April 2017 – MBA IRISH ECHOES

The war for team rooms in Mendoza, part 1

By: Nitesh Srivastava

Team rooms in Mendoza are worth their weight in gold. (Photo courtesy Nitesh Srivastava)

In the Notre Dame MBA program, students have exclusive access to team rooms in the Mendoza building where they can work on group projects together. Given the high demand for these rooms and the relatively low supply, the fight for these rooms often reduces students to their basest instincts. These are their stories.

I needed to work with my friend Bill on a marketing project the other day, but all the team rooms were occupied. “No worries,” I told Bill. “Many of these rooms only have one student in them, in clear violation of the rules. As Notre Dame MBA candidates, we will use our newfound persuasive communication skills to convince them to leave. Follow me.” I opened the door to the closest team room and said hello. Continue reading “The war for team rooms in Mendoza, part 1”

Welcome address from the new administration

By: Jack Pelzer

The MBA Irish Echoes editorial board greets its new leader

Thank you! Thank you.

(pause for wild applause)

Thank you! Please. Settle down. I think we all want to get home in time for dinner!

(pause for polite laughter)

People said we would never do it. They said there was no way that two guys from the suburbs would become editors of the MBA student life blog at Notre Dame. Boy, we sure showed them. Didn’t we T.J.?

(new MBA Irish Echoes Managing Editor T.J. Connors nods furiously)

Continue reading “Welcome address from the new administration”

Onwards and upwards

By: Sylvia Banda

Members of the Two-Year MBA Class of 2017 during Orientation. (Photo Courtesy Sylvia Banda)

It is with great pleasure that I have the honor of writing the last blog post by the current editorial board. As you know, MBA IRISH ECHOES launched in the Fall of 2016 in an effort to preview “Life Inside the Notre Dame MBA Program”. We’ve had numerous posts on topics such as football weekends, dual-degree programs, study abroad, student treks, extracurricular activities, and best tips and practices as an MBA.

I would like to thank the Class of 2017 in their remarkable efforts in launching the blog to what it is today, particularly, Nitesh Srivastava and Bill Brunner.

Continue reading “Onwards and upwards”

Business school vs. law school, from someone who’s done both

By: M0hamed Kakay

Notre Dame MBAs working through a school project. (Photo courtesy Mohamed Kakay)

As someone who used to practice law and is now in the Notre Dame MBA program, people frequently ask me to compare my experiences in business school and law school. Rather than continuing to give them my standard reply of, “It’s just…different,” I figured the time had arrived to actually share a few key distinctions.

Teamwork: While you may find study groups to be effective in law school, it is entirely possible to “lone wolf” your way through three years of a legal education. That’s not possible in business school! Once you begin your pursuit of an MBA, you will constantly be called upon to collaborate with classmates to come up with solutions to complex business problems. Continue reading “Business school vs. law school, from someone who’s done both”