Last few weeks of classes together with new professors, new ICP projects and the new us??

It’s been an interesting few weeks since we have returned from South Africa…on one side, we have been juggling company presentations almost every week with job application deadlines, cover letters, interview preparations, more networking to get that dream job while on the other hand we were also introduced to two new course modules –Negotiations and Finance.......and we wrapped up our Organizational Behavior and Global Political Economy classes....

Yes, just when most of us Finance averse folks thought that we were done with the last bit of Finance terror, we were proved wrong!! if anything makes the re-birth of IMD Finance acceptable, it’s the sense of humor and demeanor of our finance professor for this module – Prof. Salvatore Cantale. I guess we all can agree that both our Finance modules have been taught by interesting Professors….you heard about Prof. Nuno during the first 6 months and while Prof. Salvatore probably wont be spending as much time with us, I am sure the class is already beginning to feel his impact…in today’s class we covered everything from Option Pricing including a lot of excel magic to an interesting case discussion to a philosophical topic about taking responsibility for our choices with regards to the financial crisis …of course with lots of Sicilian humor intermixed in Finance…..

Then we have the new ICP projects…again including some really big names and brands with strategic challenges and then some unique small-mid size organizations....travel this time includes USA, Chile, all across Europe, China, etc...

Amidst all this, one common theme for me and many of my classmates has been the “new us”……ever since we have been back from South Africa, it seems like we have really come together as a class…or atleast we certainly behave in a much more cohesive manner while the 90 of us are together….we know much more about each other and also know how to make things happen much more faster….in the first part of the program, I often found myself checking our calendar for the rest of the year because in a way I was ready to get done with this intense program and be done with the year…….but since the start of this module, I have not done that even once because it would make me realize that we have only 3-4 months together and in fact August is probably the last month we will all be at the Lorange taking the same classes together….September is the On campus recruiting event, followed by ICP 2 in October followed by electives in November….

It’s a strange feeling I can’t explain…the intensity is still there, but seems like we know how to handle it better, the job stress is there but most of us know we will get through that ….and sadly the only thing we don’t know how we might handle is the fact that the program will be done in a few months from now………but perhaps it’s too early to get into that….

It’s been a long day especially with the new French elective I have started…so it’s time to hit the sack!

Adios!

Vikas 

A Year at IMD

​hello everyone - I recently had the opportunity to share my IMD experience with Accepted.com......hopefully, this will help my applicant friends for the upcoming deadline....good luck! 

IMD MBA Interview with Student Vikas Menon

JUNE 28, 2013 BY ACCEPTED.COM LEAVE A COMMENT

Here’s a talk with Vikas Menon, a soon-to-be graduate of IMD Switzerland. Vikas talks about his b-school experience, and offers some serious insight into the IMD MBA program. If you’re thinking about applying to IMD, then you’ll definitely want to read on! Thank you Vikas for sharing with us!

This interview is the latest in an Accepted.com blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Accepted: First, can you tell us a bit about yourself: Where are you from? Where and what did you study as an undergrad? What other degrees do you hold?

Vikas: I am of Indian heritage but was born and brought up in Dubai, UAE and lived outside India all my life. I moved to the US in 2000 for my undergrad at Michigan State University (Go Green! Go White!!) and studied electrical and computer engineering. Third year into my undergrad, I realized that I didn’t like engineering as much as I liked interacting with people but I also realized that I was passionate about technology. I completed my engineering coursework and my first job in the US was in Sales for a Software company in DC that allowed me to pursue my passion for technology while working with people.

Accepted: Which other schools were you considering? What tipped the scales to favor IMD?

Vikas: IESE, INSEAD, HEC and a few American universities.

1. Once you attend the one day assessment at IMD with 5-6 people from different nationalities, backgrounds, professional experiences, you realize how IMD’s teaching style is truly based on “Real World…Real Learning” – you learn just as much from your classmates as you do from your professors, and your classmates are mid-level to senior level managers from large global MNCs, entrepreneurs, PHDs, scientists and people who have an average work experience of 7-8 years working in 2-3 countries.

2. Leadership at IMD – I had always heard about IMD’s leadership stream being one of the best in the world but I can tell you 6 months into the program, that IMD’s leadership stream is not simply the best but is one of a kind. It challenges you to rethink who you are, your personality, and helps you discover not just the conscious parts of your personality and leadership but also the subconscious and helps you understand how people perceive you. This knowledge can really help you become a better leader, team player, communicator and motivator in a professional environment.

3. Small class size – I meet my 90 classmates every day for almost 75% of the program. We sit in the same classroom, we eat together and we spend long long hours together. The bonds and connections that are formed from that level of interaction and intimacy are incredible. We are a small community of MBAs and alumni (even though our extended network is probably one of the biggest) however, based on my experience so far and during the application process last year, I can guarantee you that every MBA alumni or student would respond to any request of help in less than 48-72 hours…some would even welcome the opportunity to help you and meet you. My mentor and advisor since last year is an alumnus from the class of 2008! He not only helped me with the application process but also continues to be a good friend, mentor and advisor and this is the power of the IMD class size and ‘tight-knit’ MBA community.

Accepted: What do you think are some of the advantages of attending a one-year MBA program? Are there disadvantages?

Vikas: The advantages –

1. Focus on general management.

2. The shorter duration obviously helps you get back to the real world sooner.

3. The intensity really helps you push yourself to the next level and challenges you every day and every minute.

The disadvantages –

1. Lack of specialization – If you are looking for a specific functional role/industry post-MBA that requires expertise in Finance (for instance, VC, investment banking, etc), a one-year program might not help an individual with no background in those areas.

2. Intensity – the intensity is great for some people but can be too much for others.

Accepted: What’s your favorite thing about living in Switzerland? Do you plan on continuing to live and work in Europe after you receive your MBA?

Vikas: Switzerland, specifically Lausanne is a very cool, calm and beautiful place….really facilitates and helps in the learning process. IMD is located on the lake and every day, I get to see the Swiss Alps and the lake on my way to school. Yes, I plan on continuing to work in Europe but probably in a bigger city (only because that’s my personal preference).

Accepted: Can you recommend a nice coffee shop or other place that’s good for hanging out and/or studying in Lausanne?

Vikas: The good thing about IMD is that we are provided a 5-star hotel level lunch every day (included in the fees) throughout the year by a Michelin star chef and team! Coffee, tea, nespresso, hot chocolate, etc are all available whenever we want on campus…..we barely ever use coffee shops because we are in the IMD “dungeons” most of the time  . The campus is beautiful, dynamic, green and sophisticated-modern, so we barely find the need to find a coffee shop……ask me about a bar and that’s a different story  .

Accepted: What was the most challenging step for you in the MBA admissions process? How did you approach it and overcome it?

Vikas: The one day assessment can be really challenging because it requires thorough preparation. As part of the one day assessment you have an impromptu case, a prepared case (they send a week before the assessment), admissions interview and lunch with a current student. Additionally, the 11+ essays in the application and the short word count really makes you think about your skills, achievements, weaknesses, personality, etc in very different light.

- See more at: http://blog.accepted.com/2013/06/28/imd-mba-interview-with-current-student-vikas-menon/#sthash.KK4mbK1a.dpuf​

South Africa and the brave kids……implanted in my memory for life!

​I know a lot has already been said about South Africa and the diverse experiences we have all had in Johannesburg….but after my previous post​, something happened that changed my perspective of South Africa and redefined what courage means to me…

My classmates Vijay, Marie and Hsuan-chi were involved in a project for Lovelife – a youth mentoring, education and HIV prevention initiative  – and through their work, they had the opportunity to meet and help some amazing children at an orphanage in Kliptown - Soweto Kliptown Youth - SKY​ 

Now, I have to confess that I had always avoided visiting orphanages in the past because I didn’t know how to deal with my feelings of sadness, depression and helplessness and I was, as always, hesitant about heading out to Kliptown to visit SKY as well…….

I remember walking through the Kliptown slums and I was appalled at what I saw…..I remember thinking that no human should ever have to live in this kind of poverty – make-shift sheds for houses, lack of sanitation facilities, flowing polluted water, a breeding ground for cholera as one of my classmates put it…….Shouldn't it be absolutely unacceptable that people have to suffer and live in these conditions; especially when there are so many of us fortunate and educated people around the world??!!

The kids at the orphanage were beyond excited to see us and what amazed me was that amidst this poverty, these kids had managed to find small positive streaks in their lives…the founder of the orphanage – brother Bob Nameng– didn’t sympathize with the kids, yes he empathized, he loved, he cared…but he didn’t let them feel sorry for their misfortunes…instead, he spoke about education, learning and building strength…about fighting through life no matter what obstacles they faced and about overcoming every challenge in their way and I saw heart and courage and holiness in that room that day through the various songs, dances, speeches, smiles and hugs….

It doesn’t take a MBA or money to make a difference…what it takes is heart and soul…..I realized that I cannot continue to procrastinate on what we must absolutely do for people across the world who need our help………that evening at the hotel, I told Rafa, my classmate, that it’s so easy to feel all these strong emotions now but I guess we'll  forget about the kids come next year….busy with our jobs and  normal lives.....but Rafa was absolutely right in saying that we might get busy, we might be across the world, but after this experience, it’s going to be impossible to forget the kids and their courage………

Here’s a glimpse of the bravest kids I have ever met in my life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ew2im4rkVc&feature=youtu.be​

…......and after that here's a TedxWarwick 2013 video of the founder - Brother Bob - a true leader and great human! ​

Vikas 

Hallo from South Africa

Hoe gaan dit? (How are you in Afrikaans)

It’s been forever since my last blog entry and I don’t know where to start – should I tell you about my “vacation” week at home in Dubai where my classmate Nizar and I were set up to meet companies and interviews through IMD career services…or about my family vacation through beautiful Italy and my new found love for the beautiful, vibrant, cultural city of Florence…or about my younger brothers graduation in Birmingham………

Well let’s put all that on a hold and let me welcome you to South Africa and Joburg….the class of IMD arrived here on 22^nd and I kid you not when I say that having 70+ classmates on the same aircraft can be quite the experience….long conversations catching up with each other and discussing our various experiences…..and then landing in Johannesburg welcomed by our program director and IMD Executive director – Hischam El-Agamy – who has been instrumental in setting up the expedition to South Africa.

This is the 5^th year of the Discovery Expedition where we work with local South African SME’s , MNC’s, NGO’s and state ministries to help them improve their operations….this is where we try to get our hands dirty and understand the South African context….but what is this South African context ? It’s this all-encompassing feeling of unity between the different cultures and races of people here…it’s the fact that everyone feels South African first before any reference to their heritage whether its European or Indian or African…if they even mention it that is…..it’s this sense of belonging and pride in what the country has achieved in the past few decades….it’s this positivity and hope in the  amazing future of the nation…..it’s in their food where we yesterday learned to cook a Indonesian-malay influenced South African dish called Bobotie…..it’s in the wonderful stories I have shared with taxi drivers, employees, clients and classmates about the nation, the history and this sense of forgiveness and compassion to forget the past and move forward together….and I had all kinds of expectations and assumptions about this country before I came here and I must say atleast in the neighborhood we live in – Sandton – this is nothing short of an international city with tall skyscrapers, huge malls, office complexes, etc….

We are all trying to learn, immerse ourselves and help people like a few of my classmates (in the pic below) are doing with their project helping under privileged homeless children ……if we can make a difference to one of their lives even for a day , a week or a month…. I would imagine that we can be happy about our small little contribution….

 

Dankie South Africa for your warmth, your sense of positivity, hope and your compassion and openness….

Night Life in Budapest...

Summer vacation week 2 and the festivities continue all over the world......our classmate Hsuan-chi shares her Budapest experience...

Hello from Budapest!  It’s rich culture combines with great food, good wine, and beautiful people makes it even more fun during the night.  You can enjoy the evening by visiting the world class opera at the Hungarian State Opera House, joining a concert in the St. Stephen's Basilica, party at one of those ruin clubs/pub, or simply enjoy the outdoor evening event at Deák Ferenc tér.​

Pic 1 - Opera House

 

Pic 2 - St. Stephens 

Pic 3 - Ruin Clubs/Pubs
 

Pic 4 - Deák Ferenc tér

Hello from the Singapore career trek!

Sorry friends for the lapse....it's been a busy week for me in Dubai with my classmate and I visiting IMD alumni and potential employers.....interviews, networking, informational sessions, etc....nevertheless, I am back in action now ....

This photo entry is from my classmate Xiyun Bu who is in Singapore as part of the career trek organized by IMD....enjoy 

After one day company visit, we treat ourself in No Signboard Seafood restaurant

 

‘Cause I’m leaving on a jet plane…

​It’s been an insanely super fantastic few days since the weekend….It started with the alumni simulated interviews on Saturday morning followed by the alumni and MBA class networking cocktail. I continue to be amazed by the amount of quality time the IMD MBA alumni spend in mentoring, helping and guiding our class. Just this past week, I spent 2 hours with my mentor talking about my post MBA goals, this was followed by a simulated interview by another alumni and of course the many alumni met from the class of 2012 who I remember meeting last year during the assessment day. I know I have said this before but we have a strong alumni network, strong not purely by quantity but strong by the fact that they are ready to regulary devote quality time to help the IMD community and us…Thank you IMD MBA alumni’s!

On my list of thank you’s, I must also thank my classmates on the Mountain Experience committee (Fabian, Dan, Christophe & Ziv) for putting together an amazing three days in the beautiful mountains of Morgins with activities including Rafting, Hydrospeeding, Ultimate Frisbee, Rock climbing, Mountain biking, Pony rides (for the IMD kids), Family walks, Mountain Hikes and one hec of a party on Sunday night! I am still on the path to recovery…it was great spending time with my classmates and their partners away from the campus and in true vacation spirit!

And finally, I must thank all my classmates and IMD for a fantastic first 6 months of the program…as we embark on our summer breaks, I can’t help but reflect on how much I have learnt not just about business but about people, about myself, about cultures and languages, about leadership and about friendship…it’s been great but now its time for some R&R before we come back to head to South Africa! 

I’m off to Dubai tomorrow and my next blog post will probably come from the Middle East where temperatures are at 41 degrees! Nevertheless, there is nothing in the world that comes close to the excitement of going home!

…………..’Cause I’m leaving on a jet plane…..

Thank you IMD!

Vikas Menon