Michel

My name is Michel and I am an Engineer. I completed my Bachelor in Electronics and Electrical Engineering and a Master in Applied Computer Science from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. While I was pursuing my Masters I was also working as a Sales Executive for a Personal Financial Planning Software working to promote Distriplan. I began working for IBM in 2000, starting as an Account Manager and eventually moving up to Chief Information Officer, Senior Manager Channels, EMEA, a position I still hold. I am also a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

I am a software engineer by training with a Master's in Applied Computer Science. I had a career at IBM where I evolved from a software developer into a key account manager and then into a software consultant. My job, however, has always stayed on the lines of an engineer. During this time I also decided to invest in ventures. Some of these turned out to be successful while the rest weren’t. After a point I decided that it was time for me to make a career switch and after talking to several of my friends who advised me to go for formal training before doing so and I thought that the best program for me would be the MBA Program at Chicago Booth as it would not only give me an excellent education but also a degree that is known worldwide and it would allow me to get the post MBA career that I was looking for. The Chicago EMBA program gives you an MBA degree upon completion of the course which was something I wanted. My interest lies in finance and Chicago Booth focuses on finance. Also, Chicago Booth offers a truly international MBA as it offers classes in London, Chicago, and Hong Kong. I could complete my studies at any of the three locations and this was a great opportunity for my career development.

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business does not require a GMAT. They pay more attention to the application and the interview. Apart from Chicago Booth, I had also applied to the MBA programs such as TRIUM and NYU. Writing the applications for such programs was quite difficult. This was because even though I was pretty successful at what I had done so far, it was quite difficult to explain that I was looking for more through a change in career. Dr. Hubert Silly was very helpful in this regard as he helped me pick the right tone for my essays to explain to the committee what I needed and why I felt the MBA and a career change were necessary for me. Another challenging aspect of the process was the interviews. Interviews for Executive MBA programs carry a lot of weight. Considering that, and the fact that I had no real experience with managing people even though my work was mainly team related, it was very difficult to justify my choice of a program like Chicago Booth which places a great deal of importance on the leadership and management attributes of its candidates.

The EMBA classes at Chicago Booth are very flexible and they suit the life of a professional like me. I was very happy with the quality of the program and the wealth of study material provided. There are many EMBA programs but I preferred Chicago Booth as it is a prestigious program with a great tie-up with MBA programs in other continents. Also, the degree of MBA that I would be getting upon completion of the course was very valuable to me as I looked to make a complete change in my career.

Do not be influenced by rankings. Rankings are not the only criteria by which you should judge a school. You need to understand the school and its values first. Find a program that aligns with your values. Chicago Booth was the perfect choice for me but might not be the same for you.

I made the mistake of not asking for sponsorship. Find a sponsor for your MBA, someone who believes in you and will help you finance your MBA and also help you with your post MBA plan. I had to do this on my own and I realized it was my mistake. So I strongly recommend that you find a sponsor.

Finally, at MBA Center I was in class with a lot of students who got admitted to NYU, LBS, INSEAD, and other top MBA programs and I could see that MBA Center really made a difference. I can blindly recommend the MBA Center and Dr. Hubert Silly to all candidates wanting to apply for an MBA as their approach really makes a difference.