Transformation has begun

March went quickly marching by.
Spent much of my free time preparing for the JWMI EMBA adventure.

Paid for the books and case studies through the Strayer university virtual bookstore.
Finished APA guidelines for business writing - most of this I am already familiar with but it helped to be reminded about what it takes for good communication.

Professor Mary Munter's Business Communication book was a good read. A thorough set of guidelines are provided to take effective communication to a whole new level.

Transformation 1:
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I go to meetings I run with greater preparation and attention to detail - I give greater thought to the audience background, what to say depending on the situation, what channel is appropriate, how to communicate better; and yes, I even check if the chairs are properly arranged, and if the projector and phone are working properly.

I have seen situations where the smallest of detail can derail a presentation - a painstakingly prepared powerpoint presentation may look great on my computer screen but on my colleagues' screen the difference in font settings may make it look awful.

Reviewed the curriculum of leading business schools in greater detail and compared vs coverage at JWMI .  This process itself is highly educational.

Went over the sample lectures posted at JWMI.com

I never expected the impact from my JWMI learning to be so powerful and quick. To help the JWMI faculty quantify the impact they are creating, here are more specific examples of positive change.

Transformation 2:
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Had to interview candidates this week at work. With Jack Welch's guidance on hiring from the book "winning", I now have a framework I believe in and know exactly what to look for: IIM (Integrity, Intelligence, Maturity), 4E,P (Energy, Energize, Edge, Execute, Passion). This is a game changer. Used it gainfully for hiring decisions and shared it with fellow managers. I know I will use this over and over again going forward. Thanks Jack for turning on the light bulb for me !

Transformation 3:
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From the sample lectures, terms like "goal clarity" and "role clarity" began to emerge.
When progress slowed due to a superheated and long drawn discussion at work - with time pressure from a key deadline looming - I used these concepts to help steer the team smoothly towards the goal. The team energies were harnessed and from conflict we went to resolution quickly. I received appreciation from senior leaders who witnessed this event. What I learned from Jack Welch's books and videos came to mind. "Help the team members grow and lift the bar for the game - help reach a level no one thought was possible".

Had the JWMI new student orientation web conference yesterday night. The overview went well despite some technical glitches.

Web delivery of higher education makes so much sense. To the millions of underserved communities around the world, this is a clear path to climb out of poverty.

It is for all these reasons I view JWMI education as nothing short of revolutionary.

just thrilled to learn and be a part of Jack Welch's legacy
DP

Winning

Recently finished reading Jack Welch's book "winning". Going over it again now.

It gives a rare view from the CEO's perspective on what it takes to win in business.
Gleaned numerous nuggets of business wisdom and learned immediately applicable principles.

For example:
In interviewing candidates I now have a solid framework to judge the fit.

I,I,M - Integrity, Intelligence, Maturity
4E,P - Energy, Energize, Edge, Execution,  Passion
ACSR - Authentic, foresee around Corners, Surround by smarter people, Heavy duty Resilience

Genius is that which makes the complex look simple.
This book is pure genius
Especially recommended for anyone passionate about business leadership

Dr. DP

An opportunity of a lifetime

1. Dec 2011
Discovered JWMI quite by serendipity browsing through the sites of the MBA universe.
I had already read "Straight from the Gut" by Jack Welch.
I knew I had to find out more. Filled out the JWMI form online to get the brochures.
Heidi Boyd, the JWMI admissions manager, called almost immediately !
This is how customer service should be. Customer-centered.
My first impression is good. Started thinking more about the online MBA adventure. Should I do this ?

I know I can do it.
Having done my B.Tech at the intensely competitive and prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT, Madras), and PhD in Electrical Engineering at my dream university UCLA, I have taken numerous courses from some of the world's finest teachers. Yet my conclusion at the end of it all was, when one is self motivated and the reading materials are of top notch quality, it should be possible to advance in learning at one's own pace with minimal assistance from teachers.

2. Jan 2012
Watched every video of Jack on the web. Read every interview he gave. It is becoming quickly clear that Jack's principles will be transformative for my life and JWMI MBA is an opportunity of a lifetime.

The broadening with business skills will complement my deep technical skills. "When the student is ready, a teacher will appear" it is said. How true !

To transform my skillset with help from the legendary Jack Welch - I ***must*** do this.
This is not just a career enhancement move for me but a game changer for life. I understand, as a fully developed leader,  I can have a greater positive impact on society.

3. Feb 1, 2012
Began Enrollment process in JWMI. How quickly my life's path has changed.

With help from Heidi Boyd at every step, I got off to a quick start. Got a list of books used in the courses and began advance preparation. Will surely help work/life/study balance.

Furthermore, I want to make the most out of this MBA experience. Want to read voraciously to complement the official curriculum with work by thought leaders in other universities.

4. Feb 6, 2012
Received a wonderfully worded Letter of Acceptance from Dean Dr Trish Gorman Clifford. "welcome to a life changing learning experience !". The letter is not generic. It is tailored keeping in mind what the student is about to go through, including mentions about the specific courses I am about to start with. Receiving this letter clearly marks one of the key milestones in my life.

How does a worm about to go into a metamorphosis feel before it becomes a butterfly that can cover far greater ground?

How does a worm know what life with wings - one with greater dynamism - will feel like ?

I finally found a great opportunity to learn how to build great teams and lead large organizations. A new horizon of learning has dawned. A new life beckons.

5. Mar 2, 2012
Surveyed the curriculum of Top 25 MBA programs. Much like a kid lost in a candy store. Noted the commonalities and the unique features of the programs.

There is the pioneering Harvard Business School that started in 1908. One day I plan to have the entire case study collection in my own private library. There is Wharton - the first business school, and its hundreds of electives. Legendary Stanford has some of its courses online (udemy.com) - "ideas can come from anywhere".

MIT is phenomenal with the OCW open course ware approach. What a gift to mankind this is. Something that no one could have envisioned barely 20 years ago - that every kid in a small school in a village in India can now have access to the same world class materials as those sitting in an MIT classroom. What will matter is not the paper called a degree but what value one is creating with the learning.

INSEAD appears to stress on a more global experience. Mighty Yale is interesting too, approaching business education in a unique way naming courses very differently - centered around roles rather than topics in the first year and taking an integrated view in the second year. The concept of "raw" cases is also unique - giving exposure to multiple points of view and training students to face and make decisions under uncertainty.

My alma mater UCLA's Anderson school has such an impressive building and presence that is awe inspiring from the start. Students who get an opportunity to study here are so lucky.

The famous and revered Indian Institute of Management (IIM) - only 1 in 600 make it there. Why should this be ? Why not open the flood gates and let a million flowers bloom ? Would India and the world not be a better place when people reach their full potential as smarter leaders? With web technology it is now primarily just a matter of will.

University of Chicago's Booth school says boldly "you are only as good as the questions you ask", for "there are not enough books or case studies that can document every single business situation".

Berkeley, Columbia university, NYU, Cornell, CMU, Michigan Ross, USC, UT Austin, Tuck...wow such great places of higher learning ! 21st century is a great time to be alive and thirsting to learn. Every university offers something interesting to learn and the internet is such a great leveler of the playing field. US may be one of the few countries that truly encourages and supports lifelong learning.

6. March 8, 2012
The friendly and always helpful JWMI Admissions manager Heidi Boyd called to ensure I am aware of the New Students orientation module and the online bookstore at Strayer university. Of course I finished the New Students orientation module several days ago. Going over the course materials from the bookstore now.

My JWMI MBA journey starts officially on April 2 but I can hardly wait.

A long held dream of learning the fundamental principles of business is finally coming true.

What a treat to be guided by the real world experiences of a living legend, Jack Welch !

Many questions flow through my mind:

Who will my classmates be ? How will I interact with them in the virtual world? What can I learn from them ? How can I learn and also enrich the experience for others ?

Dr. DP

Reasons for pursuing the Jack Welch MBA

March 31, 2012

Just about one more day to go before the Jack Welch MBA adventure begins.
Feeling butterflies in the stomach in anticipation of this 18 month marathon.

I know there are going to be times when between work and life I will be tested for stamina to find the energies to pursue my dream of a great MBA education at the intensity level I desire. I have always taken pride in knowing that I can handle intense workloads with creative time management and making good trade-offs and that I don't easily get tired - rather I get energized by passionate pursuit of such personal challenges. But I know there will be moments when I will need to look past obstacles and maintain an unwavering focus on the journey's goal.

Destination: CEO mind-set with leadership and management skills to run a global company

The Goal:
1. To understand the fundamental principles and underpinnings of business
by not only meeting the education criteria set by JWMI faculty but also by giving it my best effort
2. Advance my for-profit career by becoming a better leader with valuable business leadership skills added to my portfolio of deep technology leadership skills
3. To become a better world citizen who can contribute more effectively in sustaining my non-profit projects aimed at improving education and self-reliance in underserved communities

I believe this journey has significance not just for me but for many more lives I can eventually reach out to as a better educated and better equipped leader. Business forces are so powerful and fascinating in the way they shape people's lives around the world that I longed to get my basics in business straight. Daring to think bigger and ride the business wave is one of the most exciting things I have ever done. I am reminded of the magical moment in the film Avatar when the protagonist Jake Sully dramatically changes his life and tilts his battle's odds with a daring decision with this memorable quote: "sometimes your whole life boils down to one insane move".

Thank you Jack Welch & JWMI faculty & staff for creating this wonderful opportunity.

drums roll...Rocky music start...action
Dr. DP