The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast

James Kent, Marketing Manager for the MBA Admissions & Marketing Team at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), discusses what makes the CEIBS MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (3:00) | Admissions (23:40) | Scholarships & Covid-19 (39:40) | Careers (49:30) About Our Guest James Kent is the Marketing Manager for the MBA Admissions & Marketing Team at CEIBS. James got his Bachelors in Chinese and Management from Sheffield University and has worked in recruitment and marketing for 10 years. What is unique about the CEIBS MBA? What are its key advantages? China's top-ranked MBA lasts 18 months and focuses on "China Depth, Global Breadth" CEIBS was co-founded in 1994 by the Chinese Government and the European Union, and has campuses in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Accra and Zurich CEIBS is looking for proactive candidates with a pioneering spirit Mentoring program matches each MBA student with a CEIBS EMBA alumni CEIBS 70 faculty members are 1/3 from China, 1/3 from the US and 1/3 from Europe, many of whom consult for MNCs and Chinese Companies in China CEIBS has three coordinated degrees options as well: CEIBS-Fletcher (Law & Diplomacy), CEIBS-Cornell (Hospitality), CEIBS-Johns Hopkins (Public Health) The CEIBS MBA was ranked the 5th worldwide by Financial Times (2020) Episode summary, show notes and more at: https://touchmba.com/ceibs-mba-program-admissions-interview-james-kent

This episode is from my new podcast, ASE, which explores making a living and life as a solopreneur. I bring on artists, social entrepreneurs, and solo founders to explore the self-employed, creative life and how to do your best work. A number of my salsa friends in their 20s and 30s have found it helpful, so I thought I'd share it with you too. ASE showcases a different, more personal side to me (with some cursing, so be warned!). And for those of you who are looking for more MBA admissions content, don't worry, I have plenty more MBA episodes coming your way - including more interviews with MBA Admissions Directors - so stay tuned. Live the Questions A month ago my salsa friends and I shared our personal challenges over smoothies. Most revolved around feeling more whole and complete with ourselves and our lives. I've thought about that conversation for weeks. Here is my unsolicited advice to friends in their 20s searching for purpose, work, home and satisfaction. More than anything, this episode is a reminder to myself to love and live the questions - cause they never go away. Questions Satisfaction (6:20) Home (9:35) Work (13:30) Purpose (17:10) Subscribe to the ASE Podcast Email / Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Stitcher / Google Podcasts / YouTube Show Notes ASE #18: Live the Questions  Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging (Sebastian Junger) The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake (David Brooks) The Labyrinth of Solitude (Octavio Paz) Man’s Search for Meaning (Victor E. Frankl) Xiu Yang: The Ancient Chinese Art of Self-Cultivation for a Healthier, Happier, More Balanced Life (Mimi Kuo Deemer)

How did Henry Nguyen, who graduated from Kellogg 20 years ago, launch Vietnam’s first technology venture capital fund, Vietnam’s first professional basketball team, and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise? Henry recounts his journey from travel writer to MD to MBA to Wall Street and then back to Vietnam, where he has built a career as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Henry also gives a behind a scenes look into putting together a winning bid for LAFC, building a 22,000 capacity outdoor arena in downtown Los Angeles, and growing a raving fanbase before LAFC’s first game in 2018. Henry shares what he gained from his Kellogg MBA, as well as his advice to young professionals and entrepreneurs considering business school. "Being an entrepreneur is sometimes just saying 'Why Not?'" - Henry Nguyen Questions Introducing Henry Nguyen (0:00) Henry’s unanticipated MBA and business career (6:30) Henry’s heads to Wall Street (11:00) The travel writing experience that changed Henry’s life (14:45) Henry’s journey back to Vietnam (21:15) Starting IDG Ventures Vietnam – “My life is a serendipitous series of fortunate circumstances” (26:30) From “funny money” to “startup” – the growth of entrepreneurship in Vietnam (30:30) Breaking into venture capital (34:10) Henry’s thoughts on the value of a MBA for career changers vs. entrepreneurs, and what he learned from Kellogg (39:30) Henry’s foray into the business of sports, and starting amateur and professional sports leagues in Vietnam (49:30) Behind the scenes of Henry’s winning bid for LAFC (1:01:27) Growing LAFC’s fanbase – “the 3252” – in a city with 11 sports franchises (1:15:10) Opportunities for MBAs in sports (1:17:35) How Henry manages his businesses and engagements (1:25:20) Henry’s last advice to MBA applicants and students (1:29:40) About Henry Henry Nguyen is the Chairman of Phoenix Holdings, an investment company with operations in consumer, media, retail, food & beverage, and financial services sectors, and Managing General Partner of IDG Ventures Vietnam. He is the Developmental Licensee of McDonalds Vietnam and Chairman of XLE Group, which develops sports at the professional, collegiate and grass roots level in Vietnam. He is also Founding Owner of Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) and one of the Founding Trustees at Fulbright University Vietnam. After majoring in classics at Harvard University, Henry earned his MD and MBA from Northwestern University Medical School and the Kellogg School of Management. Episode summary, show notes and more at: https://touchmba.com/mba-careers-vietnam-venture-capital-sports-lafc-henry-nguyen

Why did a Colombian civil engineer choose to do his MBA in Israel? Manuel Fajardo shares his journey to the Tel Aviv University’s Sofaer Global MBA, and how the program’s focus on new venture creation has helped him pursue his business idea. About Manuel Manuel Fajardo will graduate from the Sofaer Global MBA this Fall. Before getting his MBA, Manuel worked as General Manager of EDS LA PAZ, and as COO and Chief Engineer at Agregados el Rodeo in Colombia. Manuel got his degree in Civil Engineering from Universidad de Los Andes. Questions Introducing Manuel Fajardo (0:00) Why Manuel decided to study in Israel (3:38) Is Israel safe? (10:18) Attending a young MBA program (12:10) Tel Aviv University’s ties to the start-up ecosystem (13:55) Manuel’s business idea (17:45) Sofaer’s entrepreneurial curriculum, competition and opportunities (19:00) What Manuel found surprising about studying in Israel (24:05) Being in a small MBA class with less than 40 students (27:20) Working in Israel post-MBA (30:25) Manuel’s post-MBA career plan (31:50) Manuel’s biggest takeaways from the MBA (32:45) Is it tough to get a job in Israel as a foreigner? (35:20) Episode summary, show notes and more at:  https://touchmba.com/sofaer-global-mba-manuel-fajardo

Darren invites Dirk Hopfl from IE Business School to share how Covid-19 has affected its MBA program and IE's plan moving forward. IE, based in Spain, is one of Europe's leading business schools with one of world's most international MBA programs, regularly admitting 90% of its students from 75 countries outside Spain. Its response offers one possibility for how MBAs will evolve to meet student needs during a pandemic. About Dirk Dirk Hopfl is Regional Director South East Asia for IE Business School. Dirk got his MBA in 1999 from IE and has over 20 years of leadership experience in international management education. Episode summary, show notes and more at: https://touchmba.com/how-is-covid-19-impacting-b-schools-dirk-hopfl-shares-ie-business-schools-response/

Tawan (Tina) Suvapatrachai shares her MBA journey from Bangkok to Virginia Darden and then back to Thailand to do strategy for Samsung. Like many international applicants, Tina didn't have the chance to visit her four target US business schools. How did she research schools and find her best fit? Why did she choose Darden and what did she take from her Darden MBA experience? Questions Tina's background (3:40) Tina's school research and application tips (5:00) How the MBA did not give Tina more career clarity, but rather a powerful career platform (11:30) Common problems Tina sees from international MBA applicants (17:00) Tina's Darden experience (24:40) Blending in as an international student (34:20) How to make the most of the MBA experience (36:30) The importance of the on-campus experience (39:00) Tina's internship and job search (42:05) Tina's big takeaways from her Darden experience (48:55) About Tina Tawan (Tina) Suvapatrachai works as a Channel Strategy Lead at Samsung in Bangkok, Thailand. Before getting her MBA Tina worked as an Account Manager at Proctor & Gamble. Tina got into Cambridge Judge, UCLA Anderson and NYU Stern, but chose to attend Virginia Darden, where she graduated in 2018. Tina got her B.S in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University Episode summary, show notes and more at: https://touchmba.com/inside-the-virginia-darden-mba-tawan-tina-suvapatrachai

Graciela Brewer, a Senior UX Designer at Netsmart and a mother from Kansas City, shares her inspiring journey of gaining admission to Harvard, MIT, NYU, and Cornell Tech. She discusses how parenting influenced her school choices and the importance of campus environments for families. Graciela offers tips on crafting compelling essays and resumes, the significance of extracurricular activities, and how she navigated the stressful application process. Her insights on selecting recommenders and tackling unique interview prompts are particularly valuable for non-traditional candidates.

Dr. Gleb Tsipursky has dedicated his professional life to helping others overcome cognitive biases and make better decisions. In this episode, Darren and Dr. Gleb discuss ways MBA applicants can make better decisions when it comes to business school and their careers. Questions Why Dr. Gleb has dedicated two decades of his life to overcoming cognitive biases with decision making (3:00) Autopilot vs. Intentional decision making (7:45) When our gut serves us in career decisions (14:30) Best practices for overcoming our cognitive biases (20:48) Common biases when making career decisions (27:17) How important are rankings? (33:33) Five questions to avoid decision disasters (37:07) Navigating emotions and decision making (43:48) About Our Guest Dr. Gleb Tsipursky is on a mission to protect leaders from dangerous judgment errors known as cognitive biases by developing the most effective decision making strategies. He has over two decades of consulting, coaching, and training experience as CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts, and over 15 years of experience in academia as a cognitive neuroscientist and behavioral economist. Dr. Tsipursky has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Time, Scientific American, Fast Company, and Psychology Today. His new book is called Never Go with Your Gut: How How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters. Dr. Gleb earned his PhD in the History of Behavioral Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2011. Episode summary, show notes and more at: https://touchmba.com/dont-trust-your-gut-career-decisions-dr-gleb-tsipursky/‎

Do you have to quit your job to get your MBA? Darren invites Chris Healy from Alliance Manchester Business school to share how the part-time / professional MBA has evolved with new technology and student and employer demands. If you're unsure about getting an online, blended, part-time or Executive MBA, you'll get key insights from this episode. Questions How the part-time / professional MBA has evolved over the past 15 years (2:30) How employers view part-time / professional MBAs (15:50) Networking at b-school as a part-time / professional MBA (21:35) The quality of online courses (27:20) How do business schools with multiple campuses maintain quality of faculty? (33:25) The advantages of dual-MBAs (37:00) Grades, format, and commitment required of a typical Manchester MBA part-time course held over 6 months (40:35) The future of part-time / professional MBAs (47:20) About Our Guest Chris Healy is Head of MBA Marketing & Recruitment for Alliance Manchester Business School at the University of Manchester. Chris has been in the business education industry for nearly 15 years and got his Bachelors in Consumer Marketing from Manchester Metropolitan University. Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/the-evolving-professional-mba-chris-healy

Inspired by the Harvard Business Review article Experience Doesn’t Predict a New Hire’s Success, Darren shares how you can demonstrate you're a great fit for your target MBA programs - or your next employer - even if you're short on experience. If you feel like you lack relevant work experience for the MBA, this episode is for you. Show Notes Experience Doesn’t Predict a New Hire’s Success (Harvard Business Review) Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/experience-does-not-equal-performance/