L4's CCMBA Blog

Term 5

2007-06-26T06:40:00.001-07:00

Term 4 - Half-Way

2007-06-26T06:38:00.003-07:00

Term 3 - Brussels!

2007-06-26T06:38:00.001-07:00

Fuqua Term 2

2007-06-26T06:37:00.003-07:00

Term 1 Follow-up

2007-06-26T06:37:00.001-07:00

Term 1 Complete

2006-10-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

While Term 1 officially ended a week ago today I finally got my grades. Good News! I passed accounting!! I can't wait to see what I got on the final.

Also - my apologies for not getting earlier posts available. I have some time this week and promise to update you on the whole term.

Week 1 Overview

2006-07-31T17:13:00.000-07:00

CCMBA week 1 went very well. At times exciting, at times a bit overwhelming, but always something new and interesting. Classes ended on Friday and none too soon. I think everyone was ready for a break.

My overall impression of MBA school is quite positive and also quite different from my undergrad experience. Engineering school was almost entirely about learning detailed methods and building increasingly complicated skillsets. Even in grad school, the topics always focused on understanding and working with increasing complex systems. MBA school is quite the opposite. The focus is looking at large complicated systems of people and numbers and reducing them to their simplest terms. Looking at the most successful business concepts, this makes a lot of sense. The trick is simplifying down to the correct systems and assumptions and then making good decisions based on the available info. This may seem quite intuitive, but it really takes some practice. Its also a great deal of fun to openly discuss these issues in an open forum of peers.

Another impression from Fuqua is the collaboration. In "real-life" almost all of your professional interactions are with people with similar backgrounds from whom you want something or who want something from you. The resulting communication is narrowly focused on exchanging the minimum information necessary. Fuqua is different. Here you have 120 people from different backgrounds in a dynamic situation and on a completely equal playing field. After a few days the ideas and conversations are remarkably open and head in new and interesting directions. You typically don't exchange ideas like this in your everyday personal life. I can see why this is so valuable.

Probably the most interesting experience of wk1 was the team Cast Study prep. Learning to work with a new team of people whom you've only known for 4 days on a complicated tasks that you're unfamiliar with is a big challenge. Overall, I think team 7 did pretty well. We bumped into each other a little along the way, but we did get the ball over the goal line. The best part was our team de-brief where i think we did a great job at discussing our performance and areas for improvement during the distance. Overall, we'll do fine with a little bit more planning, prep, and coordination. I suppose time will tell...

Friday evening was catch-up time for me. I decided to finish begin my individual case study and get caught up before the real work begins. Also, there's the class service project on Sat AM that I needed to get some sleep for. Unfortunately, I didn't go out with the crowd so i missed all the fun in Chapel Hill. Then again, I did get some sleep.

New Friends

2006-07-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

Fuqua Cross-Continent Class of 2008
Section 2, Team 7
(from left to right: Louis LeBrun, Tara Mahoutchian, Diane Truong, Ben Butler, Hoon Kim. ) Tonight we had our first team event, dinner at Restaurant Starlu in Durham. Dinner was teriffic and the atmosphere was perfect for talking and getting to know each other. We discussed many things but mainly spent time learning about each other, our experiences, and cultures. A worthwhile experience overall. We all agreed that 20 months is such a short time to spend exploring ideas and values we care so much about. I think this is an interesting photo. I can't wait to see how the group photo looks at graduation.

Business Ethics Exciting? You Bet!

2006-07-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

Today we had our first real exposure to the classroom and case study experience in Prof Harris Sondak's business ethics class. Rather than provide a formal lecture, we received a 6 hour running interactive debate of ethical issues in business and management and how they pertain to each of us. Prof Sondak framed the day's discussion with using 5 very brief readings on business & management ethical issues. The discussions were made relevant using brief examples of ethical issues that each of us has faced during our career. Using these simple examples and tools, Prof Sondak then moderated an all-day debate on ethical expectations and the roles of management. What an experience!

What I took away from the debate was an even clearer sense of how each of our decisions impacts each outcome and its larger role in the organization, and potentially society. It reinforced my belief that there simply are no right or wrong answers to the business situations we face every day. Rather, there are simply outcomes that we did or did-not intend to produce by making our decision. Our role as managers and citizens is to try as best we can to know our role in each interaction, understand the potential outcomes and interactions, and try to make the best decision we possibly can with the information we have at the time. To do our best to preserve the best interests of all parties and remain loyal to our value system is simply the best we can hope for. We closed the day and illustrated the point with a poignant debate of the Fuqua honor code and how it applied to each of us / all of us.

This is exactly the type of experience I was hoping for from Fuqua. I'm certain there will be some days in this journey that won't be as fun as today. But, if even 30% of my time at Fuqua is this interactive and engaging it may prove to be the best professional experience in my career.

Day 2 Final Thought

2006-07-23T20:14:00.000-07:00

We've only been here at Fuqua for a little over a 24 hours now, however, I can already see some changes starting to happen. Tonight at dinner I sat at a table full of people I've only known for about a day. After a few minutes of introductions the conversations began to take a new direction. We went from talking about ourselves to discussing some social and business issues in our lives and school. It was really cool to hear people begin to throw out in opinions and insights from different perspectives. To be sure, the conversation was very tame and agreeable, but its beginning to open up. I've a feeling that some really good discussions are going to come up as we start to explore more difficult and controversial topics. The resulting friction should start some really interesting fires.

Day 2: Teamwork

2006-07-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

Day 2 began with "tough-love teamwork" talk from Mark Brown. I really appreciated his to-the-point message on managing teams and personalities over the coming 20 months. Mark is definitely not one to shy away from charged issues. The class is still a bit stiff and reserved or I think it would have been a really fun session. I think Mark can offer some really important insights on group dynamics and I'm hopeful things will be more interactive in our future classes with him. I like to push the limits - it should be fun.

Compulsory Myers-Briggs for everyone and then off to S2T7. I think my team dynamic is really quite good. One of the things that I want most from Fuqua is a way to deliberately push me out of my comfort zone. Everyone else in my team is on the bottom line the M-B type chart (all Es) while I'm in the far top right corner. I'm sure this will lead to some potential issues because I'm going to have to make a diagonal move from INTJ all the way over to ESTJ to make things work. I'm not exactly sure how to do this, but I definitely won't have time to get confortable before having to push myself in new directions. Dear Team: fasten your seatbelts, its could be an interesting ride.

Technology was also a theme for today. Its very clear that a great deal of time, thought, and effort have been placed in developing the right tools for communication and work. The support staff is really excellent. I'm impressed with the resources available for distance collaboration and comfortable that I can make them work.

Tomorrow the real fun begins.

Cameron Indoor

2006-07-23T18:46:00.000-07:00

Two things immediately hit you when you see Cameron for the first time. First: the place is tiny. The bleachers literally go to within 4 feet of the court. Second: the rafters are literally filled with championship banners. I'm not sure they've made a banner Duke /Coach K hasn't won. I had the pleasure of seeing an NCSU vs Duke game many years ago and Cameron has got to be the single most intimidating basketball arena in the world.

Until today I had never visited the trophy hall. Wow. It is really, truly impressive.

Several members of the class are very hopeful to get tickets to a game during Term 4. I'm really hoping that will be possible. Unless they're playing NCSU you can bet I'll be wearing Duke blue.

Campus Tour

2006-07-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

No visit to Duke would be anywhere near complete without a tour of campus and Duke Chapel. Although the tour was very brief (just over an hour) it really gives a feel for the Duke campus and student experince. Its hard not to be impressed with west campus. The buildings and grounds are simply beautiful. Its really too bad we won't have more time to spend on and around campus. From someone who grew up in Raleigh, attended NCSU and visited campus many times in the past, even though its short, don't miss the tour.

New Classmates

2006-07-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

There are only 119 other people in my class and I'm quite certain I've done at least 200 introductions so far. There are so many people with so many facinating names, places and stories. Some helpful hints before I forget them.

#1
Its pretty tough meeting so many new people. I try really hard to remember at least 1-2 things about each new person I meet as I'm talking to them. I've found that if I can remember any one thing about someone I usually catch their name pretty quickly.

#2
My classmates are quite literally from everywhere in the world. For many, including myself, its really tough to give a concise answer the quetions "Where are you from?" Wr're from almost everywhere with at least a half-dozen places in-between. Instead, I've like the question "Where are you living?" even better. Its a much easier question for me to answer and allows me to take in different directions.

#3
Compare notes. I seem to make connections with some people much easier than others. Its fun to keep returning to my most familiar contacts and "compare notes" about the my classmates. I've found that I really get some facinating new perspective I forgot to ask or wanted to know.

Day 1 Update

2006-07-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

As promised, an update from last night...

Don't think of day 1 & 2 at Fuqua as two days. They're not. They were more like one big continuous day with a couple hours nap in the middle. There's so much to do its hard to separate where one thing ends and the next begins.

Day 1 was filled with a continuous stream of introductions, reintroductions, new names, and new faces. You're meeting the staff and seeing the facility. You're constantly getting lost, finding your way, and figuring things out. You're taking in all this new info and trying to hold onto some of it or even any of it.

After lunch I suddenly found myself in a room with 120 other people I didn't know listening to the rules, regulation, procedures, and honor code. It was, well, a bit procedural as I suppose it needed to be. We did receive our Fuqua briefcase and even more books and course materials. It seemed like all of Day 1 I was carrying or moving something from one place to another. Once I got my room it calmed down a little.

Things warmed up quite a bit at the reception and dinner. It was really great to see many of the faces from the March info sesssion. Its strange, but you immediately feel a bond the people I only met for 8 hours almost 4 months ago. Its hard to believe so much time has gone by and how much has already changed. Before I knew it it was 1:15am and definitely time for some sleep.

Out all Night

2006-07-22T22:33:00.000-07:00

Meeting everybody was great. The details will have to wait for tomorrow....or is that today?

Duke Day 1

2006-07-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

"Hard to beleive its finally here" was a common quote among many at the pre-term accounting review today. It certainly has been a long time since applying last fall and being accepted back in March. There were many familiar faced from the March CCMBA campus tour which I take that as a good sign. Dan McCleary immediately recognized me in the Hall of Flags - I'm not sure if that was a good sign or not. Maybe I made "too much" of an impression from my interview and visit. Hey Dan - you had fair warning and let me in anyway! Pre-term accounting was useful but went fast. Our instructor, Mr Huang (sp?), was quite impressive. Now earning a PhD in accounting (I bet that's a real thrill-a-minute), he's originally an electrical engineer educated in China. I beleive I heard his wife is accounting faculty at a university in New York. (If being willing to earn a PhD in accounting to win a girl isn't true love - I don't know what is!) Anyway, we covered a great deal in a short time. His depth of knowledge and teaching ability were very, very good. Thanks.Tomorrow we formally begin the program. I expect it will be both a bit exciting and intimidating. I can't wait.

Ready for Takeoff

2006-07-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

Months of waiting and getting ready and July is finally here. The past couple of weeks have been full of last minute studying, reading, packing, and getting ready. Its hard to beleive that 6 months ago I wasn't even sure I would get into Duke, and today I'm sitting in the airport waiting for my flight to Durham to begin my MBA. SWA#949 is sitting at the gate. The skies are a little threatening. We might be delayed, but there's no turning back now. If I have to walk to Durham, I will. I've waited a long time for this and, for the first time in a long time, I'm really looking forward to something. I don't completely know what to expect or where this road is going to take me. What I do know is that I'm ready for this and I want it. This time is my time and it feels good.

WANTED: New Role Model

2006-07-04T20:02:00.000-07:00

I received my first course pack from Fuqua two weeks ago. I meant to post something that day but somehow didn't. Anyway, I'm quite excited and have been trying to study a few hours each night. Most nights I'm doing pretty well but others its hard to get motivated....and then there's my "help." Basil does his best to stay interested, but apparantly accounting isn't his favorite. As you can see, its hard to stay motivated when your partner is asleep at the wheel. It might not be so bad but he's so darned big he takes up most of the desk. I try to move him but he just come right back. I know he's just trying to help, but he's not the best role model. Maybe he's trying that "osmosis" thing. It didn't work for me in undergrad - perhaps I should try again.

Fuqua on iTunes U

2006-06-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

Its hard not to love your iPod. You can download just the podcasts, news, and music you want and listen to it whenever its convenient. Last night I learned that Fuqua started its own iTunes U site for the business school. What a cool idea! I'm really surprised at how much content is already available. I'm really excited about integrating on-demand learning into the classwork and lessons during the program. I'm also excited about the possibilities of podcasting parts of group assignments to share with others. With a little luck maybe I'll have a CCMBA podcast soon!!

NYT: Was Earning that Harvard MBA worth it?

2006-06-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

Since embarking on my EMBA effort friends and family have continuously sent me links and articles about just about anything related to the subject. The NY Times link above on "The Value of A Harvard MBA" is no exception. Overall, the aritcle is a rather encouraging account about the life and times of several 1996 HBS graduates. The story basically goes to say that, for most, the MBA experience opens doors to opportunities that might otherwise not have been. The bumps and bruises of any career are still there its just that the MBA provides a safety net for the ride. I think the article also reinforces the "commaradarie" aspects of the MBA experience which I've heard universally from students and alumni from all of the top programs.

Harvard holds a special place in my heart not only because I think its one of the coolest paces on earth, but also because I was born across the street at Mt Auburn hospital. My friend Derek, who sent me this link, relentlessly encuraged me to apply to HBS. I seriously thought about it but didn't because I really wanted to an Executive format program. The reputation of the GEMBA and CCMBA programs, my familiarity with the school, and my love of NC are what eventually led me to Duke.

I'm really encouraged by articles like this one and the corroboration I hear from Duke alumni. I haven't been so excited about anything professionally in a very long time and I can't wait to start CCMBA. I know I'll leave with a great education. I really hope I leave with some terriffic career opportunities and a good job. [I had better or I'll end up 3rd shift at the drive-thru trying to pay this off!] But in the end, if I get some great memories and lasting friendships I'll consider it a resounding success. Here's to the time ahead at Fuqua CCMBA '08!

PS: One of my early blog posts expressed my frustration with my PC experience. Well, I've finally taken the plunge. This post was written on my new Mac. Think different!

Study, Study, Study

2006-05-31T16:35:00.000-07:00

Study, study, study. I suppose this is what my life is going to be all about for the next 20+ months. Funny, it didn't seem so hard to get started back in college.... Then again, the only full-time job I had back then was studying. Maybe that's the difference.

Things are moving along. A little more slowly than I would like, but that's my fault. Setting aside the time and getting started seem to be the hardest tasks. Once I finally sit down and open the books / CDs things move along pretty well. I'm pretty well through all of the math and doing some supplemental problems just to fill in the gaps. This weekend - accounting. That could be a tough one. Onward and upward!

Calendar Setup

2006-05-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

I've setup a Google calendar for the CCMBA class. Since gCal appears to operate much like iCal, this should be a very useful tool for my class team. All I need to do if figure out is how to upload / sync with more pedestrian software like Outlook. We'll see how that goes.

Although fairly easy, the software doesn't seem to update very quickly via the web interface. Perhaps this is my connection or there's some site updates at g -we'll see. I'll try this gCal thing for a few weeks to see how well it works. If all goes well this might actually be useful.

EPILOGUE
HA! I got it to work! Check out this link or the permanant one on the sidebar.

Better Computing

2006-05-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

I've been a Windows / PC fan for a LONG time. In fact, I was one of the few people (very few, I think maybe 10 or 20) that actually used and liked Windows 386. (Yes, I'm THAT old.) I've eagerly anticipated and adopted almost every version of windows. Looking back, maybe it was just the hope that this time, the software would actually work. In truth, it has gotten better...or has it?

I've had my current PC for about 2 years. Its no screamer, but it get the job done. Sadly, XP is slowly driving me crazy. Crash after crash, glitch after glitch...what gives? I love computers. I even like Windows. The guys at Microsoft have been working on this for how many years now and it still won't stop crashing? Uh...thank God you guys don't make airplanes! I'm just at a point in life where I just want my computers to work. Turn on fast. Run reliably. And PLEASE don't crash every 10 minutes. Too much to ask?

I'll probably have to buy a new laptop for the CCMBA program. I can use my work machine for convenience and cost, but I'm seriously debating. One more crash and I'm buying a MacBook Pro.

Grand Opening!!

2006-05-26T17:13:00.000-07:00

Hi. Welcome to my chronics of the Cross-Continent Executive MBA at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. My goal is to document the daily goings-on during the MBA program.

Today I officially received my login and password to the CCEMBA website. I also took the time to fill out all of the pre-program forms for travel and event participation.

Pre-program math and accounting review continue. The CDs are helpful but could go faster. The excercises are more interesting and fun.