100 Episodes Later – Reflections, Lessons, and What Comes Next

Understanding the Case Method with HBS Professor Joshua Margolis | Ep 108

Send us your admissions questions! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368294/fan_mail/new] What is the case method, and how does it work at Harvard Business School (HBS)? Plus, what should MBA applicants know before they enroll? In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and mbaMission Executive Director Jessica Shklar sit down with HBS professor Joshua Margolis—a member of the program’s Organizational Behavior Unit and a faculty member in the Christensen Center for Teaching and Learning—for a candid, behind-the-scenes discussion of how the case method works at the world’s most case-driven business school. Professor Margolis, who helps train the next generation of HBS case method teachers, walks listeners through what a “case” is, how the school’s three-step learning model works (individual prep, study group, full class discussion), and how HBS instructs its faculty to write and teach cases. In addition, he breaks down the infamous “cold call,” including how the classroom is laid out and how faculty keep track of which students have contributed (and which have not). He also explains that the goal of the cold call is to establish a foundation for a robust discussion, not to embarrass the student who is picked. The conversation also gets practical for applicants: how much time a first-year student should expect to spend preparing for each case (two to four hours individually, plus more as part of their study group), the “learning to learn” curve of the first six weeks, and the “warm call”—when Professor Margolis gives a student five minutes’ notice at the end of class to summarize the discussion, identify three themes, and take a position. In his view, this exercise is the most direct thing HBS does to train future leaders. 00:00 What Is the Case Method (and Why Does HBS Use It)? 01:19 The Three Components of the HBS Learning Model: Case, Study Group, Classroom 03:27 How HBS Faculty Are Instructed to Write and Teach Cases 07:56 What Teaching Using the Case Method Is Like 12:53 How Cases Are Revised After Being Taught  16:10 How the Cold Call Works and How Faculty Pick a Student to Open Class 19:47 Cold Calls in the Middle of Class and the Warm Call at the End 22:30 How HBS Professors Get to Know Their Students 24:42 How Much Time First-Year Students Should Spend Preparing a Case 28:57 Evaluating a Case Class as a Prospective Applicant 36:13 Understanding the First Six Weeks’ “Learning to Learn” Curve Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. [https://www.mbamission.com/consult/] Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, [https://ontrack.mbamission.com/] our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com [ info@mbamission.com] Follow Us: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mbaMission] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbamission/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mbamission]

Real Estate as an MBA Career Path with Frank Cohen | Ep 107

Send us your admissions questions! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368294/fan_mail/new] Is real estate a feasible career path for MBA students? And how can one break into the industry? In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald speak with Frank Cohen, a Boston-based real estate developer, co-founder of Sheridan Road Properties, former senior director at Tishman Speyer, and a Kellogg MBA, about how MBA students can effectively pursue careers in real estate, even if they arrive on campus with no industry background. Frank also co-leads the JL Access Program at Georgetown University’s Steers Center for Global Real Assets, where he partners with the executive search firm Jackson Lucas to help students build the technical foundation and the relationships they need to succeed in real estate recruiting. He is profoundly familiar with what makes MBA candidates appealing to recruiters and what does not. The podcast conversation addresses the gap between what business schools teach and what real estate firms hire for, what a real estate interview tests, whether a single “real estate type” exists, how regional the industry is, and the networking tactics that consistently produce results. Frank closes with his best advice for any MBA candidate considering the field and provides some candid insight into what still brings him joy in the work, decades into his career. If you are weighing whether real estate might be a good career path for you or simply curious about how one of the world’s largest and most dynamic industries recruits business school students, this conversation is well worth your time. Connect with Frank Cohen: https://jacksonlucas.com/frank-cohen/   00:00 Why Real Estate Tends to Be Less Represented in MBA Programs 01:53 Frank Cohen’s Path from Northwestern Kellogg to Tishman Speyer and Rockefeller Center 04:51 What JL Access Does for Georgetown Students 07:21 The Gap Between What MBAs Learn and What Firms Hire For 10:40 What a Real Estate Interview Tests 14:20 Breaking into Real Estate with No Industry Background  17:02 How Regional the Industry Is, and the Importance of School Choice 18:37 The Most Effective Networking Move  Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. [https://www.mbamission.com/consult/] Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, [https://ontrack.mbamission.com/] our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com [ info@mbamission.com] Follow Us: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mbaMission] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbamission/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mbamission]

Why “Nontraditional” MBA Applicants Don't Exist (And What Does) | Ep 106

Send us your admissions questions! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368294/fan_mail/new] Are any MBA applicants truly “nontraditional” applicants? In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky is joined by Jeremy Shinewald, the founder of mbaMission, to examine a common notion in MBA admissions: that of the “nontraditional” applicant. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Jeremy argues that applicants should not focus on whether or not their background is “traditional” but on identifying and showcasing the personal stories that only they can tell. The conversation covers what overrepresented applicants such as consultants, bankers, and software engineers can do to stand out, and why Olympic athletes and other less-conventional candidates still have to prove classroom readiness. Harold and Jeremy also share practical advice for applicants who are still three to four years away from applying to business school: Figure out what genuinely interests you, invest yourself in it, and let the rest of the story build itself. The episode highlights several mbaMission success stories, including a pharmaceutical sales rep who pivoted into healthcare private equity, a European hockey player, a small-town mayor, and a professional baker—all of whom illustrate the same point: What makes an applicant memorable is rarely their title but rather the impact they have had on the people and communities around them. If you are thinking about applying to an MBA program or just curious about how admissions committees view differentiation, this conversation is well worth your time. 00:00 Why “Nontraditional” Is an Inaccurate Label for MBA Applicants 01:50 What Overrepresented Business School Applicants Should Do Differently 04:00 The Bakery Essay: Authentic Storytelling 06:18 Why a Unique Background Isn’t Enough 10:26 The Three- to Four-Year Applicant Playbook 15:09 What Impact in a Corporate Role Looks Like 17:30 Nontraditional Applicant Success Stories Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. [https://www.mbamission.com/consult/] Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, [https://ontrack.mbamission.com/] our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com [ info@mbamission.com] Follow Us: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mbaMission] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbamission/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mbamission]

The Truth About Informal Business School Endorsements | Ep 105

Send us your admissions questions! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368294/fan_mail/new] What role do informal letters of recommendation play in business school admissions decisions?  Host Harold Simansky is joined by Melissa Blakeslee, an experienced MBA admissions consultant and former admissions director, to clarify what these endorsements are and why most programs discourage them. In this episode, Melissa shares firsthand insight into how admissions committees evaluate external outreach, helping candidates understand when an extra recommendation can add value and when it might instead cause harm. Listeners will discover how to handle recommendation offers from well-connected executives, what makes a campus visitor endorsement credible, and how to use specific school initiatives such as Chicago Booth’s “Shape the Class.” The conversation also addresses the proper timing for submitting outside endorsements and how to employ the strategy effectively when waitlisted. This episode is especially valuable for MBA candidates who are still determining their recommendation strategy or have been placed on a school’s waitlist. Listeners will learn how to identify appropriate individuals to provide an informal note, how admissions readers assess fit, and how an unsolicited letter can inadvertently signal a lack of judgment. 00:00 Introducing Informal Letters of Recommendation 02:14 Defining Informal Endorsements Versus Recommendations 05:51 Using Campus Visit Endorsements to Emphasize Fit 07:58 How Endorsements Vary Across Business Schools 09:56 A Strategy for Waitlist and Deferred MBA Applications 13:01 Examples of Helpful Versus Damaging Endorsements Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. [https://www.mbamission.com/consult/] Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, [https://ontrack.mbamission.com/] our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com [ info@mbamission.com] Follow Us: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mbaMission] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbamission/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mbamission]

MBA Networking That Leads to Referrals | Ep 104

Send us your admissions questions! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368294/fan_mail/new] How can MBA applicants and business school students network effectively? In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and Jessica Shklar, mbaMission Executive Director, speak with Jeff Yolen, CEO and founder of Career Connector, about how to network effectively to advance your career. Jeff explains why cold applications so rarely lead to offers, how referrals can improve your odds of landing a job, and why informational interviews are one of the most valuable tools in the MBA recruiting process. They discuss how to identify the most valuable contacts, how to write concise outreach messages, what to ask for during a networking conversation, and how MBA students can start building relationships that support both their immediate professional goals and their long-term career growth. If you are thinking about MBA admissions, MBA recruiting, or your post-MBA career strategy, this episode offers practical advice you can apply right away. Contact Jeff Yolen: jeff@careerconnector.coach [jeff@careerconnector.coach] 00:00 Networking and Post-MBA Career Opportunities 05:58 Why Cold Applications Fail and Referrals Matter 09:16 Where to Start If You Do Not Already Have a Network 13:20 The Real Goal of an Informational Interview 21:14 How Career Connector Helps Students Network Strategically 25:23 Jeff’s Best Networking Advice for MBA Applicants and Students Subscribe for more MBA admissions advice and business school strategies from mbaMission. Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. [https://www.mbamission.com/consult/] Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, [https://ontrack.mbamission.com/] our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com [ info@mbamission.com] Follow Us: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mbaMission] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbamission/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mbamission]