Getting the Most Out of Your Online MBA: Top Tips for Women in Business
It can be hard to be a woman in the business world, especially in male-dominated industries. There’s still, to this day, a habit from the old guard to dismiss women and their contributions, despite the massive shift in the workforce, in university student rates, and in women’s success stories. An MBA can absolutely help give you the skills and the experience to kickstart or smash through any limits imposed on your career, but that doesn’t mean any old MBA will do. To help you get the most out of your education, use this guide today.
Choose a Women-Centered MBA
While traditional MBA programs have historically been male-dominated, there are now many MBA programs that are specifically designed for women, like this online MBA Minnesota program. These programs may focus on issues that are particularly relevant to women in business, such as work-life balance, networking, and mentorship, but most of all, they help curate a supportive environment that doesn’t rely on patriarchal capitalism. By choosing a women-centered MBA program, you can connect with other like-minded women who are facing similar challenges and goals and help each other thrive in each industry.
Learn Outside the Classroom
While an online MBA program will provide you with a solid foundation of business knowledge, there is much to be learned outside of the classroom as well. After all, an MBA doesn’t give you industry-specific knowledge. If your plan is to go into a niche market or even just into an industry you can’t specialize in through your degree, then get engaged with the community in your own time. This can come in the form of networking opportunities, conferences, workshops, and so much more. A fashion expert looking to start their own business can take an MBA, for example, but will then want to keep their finger on the heartbeat of the fashion industry and the latest events, discourse, and more so that they have a competitive advantage after they graduate.
Put What You Learn to Use Immediately
One of the key benefits of an online MBA program is that you can apply what you learn in real time. If you are currently working, look for ways to apply the concepts and strategies you are learning to your current job. If your goal is to use your MBA to kickstart a business of your own, begin developing your business plan and applying your new skills to your venture. By putting what you learn to use immediately, you can solidify your knowledge and gain valuable experience.
Keep Developing Your Own Leadership Style
As a woman in business, you have a unique perspective and leadership style. Throughout your online MBA program, it is important to continue developing your own leadership style. Take advantage of leadership development opportunities, such as workshops and coaching. Find a mentor that you admire personally and professionally and start a dialogue. If you can, see if they’d be willing to mentor you actively, but if not, a quick chat over lunch or even online can still do wonders. Whenever you learn something, add it to your leadership strategy and workshop things in real life. Learning by doing will help you gain the confidence you need to actively lead in a way that’s true to you and sees a positive response from your employees.
