MBA programs usually pack a hefty chunk of learning into two years; the pace and volume are intense. Like any formal education, many of the most important lessons aren’t from a book or lecture. Business school students learn all about finance, accounting, marketing, and operations, but the experience of school and the relationships are the most valuable outcome.
Finance and accounting
You’ll take classes and read textbooks that explain the basic mathematical concepts of accounting and balance sheets. It’s not enough to publish a budget if you can’t justify why certain expenditures are included or how they’ll impact the business. The real lessons learned aren’t how the numbers add up; it’s developing the ability to make decisions based on the reports and numbers confidently. You need to learn how cash flow and inventory influence the success of your business and how your decisions affect other factors like taxes.
Marketing
Developing a new product and researching the best way to sell it are valuable tools students learn in class. Even more important, the teachers and projects you complete underscore the importance of effectively selling your idea to investors and customers. You’ll practice presenting to an audience, delivering concise information under a time limit, and making an argument for a position. The experience of developing a marketing campaign and engaging an audience gives you the confidence to persist outside the walls of the school. By speaking in front of groups, you’ll learn to articulate your words and interpret body language in crowds.
Organizational Behavior
Business law and ethics are taught in the classroom, but group projects develop communication skills. Presenting conclusions to the class teaches students to listen for tone and contextual clues. Teamwork and collaboration are the natural outcomes of working in groups to accomplish a common goal. Students also learn when to take reasonable risks while working on a team. Diagnosing the steps that lead to failure and handling the aftermath of a failed project are valuable learning moments outside of class.
Management
Relationship building is a critical skill because your fellow students are your future customers and business partners. You’ll learn that effective teams include members with different skills and how to lead a project to a successful conclusion in a real-life setting like a California boarding school. Students also have access to alumni and internships that provide insight into the real world of business. Learning to build rapport and create productive conversation benefits you long after your last test.
Conclusion
MBA core curriculum is typically comprised of classes in finance, marketing, management, and organisational behavior. Students get a broad overview of the major areas of business, but it’s the school experience itself that is most valuable. Professors may teach how to write a budget properly, but attending school teaches you to communicate with team members, delegate tasks, motivate others, and develop collaborative skills. Many of the important things you’ll learn at business school don’t come from a textbook or lecture. The experience of attending school and the relationships made with students, professors, and alumni are the most valuable outcome.