Fin, fini, finito, the end...

Perhaps this could be a good occassion to post - I'm officially done with the MBA! We just had the final SMAP presentation to the professor, which means no more classes, cases, group meetings, powerpoint presentations, spreadsheets --- till I start working.

But that doesn't happen well until July, so that leaves me a couple of months to unwind, travel, forget everything I learnt (well, almost everything) and start all over again.

Perhaps this is also a good time to bring this blog to a close. Just a parting note - someone who recently got an admit to IESE asked me if I had a good time. Lets just say, if I had to do the MBA again, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

¡Hasta siempre!

The Countdown Begins

I know how ominous that title sounds, but it's true. We recently had the most awaited party of the entire year, a.k.a the Multi-Culti 2008. Anyone who has been there will tell you about the madness and debauchery that is the MC. This year was no different. I lack the superlatives so I'll take the easy way out and post pics so you can decide for yourself.

The Calçots-eating competition, courtesy Cataluña.


55+ countries represented..


The Indian performance


But nothing beat the Japanese, they were way too cool!


And that's how it ended... for some.



Anyways back to the countdown bit. The Multi-Culti's over, so is SKIESE. Next up is Doing Good and Doing Well, followed by Spring Fling -



And before you know it's time to graduate, and start a new chapter. Shudder. I'm not sure if I'm ready to go back to the real world.

A first..

From as long as I can remember, we at the Asian Business Club (ABC) at IESE have been trying to organize an informal get-together... the objective being meeting all the members outside of school, to get to know people rather than purely network.

Last Friday we finally managed to achieve that, with a premature celebration of the Chinese New Year, a.k.a. the year of the rat. About 30 of us including a couple of professors gathered at Shanghai 1930 (which despite being a pretty good restaurant, is not my favourite - that honour goes to Sichuan Mitsui Sichuan .. bah I can't decide).

Unfortunately, it was Friday, also the day I play Badminton, so by the time I got home, showered and left for the restaurant, I was ready to bite my fingers off due to hunger. Lesson learnt - even 2 glasses of wine on an empty stomach *will* make you tipsy. Thankfully they brought out the food before I passed out.

I'll leave you with some pictures. And thank god, I didn't karaoke that night. Once is enough!

Back!

Right, so after a number of complaints from people that I didn't know read my blog, I promise to get back to posting regularly.

Last time I checked, I was done with the 1st semester of the 2nd year, and was on my way for the Winter Break. What's changed?

a) We have results from the previous semester, and I did okay.

b) We started with the 2nd and last semester of the MBA... and man, I'm swamped with work. Since I'm interested in consulting, I chose the following courses -
- MADEM (Managerial Decision Models) a.k.a. my favourite class this term. It's a lot of excel modelling, crystal balling and optimizing, but I love this stuff, so I'm enjoying it a lot. It's a *LOT* of work, might I add.

- ENFI2 (Financing Entrepreneurial Opportunities): Perhaps the most heavily subscribed class in the MBA.. or perhaps 2nd most (the first being INTEC which I took last term). Focusses on .. well, financing entrepreneurial opportunities. Good base for someone looking to go into Venture Capital.

- DRIMA (Information Driven Marketing): This class is essentially the MarkStrat game, where teams of marketers have to compete in 2 markets to gain market share and $$$. Lots of fun!

- EMECO (Emerging Economies): After taking INTEC the last term I wondered if another Economics class would interest me (INTEC was my favourite class last term).. and I was pleasantly surprised. The Professor, apart from being the ex-Dean of CEIBS, is very experienced and extremely engaging. Totally worth getting up at 06h30 on a Friday morning... I know!

- SISCI (Management Control): Talks about topics such as budgeting, evaluations (not HR related!), aligning incentives of the employees to the objectives of the company, Transfer pricing etc.

- SMAP (Strategic Marketing Planning): Or in other words, writing an actual marketing plan. Practically every course this term has teamwork, and so does this. We're coming up with a marketing plan to introduce a luxury car by a manufacturer traditionally known for mid-range family cars. Can't talk about the company incase they ask us to sign confidentiality agreements.

c) I accepted an offer from a consulting firm, which means (i) I officially have a job! and (ii) I'm gonna stay in Barcelona atleast for the short to medium term. And on days like today (open terrace barbeque in January!), I kinda feel glad about making that choice.