Ohhhh week!

I have just come to the end of a busy and fantastic week – the Cranfield Full time MBA Orientation week – hosted by the finishing students (14 of them) for the new students.  I hardly remember my first O week at the University of Sydney 20 years ago – it flew by as the new world of University life washed over me.  This O week was quite different.  It was still a huge amount of fun, but the emphasis was about getting to know our fellow cohort with whom we will be working with closely, and understanding the ins and outs of the year ahead.  I was discovering new bits of information every session so it was really the 'ohhhh week' for me.

We were allocated into one of two streams and then introduced to our working team of six for the next 3 months.  We were given presentation and assignments as warm ups, team competitions and advice.  We were brought up to speed on the team work, content and assessment/examination requirements.  Our diaries were completely full – an indication of the year ahead!

The week also showcased the many and varied extra-curricular activities we can get involved in if we find we have too much spare time.  It seems that we get to operate in some sort of time warp this year where we complete two years of MBA content in one year, learn a second language (compulsory if you only have the one), embark on an international business field trip, compete in European MBA Business competitions, train for a marathon, join a music group etc etc.  The main message from last years MBA cohort is to push your boundaries and make the very most of this valuable opportunity.  The team of fourteen from last year were quite the example for us - they had really made the most of the year and it showed in their knowledge, they way they held themselves, their presenting and their sincerity in ensuring we are well set up for the year ahead.  If this group of 14 are a product of the Cranfield MBA then things bode well.  A big thanks to Catherine, Anna, Lana, Henry, Hilario, Inaki, Peter, Ric, Saquib, Simon, Gareth, Adnan, Shoumi, and Pankaj for a great week.  

Ohhhh week is now over and we start in earnest on Monday with Accounting first class!

Firstly, by way of a background....

I am hoping the corollary of the wise Socrates’ statement, “An unexamined life is not worth living” is correct, as it will make my coming year of intense examination all the more worthwhile!

On Monday, 1^stof October 2012, I commence my 12 month Full-time MBA at Cranfield School of Management, UK. If it delivers on its promise, it is going to involve a lot of examination! Not just examination in the conventional meaning of the word, but also perpetual self-examination aimed at developing the whole person. My international cohort and I are clearly in for quite a year, and we hope we are ready to overcome the academic and psychological challenges of one of the top European MBA’s available. However, before this new MBA starts, let me give a quick explanation of how a Sydney based Aussie found himself in a small UK town called Cranfield, just north of London and a long way from home………

This time last year I began to consider doing an MBA. I had had many years of success and fun in my role as a specialist working within NAB Business Bank, but I wanted to have a fall back plan if the enjoyment waned or circumstances changed. The experience from being on the 2011/12 NAB Talent pool had also opened my thinking and made me consider how else I could add value within the organisation. With these thoughts at the back of my mind, a work email mentioning the Cranfield MBA caught my attention. I opened the email and a few hours of research later I quickly became incredibly interested in what this‘Cranfield MBA’ had to offer. it was International (I particularly valued international exposure), UK based (great for my English wife, Becky, to be close to her UK based parents, sisters and friends) 12 months full time (my ideal) and was incredibly well regarded and highly ranked (3^rd in the world for 12 month full time MBA’s according to Wall Street Journal 2009 ranking). What’s more, there was a full Scholarship available to “a talented Australian, passionate about this country with the desire to contribute to its future”. Before I knew it I had forgotten about my heavy work load and was picturing myself studying by an open fire with a warm flat English beer in hand and Becky with my future baby (born in May 2012) kicking back enjoying a bitterly cold English winter! As Sydney headed towards summer, an English winter seemed too far away to be of concern, so I pitched the concept of a UK based MBA to Becky. Being the loving supportive person she is, she gave me her full backing and so the application process started in earnest.

A few months later, after going through the rigorous Scholarship requirements (a successful GMAT, 2 essay based applications and 3 interviews) I was awarded the 2012 Cranfield Australian Alumni Scholarship. I was absolutely elated to not only receive one of the most valuable open scholarships available in Australia, but to also soon have the opportunity to develop personally and professionally though this extraordinary MBA. Even better, I learnt I would also be attending Cranfield with my fellow Australians, Benjamin Elias and Aashlesha Venkatachalam, 2012 Scholarship awardees.

Before we knew it our newly formed family were soon flying off to the UK. Now, almost a year after first hearing about this place called‘Cranfield’, myself, Becky and our 4 month son Xavier indeed face an English winter but also no doubt one of the greatest years ahead. I hope to take you along for the MBA through this blog – sharing insights gained from lectures, wisdom from the experiences and ultimately answer the question of whether the examined life is indeed worth living.