Jennifer Barnett: Academics, the Placement Process, and More

If you happened to read my last entry, you know that I recently attended the finals of the Thunderbird Global MBA Innovation Challenge in Glendale, Ariz. The people at Thunderbird are amazing, especially considering they live in an environment that's 100 degrees all day and then negative four at night. The evening chill is also exacerbated when your piggyback ride goes awry and lands you in the cold, wet grass. Take my word for it.

If there was one thing I learned from participating in the Challenge, it's that much like in the real world, the client gets the last word. But if there were TWO things I learned from the Challenge, it's that red wine and heartbreak are a spectacularly potent mix that far surpass standard-issue sour grapes in their ability to fuel such unsportsmanlike and juvenile acts as popping the balloons at the after-party or landing dinner rolls on the roof.

They also spawn particularly uplifting dialogue, such as:

Me: (Various whining and bellyaching)
Balloons: Pop! Pop!
Justin: But Jen, all your failures have made you the person you are today.
Me: A loser?
Balloons: Pop! Pop! Pop!


But if there were THREE things I learned at the challenge, the third was that I really want to be involved in innovation for the rest of my life. Sure, there was over a month of sleepless nights, of forwarding yet another survey to anyone on planet Earth with an email address, of knockdown drag-out fighting interspersed with super-sappy love fests.

INSPIRING MOMENTS.  But there was also that sort of goofy, over-the-top laughter that feels like a Kathy Smith ab workout, those moments of inspiration that truly necessitate 2 a.m. phone calls and the kind of teammate bonding that usually only occurs in life-or-death situations, like on the Titanic or during clearance days at Saks.

My favorite quote from a judge was that we "swung for the fences." I want to keep hearing that. I want it on a t-shirt. Heck -– inscribe it on my tombstone.

We were also able to stay in touch with keynote speaker Chic Thompson, whose commitment to creativity and innovation has inspired us to take on such challenges as pursuing a producing role in Los Angeles (Justin) and writing a book (me!).

DON'T FOLLOW THE HERD.  So, I've clearly given a lot of airtime to this one little case competition. But that cue-the-Hallelujah-chorus moment when I realized how important innovation is to me has really allowed me to focus the rest of my B-school career with that goal in mind.

For me, first year was more about planting roots -– getting the decision analysis homework done and putting the 4 a.m. touches on our entrepreneurship business plan. You feel people out and have the same getting-to-know-you conversation thousands of times. You learn how to give a basic presentation or interview without requiring CPR. You assume the most coveted internships must be the best.

During second year, you bloom. Grades give way to self-reflection, and relationships become fewer but more dear. You follow your heart and not the herd when seeking your personal dream job. In my case, that meant adding a second concentration –- innovation in addition to marketing –- and pursing opportunities where I can use each.

PARTYING BACHELORETTES?  While the on-campus recruiting hasn't done much for me personally, the company I'm speaking with now came through the extensive and tight-knit Goizueta network, facilitated by our career center. Though seeking a job that's not seeking a student plays more to my goals, it's definitely a little more nerve-wracking; I'm competing with candidates who can start work tomorrow.

The 35 things I'll miss most about B-school.

So, what better to take my mind off of such concerns than an all-MBA 36-girl five-bride bachelorette extravaganza? That's right, and if you've never seen the look on people's faces when a yellow school bus pulls up to a strip of nightclubs, and 36 women alight (five in pink boas and tiaras), then you simply have not lived.

Unfortunately, all participants in the evening's events are sworn to secrecy, and photos must be suppressed (with the exception of this innocuous group shot). I get quite a few emails asking what the B-school environment is like for women. Apparently, Vegas.

So, there's your update on my second year at Goizueta, where the weather is warm, the new building is growing, and the women are consummate professionals. The next time you hear from me, I may have graduated. But I'll be sure to tell you where to buy my book.

Send your B-school questions to jenbarnettmbajournal@yahoo.com. Unfortunately, requests for more bachelorette-party pictures cannot be honored.

Only class photog Kaido can make you look candid while wearing a suit (L-R Josh, Jason, me, Justin).

(This entry is dedicated to the good people of Thunderbird and the innovation challenge, including our fabulous hostess Tracey and new friends Gbemi, Stacy, and Matt, the inspirational innovators from Chiquita and Hilton, and, of course, Miss Chiquita herself. I hope it wasn't too hard to get those dinner rolls off the roof.)