As I approached the halfway point of my career, I knew what came next. I’ve always known. How I’d get there was a different story altogether.
When J.D. (Clarke) interviewed me and asked me why I wanted to do my EMBA, I listed several reasons that resonated with me at the time:
- For a racialized employee like myself, more tools to put me on a level playing field
- Being an engineer, I wanted to learn more about business and finance;
- I wanted the four letters at the end of my resume to unlock new opportunities;
- I wanted to learn about other sectors.
That all sounds good, right? Ivey agreed. Application approved, pat on the back, congrats, I’m an Ivey EMBA 2023 candidate off on my journey to fulfill objectives 1 through 4.
And this brings me to the first 60 days. There’s a lot that’s happened: studying, lecture, group meetings, and social gatherings. But given the amount of space for this article is finite, I’ll highlight the things that resonated with me the most.
The Whatsapp Chat Group: EMBA 2023 Class
I believe credit goes to Jeff Armour on this one. He created an inclusive Whatsapp group, open to all the EMBA 2023 candidates that’s still going strong. Usually I’m not one for large scale group chats, but every time my phone ‘dings’ I’m secretly hoping it’s from this group.
It’s a safe space to ask questions about work or assignments, to solicit advice from other thought leaders in their industry (I believe CRM was a topic a couple of weeks ago), to organize largescale group outings (which I’ll get to later), or just to chat random nonsense (which I contribute to the most) like class seating arrangements and romance fiction.
On my Whatsapp, there are lists of groups that I clean out and remove over time – this one is sticking with me for as long as everyone still wants to be there.
EMBA BUBBLE (otherwise known as Residence Week at Spencer Hall)
Before going into it, just some high-level stats on the Bubble:
- 7 straight days of lecture (Leadership, Winning w/ Marketing, Data Analytics, Information Systems, and the ever-so-terrifying Management Accounting and Controls).
- 50 other complete strangers, jammed together in a classroom
- 4 of those strangers will be your lifeline for learning, group assignments, and leadership. You’ll often be crammed into a room with them for learning discussions
- 3 square meals a day (gourmet I might add) with 3 snacks in between
- Because of COVID, it was advised not to leave the Bubble.
- The gym – while adequate – was missing a bar for the squat rack (because squats are essential to any good education)
Those stats might be terrifying to any prospective EMBA students. But this is the reality – I loved every minute of the Bubble. And it’s safe to say I wasn’t the only one.
Picture this:
- class discussions where you’re allowed to go off-topic if it contributes to the learning (i.e. flexible lessons plans). One stimulating debate was around digital currency and whether governments should have control and authority over it.
- Team activities that pits you against nature in a simulated environment to test your leadership skills (I got my entire team killed…sorry Team 2).
- Awesome conversations at dinner, meeting new intellectual people that have a genuine curiosity about you and the wealth of knowledge you’ve accumulated over the years and vice versa
- After dinner cocktails and conversations and staying until the restaurant closes since its only 10 steps away from your room (three cheers to John Peellegoda for closing it out with me every night).
- Meeting a collection of the best classmates one could possibly ask for. Here’s a message from Karim Hamasni – our Crypto King --from the chat: “I think I might be doing this analytics case wrong. I’m trying to combine a set of people to find the optimal EMBA class and I can’t get a result better than the current combination…”
When I got home from the Bubble and chatted with my wife about the entire experience, she noticed how different I was. I was excited and energized, similar to how my daughter was when she returned from her first day of school and her world was open to all these new and cool experiences. The EMBA made me a kid again – playing with other new friends in maniacal glee.
Second Module
After joining the line of future leaders shoving little sticks into our nostrils to prove that we were all void of COVID, the second module of class was here, 30 days later. It was a blur of rapid fast-paced learning and more gourmet meals to break up the lectures – and once again I enjoyed every minute of it. The classes and the profs were designed to hold your attention and to challenge and stimulate you intellectually. Perhaps the moment I’ll remember the most from the second module was Leadership, when they hired actors to come in and yell at you, argue with you, get defensive, get passive-aggressive, and anything else possible to get under your skin. The actor our team worked with stole the delicious baklava I had saved for my snack time. Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment, but once again I enjoyed the experience as did my partner in crime on this one, Mark Kleefeld!
The Social Gathering Post Second Module
Kudos goes out to both Andrew Howard and Mike Wilkes for planning an epic evening out for the EMBA 2023 class – we had the entire private section of the Northern Maverick all to ourselves. This was where the real relationship building for the entire class began. Perhaps details of that night are best left to the imagination, but here’s a picture that sums it all up (minus many others who left earlier. This was a ‘closing-out the establishment’ picture.)
Day 60
We’re all back at it for Module 3 – and once again I’m excited. It’s been too long since I last saw everyone in person.
I also thought that since this is an article reflecting experiences with Ivey, it was important that some of the other class mates get their voices heard in this one too.
I posed a question to a few classmates: In the past 60 days, what did you gain from the EMBA?
Here were their responses:
Emma Coyle: New insights with respect to myself, my colleagues, and my company. It’s already helping me identify my blind spots and contribute in ways I’d not previously considered.
John Peellegoda: Confidence
Emma Schindler: Connections
Jeff Armour: New perspectives, people, and approaches to learning
Julie Nolette: Learnings from an immersive and talented team of individuals. The learnings have been tremendous
Lisa Miloszewski: A new supportive network
James Cunningham: friendships
Mark Kleefeld: Emasculating actuators (see footnote)
Kira Liu: Camaraderie
Sandy Sander: Confidence
60 days later, I reflect back on the 4 objectives I had stated to J.D. and I’ve realized over the past two months those were all secondary benefits.
What I really was looking for was relationships that I could take with me for the next half of my career. And as for my answer of “In the past 60 days, what did I gain?” It’s Happiness.
In our last Leadership class, Professor David Loree (who received a standing ovation) said something that truly resonated with me. In his parting words, he recognized that the EMBA 2023 class was different – that there was something truly special about us. And I couldn’t agree more.
EMBA 2023 Class – this article was really for you.
P.S. This is how we do it….
Footnote:
Source: Professor Kersi Antia – Amazing guide into the World of Marketing