Source: Financial Times
by Ronald AngSiy,
October 14, 2016.
“[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ow much did they pay you to give up on your dreams?” This quote from the film Up in the Air, staring George Clooney and Anna Kendrick, poignantly sums up so many of our situations. I am an abstract, creative thinker by nature. My goal was to work in an area such as advertising. However, when recruiting season began at university, I saw that full-time positions in my industry opened the following May, while all my classmates aiming for other industries secured jobs in October at twice my target salary.
I took one of those jobs. We make decisions because they seem rational. Then several years later you wonder where you are and how you arrived here. You look for a second chance, but second chances are rare. They are hard to ask for and even harder to receive.
An MBA, along with my start-up InnaMed are my second chance to change my story.
While some of my classmates prioritise significant salary growth as their primary driver, many are now chasing what they love, or trying to figure out what that even is. They have taken internships at below market rates over the summer and they are more prepared to deal with failure and sacrifice.
“As I studied my role models and how they achieved what they did, I came to realise this: If you’re always successful, you haven’t tried hard enough,” Antina Lee, founder of Perseus Mirrors and a friend of mine, said recently.
Wharton is not a place for risk-aversion; it is a place for risk-seeking and actively encourages aggressive ambitions. We use terms such as “stretch experiences” and “Fomo” (fear of missing out) to help articulate this culture. We have a programme where you can sit on the board of directors for an established non-profit organisation. Wharton posts opportunities for you to help manage venture capital firms in developing countries with an emphasis on social impact. Our MBA even offers multiple programmes to consult with local and Fortune 500 companies looking at critical business issues such as new market entry.
While an MBA is only one way (and an expensive way) to change your life priorities, it presents a structured and supportive environment to do so. And with only two years to dream and explore, we find ourselves rushing from one opportunity to the next.
