Recently, I attempted to explain why I had withdrawn from an
MBA program. I shared I wasn’t finding a match with the shape and design of the
program. In response, I received a blank stare. How to more clearly explain? Ah,
my friend the dating analogy.
I use dating deliberately. We were well past flirting. I’d
stayed over, after all. When you’ve gone to a five-day remote orientation,
you’re past the coy of the safe “coffee” date and in that uncompleted stage,
i.e. dating. Anticipating where things would go, I registered for classes, a.k.a.,
the next date.
It’d been awhile since dating but I still remember juggling
that feeling of excitement (the possibilities and the terror of the “what if’s”).
It struck me then that achieving dating balance is like job hunting/hiring;
it’s all about timing and fit. And that’s a notion that has stuck with me for
12 years.
Timing
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| Change curve by Beroz Ferrell. Photo by http://bigtada.com/ |
Both parties free to date? Check. At Quixote Foundation (QF),
we’re in the midst of managing our planned transition of spending
up/spending everything and I’m currently leaning in to phase three of what William Bridges describes of transitions
as “making the new beginning,” (Wikipedia
and The Point, LLC). For me, the idea of a sustainable MBA marked my
new launch: how can I merge philanthropy, social responsibility and corporate
enterprise? In essence, I wanted this MBA dating process to create a bridge to
what’s next beyond the institutional life of QF’s wrap in 2017 as a
limited-life, sunset or spend-down foundation in philanthropy.
Fit
My MBA date seemed clear that I met their criteria when they
offered me admission and likely thought I got them when I accepted. There’s
a continuum though between the safe “coffee” date and your first road trip
together. A WIDE spectrum of information gathering happens between these two
points, and even if all systems seem go, there’s something about a road trip
that can foreshadow a make or break situation. I expressed doubt at orientation
by saying I felt more disoriented than oriented (something was feeling off
about this) and yet I remained open, i.e. more dates…maybe even a relationship?
On that hope, I ordered books, submitted my informal bio, and checked in with
my study buddy; I was prepared for the road trip.
College try
Things started to unravel before the first rest stop. It
became clear that the fit around learning styles/program goals wasn’t going to
be a match for me. Our first class—I’m startled by an out-of-the blue emphasis
on memorizing material in order to pass tests by a particular point in time;
totally the opposite from the flipped
classroom team application approach my MBA date touted. Gone was the
emphasis on field learning and interaction. Front and center? Getting us all
“on the same page” which would be demonstrated when I did “whatever I needed to
do” to pass this online independent course via successful test completion. The
sensation of feeling like a square peg fitting into a round hole squeezed my
head to a halt. Enough-pull over!
We didn’t fit.
In my work and life since undergrad, learning to me has been
about experientially applying content. It is NOT about memorizing for the sake
of memorizing. With this fundamental difference suddenly clear despite the fall
quarter now under way, I broke things off.
Appreciation
I’m thankful to this MBA program/institution. Like anyone
you date, there’s an opportunity for learning in that process and I gained a
lot from this period of dating. I’ve met some amazing people and been
introduced to a new range of concepts. I look forward to exploring these and
being an ally to my former “date” in their work in sustainable business.
