MBA: Expectations vs. Reality - S9 E05

Are you considering an MBA at Ross, but worried your experience doesn’t fit the mold? On the season 10 premiere of Working for the Weekend, a former TV producer, a healthcare professional, and an auto-marketer with a journalism background explain why the skills you least expect to transfer to the world of business might be your biggest advantage.Michael, Autumn, and Anjli gather in the Winter Garden to discuss their journeys to the Ross Weekend MBA program from nontraditional backgrounds. They share their goals in pursuing business degrees, how they identified post-MBA paths that align with those goals, and talk about their varied experiences with recruitment. They also speak to imposter syndrome and how it can be vanquished by appreciating the valuable transferable skills that come with atypical backgrounds. Hosts: Michael Ayaub, Autumn BlackGuest: Anjli Lodhavia Executive Producers: Michael Ayaub, Jonathan YoungStudio Producers: Jonah Brockman, Mads Henke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the season 9 finale of Working for the Weekend, our year 1 podcasters, Pruthvi Kuppam and Jonathan Young, sit down with Amey, Jacob, and Jas, as their graduations approach and their time at Ross comes to a close. The group emphasizes the importance of finding community and making connections while at Ross, highlighting the Leadership Crisis Challenge and The Bus. They discuss how their MBA journeys deviated from their initial expectations upon entering the program. The conversation closes with everyone sharing favorite campus spots, tips for maintaining energy levels, and their plans for the summer. Hosts: Pruthvi Kuppam and Jonathan YoungGuests: Amey Parab, Jacob Hood, and Jas BawaExecutive Producers: Amey Parab and Jacob HoodStudio Producers: Jonah Brockman and Mads Henke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Ross, the Multidisciplinary Action Project (MAP) program is an action-based learning experience that connects students with businesses all over the world to solve real-world problems and develop invaluable professional skills. On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, our hosts, Peter Lucido and Pruthvi Kuppam, sit down with 3 fellow WMBAs to discuss MAP and the way it fits into the part-time student lifestyle. Our guests shed light on the MAP selection process, share favorite travel memories, and discuss how they use Ross coursework combined with their professional backgrounds to maximize problem-solving impact.  The episode closes with key pieces of advice for those who have yet to embark on their MAP journeys: come in with a purpose, leverage the resources Ross has to offer, and get comfortable with ambiguity.   Hosts: Peter Lucido and Pruthvi KuppamGuests: Katie Kosinski, Marco Andrade, and Harish KohliExecutive Producers: Amey Parab and Jacob HoodStudio Producers: Jonah Brockman and Mads Henke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, our hosts, Meghna Jain and Jonathan Young, sit down with Weekend MBA student Ridha Al-Wishah and Online MBA student Chris Corbett to discuss international and domestic travel opportunities for the part-time MBA. The guests share their experiences with WHU University in Germany, the Italy Innovation Residency, and the Malawi MAP (Multidisciplinary Action Project). They compare the consulting nature of MAP travel with the academic coursework focus of residency programs and tackle budget setting, managing credit hours, and fitting travel into a full-time work schedule. In the second half of the podcast, Chris and Ridha discuss their domestic travel experiences, covering the Silicon Valley Experience Trek, the Trek to Harvard for the Arab Business Conference, and the West Virginia MAP.As the conversation ends, the students frame travel experiences as an investment in oneself, and they shoutout the strong Ross alumni network that makes all of these opportunities possible.Relevant Links:MAPMTREK at RossOnline MBA In-Person ResidenciesZell Lurie InstituteHosts: Meghna Jain and Jonathan YoungGuests: Ridha Al-Wishah and Chris CorbettExecutive Producers: Amey Parab and Jacob HoodStudio Producers: Jonah Brockman and Mads Henke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, our hosts, Meghna Jain and Pruthvi Kuppam, sit down with a panel of Part-Time MBA students to discuss the Ross School of Business Weekend MBA and Online MBA Programs.The episode covers the two programs’ compatibility with different lifestyles. It offers ways of building meaningful connections with Michigan’s highly engaged faculty, student ambassadors, and peers, and sheds a light on the factors that set Ross apart: from its focus on action-based learning through Multidisciplinary Action Projects and the Sanger Leadership Crisis Challenge, to the diverse student body, the culture of collaboration, and the large alumni network.The students leave our listeners with some key pieces of advice: know your goals, know yourself, and put everything in your calendar. Hosts: Meghna Jain and Pruthvi KuppamGuests: Ashley O’Brien, Devinaa Mangal, and Prudhvi KallamExecutive Producers: Amey Parab and Jacob HoodStudio Producers: Jonah Brockman and Mads Henke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Working for the Weekend, hosts Jasmohan Bawa and Jonathan Young discuss their experiences with joining clubs and finding community at Ross. They speak to how clubs bring Weekend MBA, Full-Time MBA, and Online MBA students together, as well as bridge the gap between first and second years. They touch on clubs that have been particularly important to them, such as the Armed Forces Association (AFA), Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, Tennis Club at Ross, and the Indian Subcontinent Business Association (ISBA). At the 13 minute mark, Katie Manzione, Director of Social Events for Social Committee, joins the pod to discuss the club’s purpose and to highlight the events they throw, from the recent family friendly picnic to the upcoming formal. At the 21 minute mark, Rachel Philips joins to share her experience as a member of the Ross MoMBAs, an affinity group supporting parents, expectant parents, and caregivers. A complete list of student clubs and organizations at Michigan Ross can be found here:https://michiganross.umich.edu/our-community/students/clubs-organizations/browse-allWant to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]: Jasmohan Bawa and Jonathan YoungGuests: Katie Manzione and Rachel PhillipsExecutive Producers: Amey Parab and Jacob HoodStudio Producers: Jonah Brockman and Mads Henke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, host Seth Atkinson is joined by fellow graduating Michigan Ross WMBA students, Tim Noh, Yale Loucks, Nikhil Sakpal, Kayla Edem, and Prasanth Muralidharan to discuss domestic and international travel opportunities for Online and Weekend MBA students. They discuss a variety of programs, including the MBA Global Semester Exchange Program, the Chile Residency, the C-Trek, Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP), and the International Investment Fund (IIF). They discuss the expenses of different travel options: from transportation to the opportunity cost of missing work. They wrap the conversation with study abroad tips and leave the listener thinking about the unique opportunity of getting to travel under the umbrella of fulfilling a Ross education. Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]: Seth AtkinsonGuests: Tim Noh, Yale Loucks, Nikhil Sakpal, Kayla Edem, and Prasanth MuralidharanExecutive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, hosts Amey Parab and Meghna Jain sit down with fellow WMBA students and seasoned entrepreneurs Adam Burau, co-founder of Conduit Capital, and Sean Carroll, co-founder of EnBiologics. They discuss their journeys, from the origin of their businesses through the challenges they’ve faced along the way. Burau and Carroll stress the importance of mentorship and finding customers early by cultivating a positive personal brand and reputation. They speak to how a Ross education has expanded their competence through finance and business classes in conjunction with the resources at the Zell Lurie Institute (ZLI), the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation at Michigan Ross. They speak to the challenges of balancing running a business while being a student. They leave listeners with the advice to never stop learning, networking, connecting, and further understanding their customers. Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]: Amey Parab and Meghna JainGuests: Adam Burau and Sean CarrollExecutive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, hosts and current Michigan Ross Weekend MBA students Sophia Huq and Ramya Vetukuri sit down with two recent Michigan Ross alumni, Atrayee Paul, WMBA ’23, and Sneha Edupuganti WMBA, ’22 to discuss how the Weekend MBA shaped their post-Ross lives and careers. The guests speak to their career journeys, the hands-on nature of the WMBA program, the Ross alumni network, pivotal moments in their education, and key career skills such as prioritization and quantifying impact. They wrap the conversation by leaving listeners with the best career advice they’ve ever received. Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]: Sophia Huq and Ramya Vetukuri Guests: Atrayee Paul and Sneha EdupugantiExecutive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, host Pete Woodman sits down with Megan Anda and David Walter to discuss the Multidisciplinary Action Project or MAP at Ross. First, Megan Anda, Managing Director of the Office of Action-Based Learning at Ross, answers questions about MAP. Topics covered include project sourcing, the critical skills MAP cultivates in students, the support and resources Ross provides through the program, travel opportunities, and a couple of favorite MAP success stories. Then, Dave Walter, WMBA ’25 talks to Pete about the MAP project they completed together, which turned into David’s current professional role as Director of Commercial Development at reCap Carbon. Dave sheds light on being a participant-turned-supervisor in MAP, and some of the challenges faced in each role.Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]: Pete WoodmanGuests: Megan Anda and Dave WalterExecutive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.