My advice to folks joining new-age B-Schools, by observing the Masters’ Union / Mesa School of Business cohorts.
1. This will mostly be about People. Leverage your batch to the fullest, make friends for life and most importantly find people whom you can build alongside. Wherever trust is immense, identify and test such that you can prospectively build a company with them, embarking upon a special outlier journey.
2. MU/MSB provides a lot of interesting opportunities and connects. But you cannot wait for it to create magic, you will have to leverage it for yourself and make magic happen. You will have to be more proactive in ensuring that the ecosystem works for you.
3. Don't try to do everything. B-School is overwhelming, if you try to do everything - you will probably get lost. Try everything in the first 2 months - then know the things you want to spike in.
4. Events are overrated, real on-ground work is underrated. Index accordingly.
5. Network extensively with the ecosystem provided to you. It’s a great muscle to build and the best way to learn practical skills (apart from doing the work). And build true depth with your network, not superficial takeaway based relations.
6. Know your milestones (Forward looking). For the Outclass challenges - Dropshipping, Creator Challenge, VIP, others - identify in advance what you want to prioritise. Whatever it is for you, identify them beforehand, gives you an edge to stitch the right story and prioritise well.
7. Strive for Excellence. Don’t work to adhere to deadlines (although you will be compelled to), strive for true excellence. It’s a great muscle for life.
8. Depth > Breadth. You will always be inclined in the adrenaline rush to do more, instead do less but do it really well. Just because it seems fancy, does not mean you have to do it. Everything will seem fancy at some point, choose your battles well.
9. Gurgaon - Navigate it well. Explore the startup ecosystem in the city, beyond MU, along with the help of MU. The city is a bit risky so manage decently. Winters will be bad, so will the summers, distances will be long (for Delhi), so manage it well. Don’t compromise on health, in the long run healthy habits now will make it for life.
10. Take risks, nothing to lose (PLEASE take risks!) B-School provides a soft landing to take risks when you are around. So take them and keep iterating, builds risk muscle very well. As they say, in the end - we regret the things we did not try NOT the things we tried and failed in.
11. Resist the obvious, just because 80% of the batch is doing something, does not mean you have to as well. Choose wisely.
- Curate your circle carefully. You sure are the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with.
- Win holistically. In all spectrums that you have identified.
- Practice the saying “No” muscle, prioritise ruthlessly.
- B-School can be overwhelming, plan in advance to get ahead and not lose on health, sleep, discipline. Discipline & Proactiveness will help you break away from the rushed culture.