Making a difference in this world
By Patrick
This program has showed that I am equipped to make a difference in a way that can serve others. It has also made me excited to start getting back out into the real world to make a difference.
I decided to get my MBA because I saw the power that business has over the communities and stakeholders it affects. If I can learn to work within those business guardrails, I can help to make a difference in a way that makes sense for stakeholders and the environment, while also meeting the expectations of shareholders. I haven’t taken my mind off of that goal, but I have started to notice this long-term orientation has made me lose sight of the impact I can have NOW. My time at Questrom has been wonderful in so many ways, but I have had to sacrifice some of the things that I liked to do in my free time. I have been going to Boston University at nights for the past three years, and I started to notice more recently how much I miss having time to volunteer.
This course was an excellent way to fit service into my time at Questrom, and it did not disappoint. A lot of business school is about reading cases and analyzing problems that have already been solved. The conclusion of many cases is ended with a “Now here is what actually happened”. Its interesting, but it feels low stakes. This project was a real-world opportunity to make an impact, and I found it to be both challenging and rewarding.
Our clients are producers, as upstream in the value chain as it gets. Their goal was for us to help them capture more value by taking hold of more operations in that value chain. We were able to teach them what to think about from a business standpoint to make their goal possible. We were looking to help protect hardworking people from being exploited by a system made to benefit others, and that felt a lot more meaningful than case discussion in the classroom (It is not lost on me that going over those cases in the classroom made me capable of recommending something helpful to our client). This opportunity to help give power to those who are so often forgotten was so gratifying.
I am grateful for this experience that has made me feel more grateful for my time at Questrom. This program has showed that I am equipped to make a difference in a way that can serve others. It has also made me excited to start getting back out into the real world to make a difference.