Hi Makl,
Could you please help in guiding me on Post MBA stuff, I am looking at the product and strategy management roles. Meanwhile I was looking for profiles based on IT/Software and their career progression post MBA. I am kind of stuck in order to come to conclusion. I was also looking at some business magazines and trying to get bigger picture about Post MBA roles. Kindly give me some pointers and help me in coming to some sort of conclusion.
Thanks,
Manju
Hi Manju,
If I correctly understand your query, you want to know the career option that would suit you best after MBA. The options that currently have home in your mind are: Product Management, Strategy Management roles and any other role that people from IT/software background land into post MBA.
First, my humble advice would be not to look at what others are achieving post their MBAs while deciding on your career. That will not be a good starting point although it can give you some peace of mind if your own career choice matches with theirs and if they are doing really well.
Next, my suggestion would be to let the decision of final career choice be taken while you are on MBA. I have come across many people who have changed their career options during/after MBA from the one they mentioned in their MBA applications. I am one of them. Why so? Simply because an year of MBA is not just about learning skills; it is more about discovering oneself and the world around. It is this discovery that shapes the final career choice for any of us. Hence, for now you may create a career choice for the purpose of admission essays (which should of course match your career aspiration today so that you can back your responses during interviews) but sincerely keep thinking between now and until you finish your MBA about your final career.
Moreover, Product Management and Strategy roles are entirely different from each other. As we are focused on career question I would not like to go into the details of these roles but will encourage you to have more clarity on them so that your choice is based on right information. Same goes with other roles. By the way, every role (of course, worth an MBA) is good as long as it satisfies most of your aspirations and needs.
As far as Cranfield MBAs are concerned they come from variety of backgrounds and join, again, variety of roles after their MBAs.
So just don't burn your energies on this question but do keep thinking about what career will utilise your potential in the best possible manner. Keep exploring and more importantly keep talking to people who are in various positions. Many a time a decision on career is complicated as we do not have enough information about different roles. I have gone through this phase myself and believe me it is perfectly alright to have this situation. As a very senior friend of mine rightly said "you are very young, don't limit your potential by limiting your career to few options. You may do one thing for next few years but may find another area to work on afterwards".
I know I have gone little beyond the straight answer to your question. In case I did not meet your expectations do let me know and I will try my hands on the response once again :)
Wish you good luck.