda like the MBA gave me the some tools I need to make the best of my existence, in the business world and in other areas of my life. I may be overstretching it a bit, but I doubt.

No, I won't go into specifics. There's not enough time, believe me. But I'll do this. I'll tell you about the great people I met during my MBA and what my interaction with them taught me.

There's Funto, who taught me the benefit of working with a great person, and the synergies that'll ensue (Not that he's that great :p). Working with my group (Group 4) also taught me how important team selection and team diversity is. The more diverse your team, the richer the ideas it churns out. Interestingly, I also learnt that in a political situation, the best doesn't necessarily win. People (especially very smart people) always believe that their merit will speak for them. In a democracy, that doesn't always work. It's the softer (and sometimes sinister) issues like emotional attachments, what's-in-it-for-me-ness, bad blood, and even tribal sentiments, etc that goes a long way in deciding who gets what. So, if you think you're the best and you're vying for some position or resource, dont just think that by reeling out all your great accomplishments and past leadership positions people would suddenly see how great thou art. It doesn't always work that way, I've learnt.

Otisi taught me hard lessons in appreciating other people's points of view, regardless of how dissenting they may seem. Motolani taught me that love is hardwork and sacrifice. Tomi Ogunlesi taught me the essence of branding yourself and the merit it brings (and also the demerits of overdoing it). Dr. Goke taught me that no idea is useless. Ezechi awed me with his utmost selflessness. I won't say he taught me, cos I'm still learning that one. There's a lesson in my interaction with Fisayo Ojelabi...i'm still figuring that out.

A lot of people also taught me stuff with a negative connotation, but I wont mention their names. Miss X taught me that you cannot be friends with everybody. You shouldn't even try. Just make sure no one has a cogent reason to dislike you. Miss Y taught me that internal change precedes (and perhaps supercedes) external change. If you desire longlasting change, start from within.

I'll stop here. I'm sure you get the point. There's a whole lot of brain adjustment and realignment that has occured during this period. I'm glad I didn't miss out. I'm glad I did an MBA, and I'm glad I did it at the Lagos Business School.

Before the day runs out, I'll drop yesterday's post. Stay tuned.

Ciao.