I will be applying to the B Schools in the UK this season, and have created a list of them. I know there will be someone who will be interested in these as well.
[Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_business_schools_in_Europe#United_Kingdom]
[Source: http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-rankings]
List of Schools as per FT Rankings:
(Click on each link to go the b-school website for further information)
1. London Business School.
2. Said business School, Oxford
3. Judge Business School, Cambridge
4. Lancaster Univerty Management School
5. School of Management, Cranfield
6. Imperial College Business School
7. Manchester Business School
8. City University, Cass
9. Warwick Business School
10. University of Strathclyde, Scotland
11. Aston Business School
12. Durham Business School
13. Birmingham Business School
14. University of Bath business School
15. University of Edinburgh business school
16. Bradford School of Management
A complete list of b-schools can be found on wikipedia here.
A lot of these schools do need GMAT (top 10 for sure), not sure about the others.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Google Internet Bus and the internet awareness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4Faoo1wDag
Google has started an awareness programme in India to go to every nook and corner of the country and spread awareness about internet. How ? Using a bus equipped with internet where people can visit, surf and be aware of whats in it for them.
Quite impressive. Internet in India has penetrated just aout 7%, considering that we have a very wide network of wireless and wired connections all over India. Internet is cheap in india as well, you just need to pay 10 Rs per hour in an internet cafe. So the reason behind this low penetration is lack of awareness.
So I think Google has hit the bulls eye in its effort to increase the internet user base. This way people will be aware of how they can use the internet, be it education, news, entertainment or business. And it will mean more business for Google as well. Companies like Yahoo and Indiatimes should partner with Google in this campaign. A booming business will help everyone in the long run.
Google has started an awareness programme in India to go to every nook and corner of the country and spread awareness about internet. How ? Using a bus equipped with internet where people can visit, surf and be aware of whats in it for them.
Quite impressive. Internet in India has penetrated just aout 7%, considering that we have a very wide network of wireless and wired connections all over India. Internet is cheap in india as well, you just need to pay 10 Rs per hour in an internet cafe. So the reason behind this low penetration is lack of awareness.
So I think Google has hit the bulls eye in its effort to increase the internet user base. This way people will be aware of how they can use the internet, be it education, news, entertainment or business. And it will mean more business for Google as well. Companies like Yahoo and Indiatimes should partner with Google in this campaign. A booming business will help everyone in the long run.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Got a reject from JBS, Cambridge
Got a reject mail from JBS today. It was disappointing. JBS was my dream school for various reasons, and now it remains a dream.
They didnot even give a feedback. Just a simple reject.
When I retrospect, I find various possible reasons for this decision:
1. Quality of work ex - They do take people with lesser experience, but the quality of exp has to be top class. I have 6 years of exp with worlds largest enterprise software company, but not as a manager, pre-sales, lead . I am a simple developer, and so might have fallen into a big pool of applicants.
2. International Exp - I was thinking of ignoring this fact. But now I am sure this matters a lot. A UK experience defintely gives you an edge. I have none.
3. Quality of application - I was truthful to whatever I wrote in my apps. I glorified to whatever extent I could keeping my integrity. But I think it didnt sell.
Where do we go now ?
From here, I have only 2 choices. First to improve my profile, try to get better job profile in the next 2-3 years, get an international exp and then apply for an MBA. Second, keep trying in other b schools this year, and hope someone is interested in your kind of profile.
I have decided to take the second option. Will apply to a few more this season and if I still do not get through, will have a serious look at changing my job profile.
Till then, may the force be with you.
They didnot even give a feedback. Just a simple reject.
When I retrospect, I find various possible reasons for this decision:
1. Quality of work ex - They do take people with lesser experience, but the quality of exp has to be top class. I have 6 years of exp with worlds largest enterprise software company, but not as a manager, pre-sales, lead . I am a simple developer, and so might have fallen into a big pool of applicants.
2. International Exp - I was thinking of ignoring this fact. But now I am sure this matters a lot. A UK experience defintely gives you an edge. I have none.
3. Quality of application - I was truthful to whatever I wrote in my apps. I glorified to whatever extent I could keeping my integrity. But I think it didnt sell.
Where do we go now ?
From here, I have only 2 choices. First to improve my profile, try to get better job profile in the next 2-3 years, get an international exp and then apply for an MBA. Second, keep trying in other b schools this year, and hope someone is interested in your kind of profile.
I have decided to take the second option. Will apply to a few more this season and if I still do not get through, will have a serious look at changing my job profile.
Till then, may the force be with you.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
6 Reasons why India is growing more than ever before
Source : http://www.ted.com/talks/nandan_nilekani_s_ideas_for_india_s_future.html
A speech by Nandan Nilekani.
I have tried to summarize the whole speech here.
Ideas that have arrived - The 6 reasons why India is growing at a rate greater than ever before.
1.Population as an asset - as opposed to a liability. Only youngest country in an aging world.
2.Entrepreneurship as a positive thing in society.
3. English as a language of aspirations.
4. Growing need and adaptation of technology.
5. Seeing globalization as a good thing and feeling a need to participate in it.
6. Deepening of democracy - improved society.
Ideas in progress - The ideas for which need has been felt but not yet implemented.
1. Education - Primary education, especially in govt sponsored schools.
2. Urbanization -
3. Cities as engine of growth - Develop cities, and see the as centers of growth, innovation and creativity.
4. Single Market - View India as a single market.
Ideas in Conflict - The de-accelerators
1. Ideology of caste etc
2. Labour policies - need to regulate highly un-organized labour force. More benefits.
3. Higher Education - Need to de-regulate so that opening up universities is easier. Make it easier for foreign universities to setup centers here.
Ideas that we need to anticipate
1. Technology
2. Health - Better health prospects, and not have diseases of rich countries.
3. Pensions and entitlements - Social security for the old.
4. Energy - Carbon footprint, global warming etc need to be controlled via growing economies like India.
A speech by Nandan Nilekani.
I have tried to summarize the whole speech here.
Ideas that have arrived - The 6 reasons why India is growing at a rate greater than ever before.
1.Population as an asset - as opposed to a liability. Only youngest country in an aging world.
2.Entrepreneurship as a positive thing in society.
3. English as a language of aspirations.
4. Growing need and adaptation of technology.
5. Seeing globalization as a good thing and feeling a need to participate in it.
6. Deepening of democracy - improved society.
Ideas in progress - The ideas for which need has been felt but not yet implemented.
1. Education - Primary education, especially in govt sponsored schools.
2. Urbanization -
3. Cities as engine of growth - Develop cities, and see the as centers of growth, innovation and creativity.
4. Single Market - View India as a single market.
Ideas in Conflict - The de-accelerators
1. Ideology of caste etc
2. Labour policies - need to regulate highly un-organized labour force. More benefits.
3. Higher Education - Need to de-regulate so that opening up universities is easier. Make it easier for foreign universities to setup centers here.
Ideas that we need to anticipate
1. Technology
2. Health - Better health prospects, and not have diseases of rich countries.
3. Pensions and entitlements - Social security for the old.
4. Energy - Carbon footprint, global warming etc need to be controlled via growing economies like India.
Friday, October 23, 2009
The light’s better here
The joke goes like this - Someone was looking for something on the ground below a lamp-post. The cop asks him, did you lose something. He replies "yes, i lost my keys". Cop - "Did you lose them here ?" . The man replies "no, I lost them over there, but the light's better here."
Most of us figure out what to search for , or figure out a brilliant business idea but spend most of our time in the wrong place. This is what is called as "majoring in minors" (courtesy this video). Most people spend major time and effort in minor things and cant figure the more important things.
Example being when starting a website. Spending most of time in developing it, using cool and newest technologies, starting from scratch, but missing out on things like target audience, business proposition. If you do not know whats the size and type of your customer, your website is doomed to die. So 90% of the thing could be to launch it, but the most important thing would be the last 10%.
Moral of the story - Do not just concentrate on what is the easiest to do. Concentrate on whats more important. Searching for the key under the lights might be an easy task but you are going to fail as the key is not there.
Most of us figure out what to search for , or figure out a brilliant business idea but spend most of our time in the wrong place. This is what is called as "majoring in minors" (courtesy this video). Most people spend major time and effort in minor things and cant figure the more important things.
Example being when starting a website. Spending most of time in developing it, using cool and newest technologies, starting from scratch, but missing out on things like target audience, business proposition. If you do not know whats the size and type of your customer, your website is doomed to die. So 90% of the thing could be to launch it, but the most important thing would be the last 10%.
Moral of the story - Do not just concentrate on what is the easiest to do. Concentrate on whats more important. Searching for the key under the lights might be an easy task but you are going to fail as the key is not there.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The elevator pitch
Elevator Pitch
Came across a nice video about how to pitch about your business idea to an investor in a 2 minute presentation.
A good elevator pitch is made up of two key elements
1.layout the pain statement - what you are trying to solve
2.value proposition - how does your venture solve that problem
A good elevator pitch must pass four key tests
1. It should be short - you might have just 2 mins to deliver your pitch
2. It should be easy to understand - even a non technical guy should be able to get the idea.
3. It must be greed inducing - how are you planning to get $$ and how much ?
4. It must be irrefutable - must be self explaining and leave the investor with more answers and less questions.
Quite impressive !
Came across a nice video about how to pitch about your business idea to an investor in a 2 minute presentation.
A good elevator pitch is made up of two key elements
1.layout the pain statement - what you are trying to solve
2.value proposition - how does your venture solve that problem
A good elevator pitch must pass four key tests
1. It should be short - you might have just 2 mins to deliver your pitch
2. It should be easy to understand - even a non technical guy should be able to get the idea.
3. It must be greed inducing - how are you planning to get $$ and how much ?
4. It must be irrefutable - must be self explaining and leave the investor with more answers and less questions.
Quite impressive !
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Pros and Cons of doing an MBA
Now that I have decided to do an MBA, there is not turning back. But still there are thoughts in my mind about the pros and cons of doing an MBA. Especially now, when global economy is under recession. And when I am married and having a good job that pays well. Let me list all of them out.
Cons
1. Huge Opportunity cost - I will lose more than 10 Lakhs PA of salary for the next 1-2 years that I spend doing an MBA. That will be a huge amount. Add to that the costs of an MBA which will be in excess of 30Lakhs (min).
2. Moving away from friends and family - out of sight is out of mind. Isn't it ? We often do not get a chance to meet, even in weekends, living in the same city. Moving away will definitely mean less social gatherings.
3. Strained relationships - though you are in touch with your spouse over the phone and email, but its just not enough sometimes. Same about your family. Its going to be difficult.
4. Stress and Burden - An MBA is not an easy affair. Its not like the 9-6 job (oh come on! face it, we do have a relaxed job , even in IT). Its going to be stressful, and loaded. Top it up with the burden of loan which one must take. And then the tension around internships, projects, placements,visa, .. .. ..
Pros
1. Once in a lifetime experience - If you join a good reputed b-school, you are bound to have an experience that will change your life for sure. The outlook changes a lot. Not experienced personally, but read a lot about it. Also this would provide you with the much needed confidence to do anything in life.
2. Add weight to CV - before an MBA you might just be an IT professional from IIT/NIT with experience in XXX,YYY,ZZZ. But after that, your CV will read "MBA from xxxxx". This definitely will be an added advantage in any future endeavor you might take up.
3. Career change and progression - Though not very simple, but it will be easier to change your career and a swifter progress after an MBA. All depends on how one fares in the b-school, but it is definitely easier than without an MBA.
4. Life long network - You will gain a network of friends, alumni, and faculty which will help you in the longer run. You will have to contribute as well, and thats how it works. Give and Take.
5. Money will come later - And if everything goes well, you will definitely earn more than now in long run. Enough money to cover the money you lost as 'opportunity cost' in a lesser time.
[Update - May 28/2010]
Read an interesting article about how to decide between an Indian MBA and a foreign MBA. A good read indeed. The most important point is about having the right expectations. True indeed !
http://www.mindinsight.com/viewblog.action?blogId=35 :
Cons
1. Huge Opportunity cost - I will lose more than 10 Lakhs PA of salary for the next 1-2 years that I spend doing an MBA. That will be a huge amount. Add to that the costs of an MBA which will be in excess of 30Lakhs (min).
2. Moving away from friends and family - out of sight is out of mind. Isn't it ? We often do not get a chance to meet, even in weekends, living in the same city. Moving away will definitely mean less social gatherings.
3. Strained relationships - though you are in touch with your spouse over the phone and email, but its just not enough sometimes. Same about your family. Its going to be difficult.
4. Stress and Burden - An MBA is not an easy affair. Its not like the 9-6 job (oh come on! face it, we do have a relaxed job , even in IT). Its going to be stressful, and loaded. Top it up with the burden of loan which one must take. And then the tension around internships, projects, placements,visa, .. .. ..
Pros
1. Once in a lifetime experience - If you join a good reputed b-school, you are bound to have an experience that will change your life for sure. The outlook changes a lot. Not experienced personally, but read a lot about it. Also this would provide you with the much needed confidence to do anything in life.
2. Add weight to CV - before an MBA you might just be an IT professional from IIT/NIT with experience in XXX,YYY,ZZZ. But after that, your CV will read "MBA from xxxxx". This definitely will be an added advantage in any future endeavor you might take up.
3. Career change and progression - Though not very simple, but it will be easier to change your career and a swifter progress after an MBA. All depends on how one fares in the b-school, but it is definitely easier than without an MBA.
4. Life long network - You will gain a network of friends, alumni, and faculty which will help you in the longer run. You will have to contribute as well, and thats how it works. Give and Take.
5. Money will come later - And if everything goes well, you will definitely earn more than now in long run. Enough money to cover the money you lost as 'opportunity cost' in a lesser time.
[Update - May 28/2010]
Read an interesting article about how to decide between an Indian MBA and a foreign MBA. A good read indeed. The most important point is about having the right expectations. True indeed !
http://www.mindinsight.com/viewblog.action?blogId=35 :
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