![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.esmt.org\/degree-programs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Barlow_Samantha-506x759.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nI sought an MBA to acquire the hard\nskills that would allow me to grow as an effective entrepreneur. Specifically,\nmy aim was to increase my literacy in financial accounting and be able to\ntransmit this knowledge into operational strategy in order to effectively\nlaunch my own company. My traditional employment prior to the MBA was as a\nprogram manager in the nonprofit sector, but I had also been on the founding\nteam of two international social enterprises and wanted to pivot my career\ntrajectory in that direction. The gaps in my knowledge and skills were\nimmediately apparent to me, and I knew I needed to learn the language of business\nand increase my financial literacy to be successful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I also wanted to engage with a\nglobal community, exchanging diverse ideas and experiences. I often think about\nhow my movement through the world as a white, American woman affects my\nleadership practices. I am especially cognizant of these practices in the\ncontext of my business ventures in Ghana, West Africa, where my fianc\u00e9e and I\ncurrently reside. I was motivated to do not just an MBA, but an international\nMBA so I could be even more thoughtful about working in different cultural\ncontexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One year later, what would you say surprised\nyou most about the program? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nI don\u2019t\nthink anything could have prepared me for the power of the ESMT network. When\nyou read the brochure and the statistics about how many different countries are\nrepresented, they cannot do justice to the real thing. The distinct life\nexperiences of my classmates and idea-sharing that took place during group work\nthroughout the year challenged me. Months after graduation, people still post\nhelpful job links and funny photos in the class WhatsApp group every day. The\nway alumni would respond to networking emails, the way professors would take\ntime outside class to answer my questions, the way the administrators went out\nof their way to invite me to interesting events or connect me with relevant\nprofessionals \u2013 it all astounded me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you had to name one highlight of the year,\nwhat would it be? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Munich\ncompany visits in May 2018 doubled as a thought-provoking glimpse at two companies\nand an enjoyable social experience with my classmates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thirty of\nus crowded onto the 7:00 a.m. Easyjet flight to Munich one Friday morning,\nchanged into suits in the airport bathroom, and marched off to Holidu and\nAmazon. The companies \u2013 one a local startup and one a multinational tech giant\n\u2013 contrasted interestingly and we all discussed cultural fit and personal\npreferences on the bus ride to the hotel. We spent the rest of the weekend\ndrinking beer with alumni, taking the free walking tour, and laughing together\nover meals of Schweinshaxe and K\u00e4sesp\u00e4tzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What motivated you to become a Responsible\nLeaders Fellow? What will you be doing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe\nResponsible Leaders Fellowship (RLF) is an amazing springboard to the next step\nin my professional career. I am seeking a career in social enterprise and have\npersonal ties to West Africa, so the ability to pursue a six-month opportunity\nat Impact Hub Accra, the premier entrepreneurial empowerment agency in Ghana,\nis a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RLF\nprovides a great foot in the door, since it\u2019s easier to join an organization as\na pro bono consultant, thanks to ESMT\u2019s generous Circle of Friends. Now that I\u2019m here, Impact Hub Accra is\nopening up doors for me and creating numerous networking opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am able\nto flex my new MBA muscles as a financial and strategy consultant for the Hub\u2019s\nhealth innovation program, taking on a variety of tasks I would otherwise be\nunable to as a traditional employee. My diverse fellowship consists of program and\nbusiness development support, impact evaluation, and creating a separate\nbudgeting system and long-term financial strategy for the health program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What advice would you give to new students?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTake\nadvantage of the opportunities! In the beginning you may feel overwhelmed\nadjusting to a new country and tackling the considerable amount of homework.\nFocus on learning, but do not worry too much about grades, and dive into the\nextracurriculars. Join clubs, attend events, stay out late, take up leadership\nroles, and be tired. You get as much as you put into the MBA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anything else you would like to share?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTo new\nstudents \u2013 leave a legacy. You have one year, and whether you want to address\nsexism in the corporate world, make ESMT greener, strengthen the alumni\nnetwork, increase diversity, or start a new club, think about how you want to\nbe remembered and act on it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Munich\ncompany visits in May 2018 doubled as a thought-provoking glimpse at two companies\nand an enjoyable social experience with my classmates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thirty of\nus crowded onto the 7:00 a.m. Easyjet flight to Munich one Friday morning,\nchanged into suits in the airport bathroom, and marched off to Holidu and\nAmazon. The companies \u2013 one a local startup and one a multinational tech giant\n\u2013 contrasted interestingly and we all discussed cultural fit and personal\npreferences on the bus ride to the hotel. We spent the rest of the weekend\ndrinking beer with alumni, taking the free walking tour, and laughing together\nover meals of Schweinshaxe and K\u00e4sesp\u00e4tzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What motivated you to become a Responsible\nLeaders Fellow? What will you be doing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe\nResponsible Leaders Fellowship (RLF) is an amazing springboard to the next step\nin my professional career. I am seeking a career in social enterprise and have\npersonal ties to West Africa, so the ability to pursue a six-month opportunity\nat Impact Hub Accra, the premier entrepreneurial empowerment agency in Ghana,\nis a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RLF\nprovides a great foot in the door, since it\u2019s easier to join an organization as\na pro bono consultant, thanks to ESMT\u2019s generous Circle of Friends. Now that I\u2019m here, Impact Hub Accra is\nopening up doors for me and creating numerous networking opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am able\nto flex my new MBA muscles as a financial and strategy consultant for the Hub\u2019s\nhealth innovation program, taking on a variety of tasks I would otherwise be\nunable to as a traditional employee. My diverse fellowship consists of program and\nbusiness development support, impact evaluation, and creating a separate\nbudgeting system and long-term financial strategy for the health program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What advice would you give to new students?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTake\nadvantage of the opportunities! In the beginning you may feel overwhelmed\nadjusting to a new country and tackling the considerable amount of homework.\nFocus on learning, but do not worry too much about grades, and dive into the\nextracurriculars. Join clubs, attend events, stay out late, take up leadership\nroles, and be tired. You get as much as you put into the MBA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anything else you would like to share?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTo new\nstudents \u2013 leave a legacy. You have one year, and whether you want to address\nsexism in the corporate world, make ESMT greener, strengthen the alumni\nnetwork, increase diversity, or start a new club, think about how you want to\nbe remembered and act on it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Take\nadvantage of the opportunities! In the beginning you may feel overwhelmed\nadjusting to a new country and tackling the considerable amount of homework.\nFocus on learning, but do not worry too much about grades, and dive into the\nextracurriculars. Join clubs, attend events, stay out late, take up leadership\nroles, and be tired. You get as much as you put into the MBA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n