“Oh, but you’re earning well!” “Everyone wants an IT job.” “You’re taking yours for granted.” “Why not just switch?” “Why are you taking such a risk?”
These were just a handful of reactions I received from people around me when I decided to go for the MBA. I can see where these thoughts came from, and to be honest, I too was extremely scared about taking this step, given that I was earning well, living at home in a comfortable environment surrounded by my family and friends.
However, ever since I’d completed my Engineering degree, I knew I wanted to delve deeper into the business field, especially as I’d grown up watching my dad establish our family business. I’ve enjoyed solving problems and look forward to learning something new each day. While it was a rewarding experience working with one of the key industry leaders in the IT field, over the course of close to 4 years, things had started becoming a little less challenging for me. I could surely transition to some business roles, but I still felt that getting a more well-rounded understanding of business topics would benefit me more. I had worked with many leaders and realized that the ones who were most successful not only knew the ins and outs of their departments but also solved issues that other teams had.
In the past few months, I’ve learned subjects like finance and accounting, which once seemed alien, participated in competitions, and built a career net through highly ambitious and capable cohort mates, all through this program. An immersive classroom experience, like here at Beedie, allows rapid interactive learning through projects and simulations, which made me realize that there was literally no full stop to growth. Leadership and other management subjects were eye-openers, and it would’ve taken me years to acquire the amount of knowledge that I’ve built here now.
So for me, even though it was a scary choice, the cost of living with the regret of not giving myself a shot was far higher than the cost of failure, and hence I went for it.
Another big change of living in a foreign place has also helped me push my boundaries. I learned how to navigate neighborhoods, shifted houses, and how to spend time alone. I’m proud of myself for figuring out how to #adult. Sure, I do miss being with my family, but there’s no valid way of comparing the situations.
What I know for sure is that this experience has helped me change my perception of myself. I no longer stereotype myself and instead look at myself as someone who can learn anything as long as I give it an honest attempt. I realized that in order to make a choice, there will be some sacrifices involved. So given a choice, will I undo my decision of doing an MBA? No, as the personal and professional evolution I’ve experienced is irreplaceable.
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About the Author
Srishti Pandoi is a passionate, data-driven Full-Time MBA student with over 3 years of experience as a Quality Engineering Analyst at Accenture. She is skilled in designing and implementing solutions aligned with complex business requirements. At Beedie, she contributes beyond academics, serving as a Student Ambassador and Vice President of Events and Engagement for the JEDI council, promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.