Week 44: One proven way to build lasting MBA relationships

Week 44: March 22, 2025

One proven way to build lasting MBA relationships

Andrea,

We are fortunate to get to talk with a lot of people each year about why they are pursuing an MBA... for some, it is to transform education delivery, others want to explore investing the developing world, be the Treasury Secretary of the United States, introduce a new sport to the world, lead a consulting firm, train pilots, improve energy security, explore space, fund healthcare start-ups, or resolve global conflict.

Two thoughts immediately come to mind:

You are an interesting group AND
You're going to need a darn good network!

The phrase "it takes a village" rings true to the MBA experience as you seek to make an impact - the community and support from those around you is invaluable. This week, we wanted to share about a powerful way to build deeper relationships during your MBA - by asking for help!

Andrea & The 100 Week Sprint team

To-do's this week

Got 5 minutes? Identify one immediate item that you need help with.

Got 30 minutes? Identify three or more friends, classmates, mentors, etc. you can ask for assistance (and ask them)!

Got an hour? Do the above, and offer a helping hand to a classmate you know who may need your support.

A personal story

As I've shared with many of you, I LOVED my MBA experience. The classes were intriguing, the social experiences were fantastic, and the feeling of growing every single day was compelling! However, when I think about what drove success during school and after, it always comes back to the people I met. At my 10-year reunion, I had a good chance to think about what built the bonds so strongly and realized that it was based on a shared ability to ask each other for help.

Whether it was Jenny who graciously shared her Excel wizardry and tried to hide her grin when I was jumping up and down in response to her quick keys shortcut sheet that she customized for me, Ari who would commiserate over terrible interviews (and not hold it against me when they worked out), Michaela who would pitch in at the last moment for any event I was attempting to organize, or Scott who would drag out a good Canadian joke whenever I needed it, there was a group of people who I felt comfortable asking for help. Consulting was new to me and no less than 40 classmates contributed in some way to my interview preparation. You can bet that I remember all of them!

All hands on deck

Here are three ways to get in the habit of asking for help:

Set goals: the more specific your goals are, the more likely it is that others can help you with particular areas (see step two below).
Determine where you need help: once you've set your goals, it'll be easier to define the areas where you'll need additional help to accomplish your goals.
Start asking: you could ask for endorsements on LinkedIn, insight on a new industry you're pursuing, a review of the first draft of your business plan, feedback on your resume, or for an interview prep session.

We know you didn't get where you are without being extraordinarily strong and self-sufficient, and we respect that. Your friends and classmates respect that, too - but you will be a stronger, better prepared, more well-rounded person if you know how to effectively reach out for help when the need arises.

Don't limit yourself to "official" school activities either. Have a great eye for decorating? Help your classmate down the hall set up her apartment; maybe she will offer to pick up some groceries for you when she's going to the store!

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