Client focus, cultural immersion, and sense of community
By Patrick
I find myself appreciating this experience for reasons that I didn’t anticipate, and I am excited to see what other unexpected lessons are in store.
The Social Impact MBA and the possibility of participating in the immersion program were two of the main reasons why I chose to study at Boston University. Given this fact, I was understandably disappointed as my final year at BU happened to occur amid a global pandemic. I did not expect that the program would still be offered so when I heard about the semester-long, virtual immersion program, I eagerly signed up. I was thankful to have the opportunity to participate in the immersion program in some form even if it was not the way I had originally anticipated. I was also a little worried that I would lose something from the experience when it shifted to an entirely virtual course. How worthwhile will it be if I can’t go there and see this business problem face-to-face? How will I understand what needs to be done if I’m not there?
However, this opportunity has been surprising in a lot of ways. For one, it brought my focus (rightfully) to the client. The ultimate purpose of the immersion trip isn’t to travel to an exotic location, it’s to help people. This virtual immersion experience has reminded of why I chose Questrom’s Social Impact MBA, which is to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Of course, being able to meet my clients at their place of business in their native country would have been an invaluable experience, but the goal should never be just to travel. The client always needs to be the reason.
I was also surprised at how immersed you can feel in a culture without ever actually going to the place it originates. Speaking with my clients and hearing their unique stories, that are vastly different from my own, has enabled me to get a feel for their culture, customs, and norms. Perhaps a year without travel and limited interaction with new people has made this experience of meeting and working with someone, who is so culturally different, extra rewarding.
Finally, I was surprised by the sense of community that I have been able to feel so far. I am on the smallest team I’ve ever been a part of at Questrom (there are just two of us), so our meetings with our client have been more of a collective effort than I anticipated. We are able to communicate effectively, with the help of our incredibly generous translator, and these meetings often include our client’s family members. The feeling of being in a small circle with our client and her family, to talk about ways in which we can make a difference, is not something I expected when signing up for a virtual immersion course.
I find myself appreciating this experience for reasons that I didn’t anticipate, and I am excited to see what other unexpected lessons are in store.