Forget about finance, stats, or valuation. The biggest challenge about being an MBA is not figuring out spreadsheets, it’s how to best spend your time. Two years of studying for an MBA may seem like a long time, but let me tell you…there is NOT NEARLY enough time to take advantage of the amazing opportunities and experiences you have as an Olin MBA.
Kasey in her previous life as a TV news reporter on the scene after a tornado hit Harrisville, Mo.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kasey Joyce and I’m a new blogger here @ Olin Blog. In my former life (before MBA), I was a TV reporter/anchor for the St. Louis and Montana NBC stations. And I thought that was a fast-paced lifestyle. Ha!!!
From the moment I arrived at Olin, I realized I had a passion for entrepreneurship. Luckily for me, there are incredible opportunities to get involved in the booming St. Louis entrepreneurial community. I took on a leadership position in the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Association (EVCA) and joined Cultivation Capital, a local venture capital association, as the director of investor relations.
I have to admit, prior to my MBA, I had no idea what a thriving tech startup community we have here in St. Louis. Thanks to the MBA program, we’ve had a chance to sit down with the founders of those start-ups to pick their brains, help them grow, and learn from their experiences. It’s been an incredible journey.
Going forward, I am the new president of the EVCA. We have a lot on tap for the final few weeks of the semester.
- We’re planning a tour of St. Louis’ startup incubators and co-sponsoring the Arch Grants finalist weekend networking event on April 25.
- We’re sending students to San Francisco on a trek to network with start-ups in the bay area.
- A handful of our group members are jet-setting off to Europe in May to work on a consulting project with an international venture capital firm.
- Another group of students just returned from the trip of a lifetime to Japan and Thailand, where they met with business leaders to discuss international business in Asia. (see photo above)
Couple all that with studying for finals, bonding with our fellow MBAs at social and networking events, planning our careers, our lives (and in my case, a wedding), things are a little busy. But this is the best kind of busy. This is the busy that reaffirms that you are on the right track and pursuing your passion. It’s an awesome feeling.
The key? A well-organized Google calendar, plenty of free coffee from the career center, a backpack full of Luna bars for meals on the go, scheduled study time, and budgeted time spent with friends and family. Sure, balance isn’t easy…but then again, the best things in life rarely are.
As a new blogger on this site, I promise to keep you posted on all-things-entrepreneurship, life as an MBA, campus life, and the coolest things going on in St. Louis (at least the ones on my radar). Until next time–
-Kasey
