Nadia Ogene (Ross, ‘21) came to the University of Michigan ready to tackle her MBA experience, and with the help of Management Leadership For Tomorrow (MLT) and The Consortium (CGSM) she was able to hit the ground running as a result of the preparation and relationships she built from both of those programs. In this interview, Ogene spoke to us about the importance of both of these programs to helping her navigate her first year, as well as how she was able to successfully manage the unexpected challenges of business school.
MBASchooled: After you decided to attend business school and put down your deposit, what was your timeline like leading up to business school? What did you do and when did you arrive on campus?
I loved my role at Hulu and was very hesitant to leave my job earlier than necessary; I quit my job two weeks before stepping foot on campus. In hindsight, I would have built in more time to travel and decompress before the organized chaos that is being a first-year MBA student.
MBASchooled: As a Member of both MLT and Consortium, how did those organizations help you prepare for business school?
MLT and Consortium have been vital to both my personal and professional growth. MLT bolstered my confidence during recruiting due to the sheer breadth of resources the organization provided. The support system that I’ve gained through the Consortium has truly shaped my experience at Ross for the better; it’s opened doors to opportunities that I wouldn’t have been aware of otherwise.
MBASchooled: As a Member of Consortium, you attended OP, what was that like, and did you do any recruiting while there?
OP was a whirlwind. I was exposed to so many different companies and met so many awesome MBA students—it was truly one of the highlights of my summer. OP had a number of different career tracks that you could learn more about that ranged from finance to technology to consulting. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to hone in on career paths that were of interest without fully committing to an internship. I primarily focused on networking and learning more about specific companies while I was at OP, so my recruiting was rather limited.
MBASchooled: As you transitioned to school, what resources or programs were most helpful in getting up to speed early on?
The second-year MBA students (MBA2s) have been invaluable resources to lean on for both personal and professional advice. It can be difficult to convey all that goes into the business school experience to someone who hasn’t experienced it firsthand—MBA2s were vital to my smooth transition to school. Similarly, Ross’s Career Development Office was in constant contact with me throughout the summer to ensure that I was able to hit the ground running once I stepped foot on campus.
MBASchooled: During your first year, what did you decide to recruit for?
I recruited for both product management and brand management. I knew that I loved certain aspects of both functions and wanted to thoroughly explore both options before accepting an internship offer.
MBASchooled: What were some of the initial challenges you first in your first quarter/semester of business school? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge that I faced was ensuring that I prioritized activities that energized me. Business school is rife with opportunities and it’s very easy to be pulled towards so many things at once. I had to make an active effort to stay focused on what I had originally sought to get out of my experience.
This took the form of blocking out time on my calendar to exercise and reconnect with family and friends, setting hard boundaries around when and where I can meet, and fully pursuing roles that excited me. Assimilating to business school was difficult, but I grew so much during the process.
MBASchooled: Knowing what you know now, what else would you have done prior to business school to prepare for the first semester?
So much of business school is learning how to adjust to the unexpected. I’ve grown the most from experiences where I’ve had to think on the fly or respond to a crisis. Other than taking more time off to decompress, I wouldn’t change anything around how I prepared for my first term.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for how prospective MBA students should prepare for going to business school?
Before stepping foot on campus, I wrote down what I wanted to get out of my business school experience. It’s really helped me drown out the noise and—while it has slightly changed—the true essence of my list has been constant. I highly recommend creating a list to reference in the event that you feel torn over which activities to spend your energy on.
MBASchooled: Even though we are still learning what the MBA Experience will be like this fall (ex: virtual, in-person, hybrid) how can incoming students prepare for first year recruiting? Is there anything different they need to be prepared for?
Incoming students should continue to research companies of interest and hone in on career paths that align with their passions. Because the MBA Experience may be virtual or a hybrid, it’s even more important to stay in close contact with recruiters and ensure that you’re being proactive with your touchpoints. A silver lining in all of this is that more companies are open to hiring remote workers, which will expand the number of opportunities available to you if you’re confined to a specific geographic location.
MBASchooled: What tips or best practices do you have to help incoming MBA students prepare for a virtual MBA Experience?
Try to give yourself as much grace as possible. We’re all adjusting to a new normal and you may find it hard to focus on studying for a class or prepping for an interview or building relationships with your classmates. It’s okay to take time to recharge and refocus. Many of your classmates will be feeling the same way, so try to lean on them as much as possible. You’ll get through this together.
Are you a first-year getting ready for your MBA Experience? Join us for our Webinar to learn how to prepare for business school!