MBA without BS
By Michael Gallant
So far I spoke with the top leaders from INSEAD, MiT, IE, CASS and others, and with world renowned entrepreneurs, professors and mentors.
MBA without BSJul 10, 2020
#29 - Lior Suchard (part B) on First Impressions, Playing Tricks For a Living, and the Power of Positive Thinking
“You can live your life as if nothing is magical, or as if everything is magical. “
Lior Suchard (@liorsuchard) is one of the world’s most well known and critically acclaimed mentalists. His performances combine his unique talent for mind reading, thought influencing and telekinesis to name a few. If you haven’t had the rare pleasure of seeing him in action I highly recommend you do. From shows taped before a live audience like The Ellen Degeneres Show and his own Quibi show Gone Mental with Lior, to private events for mind trick enthusiasts around the world, Lior never fails to bring his audience to their knees and often leaves skeptics dumbfound.
Referred to as an “Intuitive Social Scientist” by well known behavioral economist Dan Ariely, a previous guest on this podcast, Lior has relied on hard work and old fashion ‘positive’ hustling to perform what is arguably one of his most impressive tricks of all - taking a childhood passion for wonderment and play and turning into a thriving, exciting and unpredictable career.
Lior’s book Mind Reader: Unlocking the Power of Your Mind to Get what You Want is a celebration of the limitless capacity of our minds to create and manifest even the most unimaginable. In his book he shares secrets from behind the scenes of his own performances as well as real life personal stories that offer insight into practical techniques that can help every day people tap into the extraordinary in order to bring about positive change in their lives.
In our sit down together we speak about:
- The limitlessly entertaining and highly profound power of the mind
- The path of least resistance: following the flow of life
- The power of relationships and building a global network
- Striking the right balance between story and product
- The value of recognizing and acting on opportunities that come your way
- The role of luck and intuition in achieving success
Links to the books we talk about:
Happy listening!
#28 - Lior Suchard on First Impressions, Playing Tricks For a Living, and the Power of Positive Thinking
“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing”. George Bernard Shaw
Lior Suchard (@liorsuchard) is one of the world’s most well known and critically acclaimed mentalists. His performances combine his unique talent for mind reading, thought influencing and telekinesis to name a few. If you haven’t had the rare pleasure of seeing him in action I highly recommend you do. From shows taped before a live audience like The Ellen Degeneres Show and his own Quibi show Gone Mental with Lior, to private events for mind trick enthusiasts around the world, Lior never fails to bring his audience to their knees and often leaves skeptics dumbfound.
Referred to as an “Intuitive Social Scientist” by well known behavioral economist Dan Ariely, a previous guest on this podcast, Lior has relied on hard work and old fashion ‘positive’ hustling to perform what is arguably one of his most impressive tricks of all - taking a childhood passion for wonderment and play and turning into a thriving, exciting and unpredictable career.
Lior’s book Mind Reader: Unlocking the Power of Your Mind to Get what You Want is a celebration of the limitless capacity of our minds to create and manifest even the most unimaginable. In his book he shares secrets from behind the scenes of his own performances as well as real life personal stories that offer insight into practical techniques that can help every day people tap into the extraordinary in order to bring about positive change in their lives.
In our sit down together we speak about:
- The limitlessly entertaining and highly profound power of the mind
- The path of least resistance: following the flow of life
- The power of relationships and building a global network
- Striking the right balance between story and product
- The value of recognizing and acting on opportunities that come your way
- The role of luck and intuition in achieving success
Links to the books we talk about:
Happy listening!
#27 - Peter Dittus (Part B) on World Currency Shakeups, Investing Wisely and Relying on Your Humanity to Guide You
This is the second part of my interview with Peter. If you missed out the first part, I recommend you check it out!
“In structuring what you want to do with your life and how you want to do it, think about how you want to treat your fellow humans’.
You are not supposed to know Peter Dittus (@Peterdittus), or the organization that employed him for 25 years, the BIS.
Even more so, Googling the latter would probably yield conspiracy theories, world schemes, and titles like “the secret bank that runs the world”.
Peter, who holds a PhD in Monetary Economics, was the Secretary General of the BIS for 12 years.
His story begins 30 years earlier. Disillusioned by the political nature of his work with the World Bank, Peter set out to build a career that could make a difference in the world. The value of transparency and sharing of ideas revealed themselves to be of the utmost importance to Peter and in our talk we delve deeper into his views on the unbalanced distribution of power that an institution such as the World Bank yields.
In 1992, Peter joined the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) as an economist and from 1995 assumed increasingly senior responsibilities within the organization. As a bank for central banks, the mission of the BIS to encourage international cooperation and support the pursuit of monetary and financial stability aligned with Peter’s professional and personal interests and in 2000 he became a member of the bank’s senior management team when he was appointed Deputy Secretary General.
In his 2017 book Revolution Required: The ticking time bombs of the G7 Model, Peter writes about the public’s justified loss of trust in the policies set forth by G7 countries. He demonstrates how key policies, presented as being in service of the public’s best interest, are in fact counter to it. His book encourages its readers to become well informed, critical thinking members of society. He advocates for a shift from a model of reckless and power driven decision making to one that supports an “economy for the common good”.
Most recently, Peter co-founded SFB Technologies. Partnering up with the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), SFB is developing the technology platform to enable countries to issue digital currencies on the blockchain. RMI is in the process of becoming the first sovereign nation to issue a cryptocurrency called “Sovereign” (SOV) that will be legal tender.
In our sit down together Peter describes among other things the personal process that led to his decision to step down from his position at the World Bank . We also talk about:
- Economics 101 and why the current economic model is fundamentally “broken”
- The impending financial crisis and its inevitability
- How the current ‘paper standard’ has no anchor
- The potential for a shakeup in world currency
- How humanity, philosophy and critical thinking should play a key role in top to bottom decision making
Happy listening!
#26 - Peter Dittus (Part A) on World Currency Shakeups, Investing Wisely and Relying on Your Humanity to Guide You
“In structuring what you want to do with your life and how you want to do it, think about how you want to treat your fellow humans’.
You are not supposed to know Peter Dittus (@Peterdittus), or the organization that employed him for 25 years, the BIS.
Even more so, Googling the latter would probably yield conspiracy theories, world schemes, and titles like “the secret bank that runs the world”.
Peter, who holds a PhD in Monetary Economics, was the Secretary General of the BIS for 12 years.
His story begins 30 years earlier. Disillusioned by the political nature of his work with the World Bank, Peter set out to build a career that could make a difference in the world. The value of transparency and sharing of ideas revealed themselves to be of the utmost importance to Peter and in our talk we delve deeper into his views on the unbalanced distribution of power that an institution such as the World Bank yields.
In 1992, Peter joined the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) as an economist and from 1995 assumed increasingly senior responsibilities within the organization. As a bank for central banks, the mission of the BIS to encourage international cooperation and support the pursuit of monetary and financial stability aligned with Peter’s professional and personal interests and in 2000 he became a member of the bank’s senior management team when he was appointed Deputy Secretary General.
In his 2017 book Revolution Required: The ticking time bombs of the G7 Model, Peter writes about the public’s justified loss of trust in the policies set forth by G7 countries. He demonstrates how key policies, presented as being in service of the public’s best interest, are in fact counter to it. His book encourages its readers to become well informed, critical thinking members of society. He advocates for a shift from a model of reckless and power driven decision making to one that supports an “economy for the common good”.
Most recently, Peter co-founded SFB Technologies. Partnering up with the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), SFB is developing the technology platform to enable countries to issue digital currencies on the blockchain. RMI is in the process of becoming the first sovereign nation to issue a cryptocurrency called “Sovereign” (SOV) that will be legal tender.
In our sit down together Peter describes among other things the personal process that led to his decision to step down from his position at the World Bank . We also talk about:
- Economics 101 and why the current economic model is fundamentally “broken”
- The impending financial crisis and its inevitability
- How the current ‘paper standard’ has no anchor
- The potential for a shakeup in world currency
- How humanity, philosophy and critical thinking should play a key role in top to bottom decision making
Happy listening!
#25 - Morris Kahn on Serendipity, Forging Strong Relationships and Taking Chances
I didn’t make money to have property. I made money so I could live a rich and interesting life. I never wanted to be the richest man in the cemetery. "
Morris Kahn is a South African born Israeli entrepreneur and philanthropist who has helped put Israel on the map in more ways than one. He has launched multiple global enterprises including Amdocs, one of Israel’s largest, most established high-tech companies and Coral World, which operates underwater observatories all over the globe. A self made billionaire, his fortune is most certainly the least interesting thing about him. From building underwater observatories to launching the first privately funded spacecraft to the moon, there seems to be no limit to how far Morris Kahn’s entrepreneurial spirit can take him.
Kahn immigrated to Israel from South Africa in 1956, one year after visiting and falling in love with the country. He has since gone on to contribute enormously to its development and in 2016 was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce for his contribution to Israeli economy and philanthropic endeavors ranging from medicine and science to the environment, youth leadership and education.
In celebration of his 90th birthday, his most recent trip to Ethiopia proves Kahn has no intention of slowing down any time soon. In Ethiopia, his non for profit foundation helped establish an orphanage for abandoned children sentenced to death, set up a hospital equipped with state of the art equipment and cure hundreds of people from blindness. As he sees it “If we can’t help each other in this world, what are we doing here?”
Kahn is a natural born leader who doesn’t believe you can encourage people to do something without being willing to do it yourself. In our conversation he humbly attributes his success to good luck and believes that none of what he has accomplished could have been possible if it weren’t for his partnerships with trustworthy and competent individuals. In our sit down together we speak about:
- Accidents as the unlikely birthplace of innovative ideas
- Transforming hobbies into profitable businesses
- Focusing on the quality of what you are doing not how to get rich
- How investing in your relationships will pay off big time
- Giving your all to everything you do and recognizing when it's time to move on
Happy listening!
#24 - Gabrielle Bosché on Converting Knowledge into Action, Purpose as Permission and the Art of Being Alone
“We are a generation that is overwhelmed with information, but starving for knowledge and wisdom”.
Gabrielle Bosché (@saysgabrielle) is the founder and president of The Millennial Solution where she helps companies hire, retain and attract Millennial talent. She is also cofounder of The Purpose Company where she helps people discover their unique life purpose and how to build a life of clarity and meaning.
Gabrielle’s persistent dedication to honing in to the purpose of her own life has helped earn her the title of “America’s Millennial Expert”. A millennial herself, she is a best-selling author of four books on her generation including “The Millennial Entrepreneur and “5 Millennial Myths”. Her new book, The Purpose Factor, is scheduled for publication September 2020.
Gabrielle has translated her genuine curiosity about the differences that define a generation into a multi faceted and meaningful career. If you haven’t heard her TedX speech yet, I highly recommend that you do.
From Gabrielle’s perspective, it isn’t what school you go to, what position you land or how much you earn in salary that matters, it’s learning to take action aligned with your purpose that does. In our sit down together we talk about:
- How priorities and perspective impact the cultural identity of a generation
- The importance of finding your unique purpose
- Tips for how to gain direction and pursue a life of clarity and conviction
- The value of setting aside alone time for contemplation and introspection
- How to turn knowledge into action
In a time of global scale uncertainty, Gabrielle’s message of looking towards purpose and meaning to serve as the backbone of the big decisions of our lives feels right on point to me.
Happy Listening!
#23 - Dan Ariely on Maintaining Equilibrium, Engaging in Meaningful Conversations and Living a Brave Life
All good things must come to an end and this week’s episode is the bittersweet end to our mini series with Dan Ariely. If you missed our previous episodes be sure to check them out here. I have learned so much during my time with Dan and hope you have learned something, however big or small as well. In our final sit down in this series we speak about:
- Finding hidden pockets of time to pursue personal dreams
- Clever ways to add depth to our relationships
- How showing up gets harder the more time you wait
- Concentrating on the process, not the outcome
- The powerful hold regret can have over our lives
Happy listening!
#22 - Dan Ariely (part 3) on how to prioritize meetings, set apart successes from failures, and use variety as a tool to improve experiments
The third out of our 4 episode mini-series with Prof. Dan Ariely! If you haven't yet, check out the first and second episodes :)
Dan Ariely (@danariely) is the modern definition of a renaissance man. He is a Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University and founder of the Center for Advanced Hindsight that aims to empower people with the wisdom of behavioral economics.. His focus on the reality of how people act in the marketplace vs. how they should or would if only they were more rational, sets him apart from many behavioral scientists of his time.
Dan’s bestselling books include Irrationally Yours, Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, Dollars and Sense and Amazing Decisions. Dan’s writing is driven by the motivation to make research and science more ‘user friendly’ so that more people will experience for themselves the thrill of behavioral economics and discover ways this knowledge can benefit their lives.
In his “Ask Ariely” column in the Wall Street Journal, Dan tackles everything from how to manage the uncertainty brought on by the current pandemic to more personal questions of how to establish rituals to get through the painful reality of a break up. His ability to create a safe space for discussing science based arguments as well as more emotionally driven matters of the heart make him a fascinating person to interview.
#21 - Dan Ariely (part 2) on experimenting, dating opportunities, sleeping tips, goal setting, and behavior changing life hacks
This is the second part of a 4 episode mini-series.
Dan Ariely is a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University and a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight. He is the author of the bestsellers Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty, Dollars and Sense and Amazing Decisions -- as well as the TED Book Payoff: The Hidden Logic that Shapes Our Motivations. He is also co-creator of the film documentary (Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies.
Through his research and his (often amusing and unorthodox) experiments, he questions the forces that influence human behavior and the irrational ways in which we often all behave.
Feel free to check out our first episode in this mini-series.
Please enjoy!
#20 - Dan Ariely on origins, selective empathy, healthcare economics, suicide (and why Ben gave up), safety nets, ways to think about luck, and taking control of life.
This is the first part of a 4 episode mini-series.
Bio:
Dan Ariely is a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University and a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight. He is the author of the bestsellers Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty, Dollars and Sense and Amazing Decisions -- as well as the TED Book Payoff: The Hidden Logic that Shapes Our Motivations. He is also co-creator of the film documentary (Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies.
Through his research and his (often amusing and unorthodox) experiments, he questions the forces that influence human behavior and the irrational ways in which we often all behave.
Who is it for:
First and foremost - for Dan Ariely fans (like me!). If you want to get an insight into Dan’s origin story - this episode is probably for you. We go back in history, and invest a lot of time on Dan’s childhood experiences, and specifically the accident that left him badly burned.
Second - for those of you who are looking to dissect successful people stories, in the effort of learning what works and why. We look into why Dan does the things that he does, what are his motivations, and how he translates those motivations to actions.
Stay tuned for the next episode, where we talk about experimentation as a way of life, about getting a date with Dan, and much much more… :)
#19 - Ahmad Imam presents a content creation 1-minute crash course, and 4 steps to crack LinkedIn
Self-improvement is in Ahmad’s DNA, and he lives by the mantra “Your best is yet to come.”
His mission is to help a MILLION people build the confidence and courage they need to live their best life.
As the ambassador for Success Resources Australia, he opens the doors to the world’s greatest speakers, thought leaders and business minds and provides the opportunity for you to learn from them through world-class seminars, exclusive retreats and elite masterminds.
Ahmad has dominated the LinkedIn platform and made it his own, becoming a social media personality in his short time on the platform and building an engaged following of over 400k in just 18 months.
You can find him regularly inspiring and motivating his community by sharing the secrets to gaining greater confidence, creating powerful content and building a success mindset.
A video trailblazer, described as “Charismatic, bold, smart and engaging”, Ahmad’s magnetic personality has seen many of his posts go viral, featuring in Forbes and Inc. and he currently averages 2 million views on his content per month.
Who is it for:
This episode is for you if you felt different from your peers and have been seeking a way to use those differences to succeed. Join me and Ahmed Iman this week if you are considering an MBA or are in the process of pursuing one and are uncertain about how your experiences can help support your future.
What’s in the episode:
How to overcome your fears by challenging them
The path towards building the new you
The non-negotiables in any business endeavor
Why pushing through and trusting your instincts matters
How to turn struggle into motivation
Ahmed’s favorite book from the last year; “Talk like Ted”
Why consistency is key
Ahmed’s tips and tricks on how to create content
Where to invest your time on social media
The 3 most important elements for a person in crisis to step out of it
#18 - Venture Capitalist, Life Coach, and YouTube Sensation - Prof. Conor Neill
Conor is a sought-after keynote speaker on Leadership. He teaches Leadership Communications at IESE Business School and is the President of Vistage in Spain, part of the world’s leading CEO organisation. As an entrepreneur, he has founded 5 companies, selling 16 private jets and building the 3rd largest fleet of private jets in Spain. He is a visiting professor at University College Dublin, the University of Montevideo and Permanent Faculty on Entrepreneurs’ Organisation’s Global Leadership Academy.
#17 - Private Equity Tarzan - Billy Fox
Never be shy about your past - don't listen to anyone else's reasons about why to do an MBA !
About this episode:
Billy is an adventurer.
He is also an analyst for a London based growth equity fund that specializes in consumer brands. He recently finished a 1 year MBA at Cass Business School in London. Prior to his MBA he spent nearly 4 years running a logistics business in Congo Brazzaville trucking Heineken and timber around the country.
Episode highlights:
Never be shy about your past - don't listen to anyone else's reasons about why to do an MBA (COULDN'T AGREE MORE!!! -Michael)
Minefields in Tajikistan
Getting 1:250,000 Russian maps to travel in East Turkey
A 2.08m white man mixing cement in Congo Brazzaville
Best 3 things to do in CB
How Cass made all the difference
Only 3 words
I hope you enjoy it! If you do, please share, rate and comment - it’s important!
If you have a non traditional background and are looking to get into a top school - hit us on the contact form on MBAwobs.com. If you want some travel advise on the Congo, or interested in hearing more stories, talk to us.
If you want great stories, tips, and tricks, subscribe to our newsletter on MBAwobs.com
Happy listening!
#16 - From Kawasaki Disease to Tech Unicorn - Nadav Shoval
Kawasaki disease changed his life and directed him into coding and building online communities from a young age. After serving in the military, with no high-school or university degrees, he knew that the next step for him was to start his own company.
“If you have the ability to build a business - don’t you want to be able to look back and see that you made one thing in the world slightly better?“
I hope you enjoy it! If you do, please rate, share and comment.
Happy Listening!
#15 - LinkedIn Magician and Endless Giver - Brian Golod
Ladies and gentlemen - Brian Golod!
Brian is passionate about life and getting the most out of it. He strives to empower, inspire and unlock other people’s potential no matter where he goes. Brian began his technology journey 23 years ago when he was only 13 years old and chose Computer Science in Argentina’s top technical middle school and high school. 16 years ago Brian moved with his parents and sister to Prince Edward Island, Canada, and five years later to Toronto, where he continues to lead software development teams as a Product Owner for large multibillion-dollar clients. Two years ago, Brian became active on LinkedIn and discovered by fluke he could help professionals across the world get back on their feet. He felt so fulfilled he went on a quest to find more and more people to help. Since then, he has helped candidates get interviews with and offers from United Nations, Save the Children, LinkedIn, Microsoft and Estée Lauder, among others. Recently, Brian has partnered with immigration organizations to help people immigrate to Canada and save time and their hard-earned money. Brian has also discovered how to monetize LinkedIn when he had 808 followers and now has over 160,000 and shares his knowledge with others who have services to offer so that they can also develop a secondary income. He also provides consulting to organizations that wish to expand their reach and have a larger presence. Brian’s LinkedIn profile is maxed out in connections and thus he made his profile open so that people can reach out to him via direct message without needing to connect; he welcomes everyone to message him and hopes he can help in any possible way.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangolod/
I hope you enjoy it! If you do, please rate, share and comment.
Happy listening!
#14 - Best selling author and founder of YouMap - Kristin Sherry
Kristin Sherry is the creator of the YouMap® profile to discover the four pillars of career fit and TalentStory™ for elementary aged children to discover their gifts.
She is an international speaker, trainer and author of Amazon international bestsellers, YouMap and Your Team Loves Mondays…Right? She is the managing partner of YouMap LLC, which certifies coaches, career services and HR professionals as YouMap® coaches and workshop facilitators.
Her career discovery and empowerment book, Follow Your Star: Career Lessons I Learned from Mom, and interviewing book, 5 Surprising Steps to Land the Job NOW!, were released in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Her book, YouMap: Find Yourself. Blaze Your Path. Show the World! launched November 8th, 2018 and reached #1 best-seller on Amazon in 5 countries, including the USA. Your Team Loves Mondays…Right? , a guide for people managers, released February 20, 2020 and became #1 new release on Amazon in the US, UK and Canada.
If you enjoy this episode, please share, rate and comment, it goes a long way!
Happy listening!
-Michael
#13 - Undefeated MMA Fighter - Natan Levy
You might ask yourself how this relates to an MBA. Well, it doesn't. At least it doesn't relate to the academic part of the MBA. It does, however, touches the core of why I believe people should pursue an MBA, an academic degree, any education, or any major goals in life for that matter: drive, passion, adventurism. Or as Natan put it: "every man (or woman) has a mountain to climb".
Natan has been practicing martial arts for the past 15 years or so, but is actively pursuing his dream for some 7 or 8 years (since moving to Las Vegas and investing all of his time in the fight game). His 'single mindedness' approach to life is practical and inspiring, and actually made me think of how I can be more focused on my goals, and invest my time in a manner similar to how a professional fighter would.
Natan Levy is a professional MMA fighter (4-0) with great following and a great approach to life. He is sharp, straightforward, and full of humor. We are discussing some of his insights on how to build a solid social media presence, training habits, philosophy, nutrition, relationships, gratitude, and more.
If you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed making it, please rate, share and comment (especially on Apple Podcasts) - it goes a long way!
Happy listening!
-Michael
#12 - Interpol's Most Wanted - Marek Zmyslowski
Marek Zmysłowski (@marekchinedu) is a Polish-born entrepreneur and executive, focused on online businesses in Frontier and Emerging Markets, author of "Chasing Black Unicorns. How Building the Amazon of Africa put me on Interpol Most Wanted list" He co-founded Jumia Travel – Africa’s Biggest Hotel Booking Portal listed on NYSE as part of Jumia Group and HotelOnline.co – a Travel Technology Company. In 2014, he was chosen as one of the Ten Most Important People in Tech by IT News Africa Magazine. He is a Lead Mentor at Google’s Launchpad and World Bank’s XL Africa Program.
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate, review and share.
If you like our content, subscribe below :)
Happy listening!
#11 - IE's Executive Director of the Owners Scaleup Program - Prof. Joe Haslam
In this episode I am speaking with Joe Haslam (@joehas), the Executive Director of the Owners Scaleup Program at IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.
In 1998, Prof. Haslam was on the founding Team of Marrakech, a Dublin based e-procurement company that raised over $75m in Venture Capital and scaled to over 250 people. He is the co-founder and Chairman of Hot Hotels, the first company from Spain to be accelerated by the Techstars program in the USA (Boston, Summer 2015). He was born in Ireland and has an MBA from IE Business School.
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate, review and share.
If you like our content, subscribe below :)
Happy listening!
PS - Didn't love the soundtrack on the last episode - will experiment with several others. If you have ideas - ping me!
#10 - Cass' Recruitment Manager - Tony Whiteman-Reynolds
In this episode I am speaking with Tony Whiteman-Reynolds from City University’s Cass Business School in London.
Tony is an MBA Recruitment Manager, part of the Admissions team, and responsible for recruiting high calibre students for the school’s programs. A customer service specialist, he previously managed Cass’s Full-time MBA, streamlining processes for the flagship London program, resulting in an improved experience for Academics and postgraduate students at the school.
This episode is interesting for prospective applicants, interested in a top-5 London MBA (ranking by FT), featuring a compact, international and intimate program.
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate, review and share.
Happy listening!
PS - I'm experimenting with the intro and soundtrack of the podcast - let me know what you think!
***
Some of the things we talk about:
- From hospitality to recruiting for an MBA: Tony’s story
- 87 people from 30 nationalities: Cass’ student cohort
- Between Silicon Roundabout and the City of London
- Converting a bank vault into a recording studio: the new campus building
- online now, in-person by September: adjusting to Covid 19
- Corporate strategy, operations management, entrepreneurship: Strong suits and focus areas
- London’s changing business landscape amidst Brexit and COVID
- Fertilize now, harvest later: how current students are making best use of time
- Nessie, Yeti and the Kraken: take your Crypto Zoology to a new level
- How focusing on finishing two things every day will keep you sane
- Short, small, and central: Cass’ biggest advantages
- Audiobook recommendation: The Strategist by Harvard’s Prof. Cynthia Montgomery
- The captains steering the ship: Marianne Lewis and Paolo Volpin
- What makes a great candidate
- Why Crystal Palace FC’s 68 years old financial director decided to get an MBA
- An example of a recent MBA who got in without a bachelor’s degree
- Why a great candidate on paper failed miserably
- How giving admission teams more data points will help you get into an MBA
- Only 3 words: what makes a great conversationalist
#9 - MIT Sloan's Assistant Dean of Admissions - Dawna Levenson
In this episode I am speaking with Dawna Levenson.
Dawna is an Assistant Dean at MIT Sloan, where she co-leads the Admissions Team. Prior to joining MIT Sloan she spent 18 years at Accenture. Dawna also received her bachelors and masters from MIT.
When we recorded this interview in Cambridge some two months ago, COVID-19 was not present in the conversation. Nonetheless, Dawna gave an incredibly accurate prediction about coming changes in the education field, and her expectation of a residential/online hybrid model that is imminent to come - this could not be more relevant!
This episode is highly relevant for prospective applicants, interested in Sloan’s mission statement and how the school goes about fulfilling that mission statement, how Sloan’s admission team decides who gets in and who stays out, and what major mistakes to avoid in the in person interview.
It is also interesting for business leaders in healthcare, as it showcases some of Sloan’s unique industry relationships, gives insights on ideation and joint research programs (for example with Harvard U), and tells the story of two impactful companies that were conceived in the school’s halls.
(Dawna encourages prospective applicants to reach out to her directly - details in the podcast)
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate, review and share.
Happy listening!
#8 - INSEAD's Global Director of Admissions and Financial Aid - Virginie Fougea
Virginie Fougea is the Global Director of Admissions and Financial Aid for the Degree Programs. She has been with INSEAD for the last 20 years. Before that she had been studying in the US and working in Brazil. She is an admission professional with 15+ years of file evaluation and selection of applicants from diverse multi-cultural and professional backgrounds. She enjoys promoting INSEAD and its programs during information sessions on and off campus and meeting prospects.
When she is not in the office, she likes gardening, horseback riding or simply spending time with friends and family.
Personal note - Virginie is the one who took a chance on me, and admitted me into INSEAD - and in fact had a tremendous impact on my life!
***
Who is it for:
This episode is very interesting for prospective applicants, especially those without a bachelor’s degree, who seek to understand what INSEAD is looking for in a candidate and what sets the school apart. It is also interesting for current students looking for insight on how the school is navigating in these stormy waters, and for alumni who are looking for direction and information from INSEAD’s hyper-connected faculty.
What's in the episode:
- what makes a great candidate
- what is the main difference between a 1Y and 2Y MBAs
- how to master intensity – a soft skill that high-end recruiters are looking for
- the feedback loop between recruiters and the school
- the specific industries that INSEAD is strong in
- why INSEAD is admitting candidates without a bachelor’s degree
- what the admission committee looks for in a candidate without a bachelor's degree
- updates on the ‘at-home’ GMAT and GRE tests.
- why a person should pursue an MBA
- the right moment to do an MBA
- why a degree is still relevant today
Happy listening!
***
Links:
- a video of Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong is a good example of how to communicate during crisis and prepare.
- Nasim Taleb’s AntiFragility
***
This episode is brought to you by MBA without BS - save 4 years and $200k, get an MBA without a bachelor’s degree. Sounds like science fiction – but I’m living proof!
Look up MBAwobs.com and get first access to my book, new articles, podcast episodes, tips and tricks.
# 7 - Master Chef (Part B) - Omri Farber
Episode highlights:
- Back to school - MBA vs. undergrad
- Following your gut - how to choose where to apply (and study!)
- The horror - first impressions from stepping into a classroom after 10 years
- Hit the ground running - how to prepare for an MBA when you don’t have an undergrad
- Tools of titans - why MBAwobs would have been a great tool to use [oh, thanks:)]
- Only 3 words - what are the driving elements in your character?
Happy listening!
# 6 - Master Chef - Omri Farber
Welcome to MBAwobs, episode 6, with Omri Farber.
Episode highlights:
- The 2 Michelin star McDonald’s
- Why great chefs FAIL (despite working 18 hour days) / why high end culinary institutes are not necessarily good businesses
- How Omri almost went to the CIA…
- An expert’s guide to ranking the world’s best restaurants
- ‘Positive’ vs ‘negative’ motivations for doing an MBA
- Becoming a business leader, rather than a technical professional
- Omri's unusual story - celebrity chef household > racing for Renault > military officer > studying in Cordon Bleu > working in Michelin star restaurants > back to school (+tips on the process) > admission process > MBA at Cass > the future of foodtech
Omri and I had a lot of fun talking, and went a bit overboard, so I ended up dividing the episode to 2 episodes - stay tuned for the next one.
Omri recently graduated from the Cass MBA Program in London, where he was what we call a nontraditional MBA candidate, as he did not have an undergraduate degree. Prior to his studies, Omri spent five years as a chef at two of the top 50 restaurants in the world (Dinner by Heston and Lyle's) and even before that, he served for 6 years as an operations manager and instruction officer in the IDF. Omri was also a member of the Renault Racing Team in Israel 🏎️
From India, to Singapore, to New York, to London, to Israel, to podcast - how Omri and I got connected - Shout out to Nakul Shinghal who saw this FT article about Omri and sent it my way. The rest, as they say, is history…
# 5 - US Marine Corps Officer - Wonho Kang
This episode is dedicated to a group that I am proud to be a part of: Veterans.
In this episode I am speaking with Wonho Kang:
Wonho is a senior associate at JP Morgan Chase, where he works in product development and strategy. Prior to joining the firm, he attended INSEAD for his MBA and was a captain in the United States Marine Corps.
Key benefits in this episode (shout out Noam Nishri, who recommended I add this part so folks can decide whether its worth investing their time in listening to it):
- Practical advice on how to decide on whether an MBA is the right course of action for you
- How to adjust the way you communicate from military style to civilian style
- A book recommendation (from both Wonho and me)
- The 3 big takeaways Wonho had from his MBA experience
Today’s episode is brought to you by our newsletter, MBAwobs - tips, tricks, recommended reading and listening, and some inside information about the project 😎You are welcome to sign up on MBAwobs.com/subscribe || My goal is to assist every candidate with a non traditional background who wants to get into a top MBA. If you are a candidate - reach out to me.
Happy listening !
# 4 - Classical Pianist - Marija Nesovic
· A new podcast episode with Marija Nešović. In a nutshell, Marija grew up in Serbia and from a young age became infatuated with the piano. She spent her teen and early adulthood years playing and studying music, first in the music academy of Belgrad, to where she as a 14 year old and lived on her own, and later in Berlin’s Academy of Art, one of the top music schools in Europe.
Marija decided to pivot away from music because she believed that in the music industry she would not be the master of her own faith. She returned to Serbia and worked in her father’s IT business, before starting her own import business (which eventually made more money than the IT business). After a couple of years she enrolled and got accepted to her MBA, after which she joined McKinsey. In the past years she has her own consulting practice in the pharma sector, which allows her and her family to live the lifestyle they want. Her story is that of independent thinking, of making unpopular decisions, of overcoming challenges. I hope you enjoy the episode.
PS – something Marija mentioned and I found very cool: now her story would live online forever, and would be there for her children and grandchildren to listen to, even when she would not be around or would not remember the details. I love that thought :)
-Michael
*** If you like the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes/Spotify? It takes less than a minute and goes a long way in convincing future interviewees to come on board.
# 3 - Gold Prospector - Scott Berdahl
In this episode I speak with Scott Berdahl, a classmate and friend of mine and a professional gold digger, so to speak.
Scott grew up in the Yukon, Northern Canada, in a little cabin without running water. He spent his early days looking for minerals in the bush, later studying geology at MIT and joining the family mineral prospecting company. After working and studying at Saudi Arabia, he did his MBA in France and Singapore, and went back to business.
Today he is building a pan-Yukonian tourism and adventure company. If you’re heading North – hit him up!
Favorite quote: "You worked so hard to build a safety net, don't use it as a hammock"
# 2 - Poker Player - Jordi Alexander
Pro poker player turned MBA turned finance pro Jordi Alexander talks strategy, philosophy, and ambitions. Incredible guy.
# 1 - Pig Farmer - Henning C. Frank
Self-proclaimed "German Farmboy" Henning C. Frank is an inspiration.
At 18, already making pocket money as a handball coach, he decided not to "sit on his ass for 5 years", and instead work until he found what interests him.
He worked in various jobs, building confidence and self belief. Then started building businesses - waste management, consulting, distressed real estate.
At 32, after building three companies and selling two of them, he needed a change of scenery. Travelling for two years seemed "boring", so he decided to go for an MBA.
He took a list of top 100 schools, eliminated 55 ("didn't like the location"), and emailed the rest. Nearly all replied "NO" because he didn't have an undergrad. A handful said "MAYBE," INSEAD among them. Eventually, two said "YES". Henning decided on INSEAD.
Fast forward >>> A month ago he sold his real estate crowdfunding company, one of the largest in the EU.
When I asked what drives him, his answer was: "I grew up fast, and I am hungry as f*ck".
What this podcast is about
In this podcast we will be sharing stories from all over the world of MBAs with unusual, inspiring backgrounds. If you have a great story, or you know someone with a great story - reach out us at mbawobs.com, or email me directly at michael@mbawobs.com with the subject line “great story”. Happy listening !