After earning a BA in marketing, Ché pursued an MBA with triple concentrations in Corporate Finance, Investment Banking, and Organizational Leadership.
He feels that the discipline, perseverance, and planning that were paramount during his time in the U.S. Navy were equally important to him as he took on the dual roles of MBA student and entrepreneur. Ché runs his own state-of-the-art fitness center.
Why did you choose to get an MBA?
After deciding to follow my dreams of going into business on my own, I assessed myself and decided that an MBA would revitalize my current skills and allow me to acquire more skills that would aid me in my entrepreneurial pursuits. Management courses may seem remedial after learning many of the same points in the military environment, but I found it revealing to study the theory behind many of the actions I had so readily implemented.
My experience as an entrepreneur in business school has been both difficult and exciting. For years I had wanted to start my company but didn’t have time to focus on it. So I purposely planned to combine grad school with getting my company underway. Attending business school allowed me to not only be in control of my own time but also pick up valuable tools that I knew would help me in my endeavors. It also provided me the opportunity to access intellectual resources that may be invaluable as I continue my work. Several of my classmates have decided to come and work with me, which also makes the experience worthwhile.
Why does the type of school you attend matter?
Some schools specialize in traditional lecture format, others use case studies, and still others use an integrated approach. Furthermore, schools vary in how proficient they are in various academic disciplines, such as finance, marketing, etc. So you need to consider all of these important points when choosing your school, not to mention whether you want to attend a full-time, part-time, or executive program. These two years of your life may drastically impact your career options. Before applying, you need a clear picture of the focus and structure of your potential program.
Personally, I found the search easier because I had a well-defined reason for attending an MBA program. I knew I wanted a program that focused on concrete tools versus theory.
Although I had an undergraduate degree in business, after many years in the military I felt it necessary to revamp my finance skills. I wanted to be able to effectively manage all aspects of finance and accounting within my company by being knowledgeable about those areas. My corporate finance concentration will undoubtedly help with the growth of my firm and allow me to effectively manage the finances. At the same time, the investment banking concentration could help in the event I decide to go public or want to acquire debt financing. All in all, the tools needed are quite extensive, which was why I believed that having a program focused on the facts as opposed to theory would better serve me in my endeavors.
