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Narpat Singh
Senior Program Manager – Product Strategy & Development
Verizon
Program/Concentration: Jack Welch MBA
HOW HAS THE JWMI CURRICULUM HELPED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
Early on our JWMI journey, we learned about the “learn-it-all mindset.” This mindset is developed from the growth mindset and encourages us to see every opportunity as a learning opportunity. This concept was valuable to me as an MBA student, as it encouraged me to work at and try different things. For example, public speaking was not always a strength of mine but I made a point of challenging myself and practicing more. Now, as a JWMI alum, I am well out of my comfort zone and feel confident speaking in public. Another area where I have grown is my ability to communicate. Before the MBA, I considered myself a decent communicator, but now I feel more confident in communicating both through written and verbal messages to anywhere up and down the totem pole, whether it be field workers or C-Suite executives. I have learned how to frame my messages more effectively and add more context. Most importantly, I have figured out when to communicate succinctly and elaborately and provide more details.
LOOKING BACK AT WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT AN ONLINE PROGRAM WHEN YOU FIRST EMBARKED, WHAT WAS YOUR OVERALL IMPRESSION NOW? DID IT MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS VIA DQ BOARDS, EOP VIDEOS, FACULTY ETC?:
The online program exceeded my expectations. The discussion board (DQ board) had tons of tidbits and thoughtful comments from the professor and classmates. I thoroughly enjoyed the EOP videos, particularly the ones with Jack Welch and Warren Buffet. The online program taught me the importance of being open-minded and clear in my responses.
HOW DID YOU NAVIGATE JOB, FAMILY, AND WORK? WHAT STRATEGIES DID YOU IMPLEMENT TO GET IT DONE?:
The key to getting the MBA while navigating job, family, and work is to timebox your time. Every Sunday, I would go through my schedule for the upcoming week and block out time devoted to family, work, and schoolwork. I would do my schoolwork once everyone was fast asleep. I burned the midnight oil many nights, but it was all worth it in the end.
WAS THERE A PARTICULAR PROFESSOR OR MEMBER OF THE STAFF THAT YOU FELT HELPED YOU TO EXCEL? PLEASE ELABORATE.:
All the professors have been phenomenal at JWMI. They are knowledgeable and provide real-life examples. Dr. Greg Dardis was exemplary in the Leadership in the 21st-century class. The tone that he set made the rest of the classes enjoyable.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM?:
The most rewarding experience has been the growth I have experienced in my ability to lead. It’s also the same time my wife and I grew our family as our second daughter was just about nine months when I started the journey; she just turned three as I sit here as an MBA graduate. Time flies when you’re having fun. The combination of being a father to two girls under five and getting my MBA has been my most rewarding experience. Knowing that my girls see me as a dad before anything else gave me a sense of purpose and calmed me to focus on my studies when they were asleep, and be present for them during the day.
IN JUST A FEW WORDS, DESCRIBE WHAT “LEADERSHIP” MEANS TO YOU.:
There have been many takeaways from the program, but these two are the most important. The first one is the importance of a good leader in any situation. In a business setting, being a genuine, authentic individual is vital to lead from the front. Candor and transparency are essential to being an excellent leader. The second important takeaway from this program is the ability to take risks. A great leader must be willing to take risks. The key is to know when to take a chance and when not to.
PLEASE SHARE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW STUDENTS EMBARKING ON THE MBA JOURNEY.:
Timing and focusing on one course at a time is crucial in this program. There were a couple of semesters where I doubled up and enjoyed it, but it became more hectic. It is more manageable and beneficial to take one class per semester or four classes per year. In addition, the pace works well when you have to deal with other aspects of life. Focus on the now, trust the process, and know that as long as you put in the work, week after week before you know it, it’ll be complete, and you will be proud of the results. I highly recommend the JWMI MBA degree, as it provides valuable, practical education that can be applied to daily life.
Connect with Narpat Singh on LinkedIn
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