Now it is our time to share our stories and perspectives with the new OneMBA class. They asked questions about global teams, local assignments, residencies, and even what professors should they really know the material cold for. Obviously, we said all of them. The new OneMBA students are very diverse and impressive – just like my class. They come from all over the country with backgrounds in almost every industry. Like our class, the new students are excited to begin their MBA journey in the premier global executive program in the world.

There will be sacrifices. No doubt. But the experience and education is so rewarding. A year from now they will be meeting with the incoming students poolside. They will share their stories from their first year. All of them will be more knowledgeable, confident and eager to take on new challenges. I know I am.  And I cannot wait for the next nine months on this incredible journey.

I started this new experience like any other – I was excited to finally start my journey but I needed to find answers to some very important questions.  Is this really going to take 20 months?  How many UNC basketball games would I be able to go to?  Are we really going to use all these books? How was the food going to be?   My journey merited further exploration…

Like an announcer at a sporting event, day one was kicked off with the booming voice of Associate Dean Hugh O’Neill welcoming us to the Class of 2011.  He had our attention and we began the orientation process.  We learned about the rich history of UNC Kenan-Flagler and the faculty encouraged us to think about how we could make the most of our two years. Alumni urged us to express our point of view and listen to students who offered a different perspective.  Dean James Dean told us to take advantage of — and contribute to the Kenan-Flagler collaborative culture. The best part was finally getting to meet the 57 strangers that comprised our class.  As each of us gave snippets of who we were and what we do for our professions, I was amazed by how many years of experience and how diverse a group they had brought together.

Day two quickly answered the question of when we would start using that big box of books that got delivered before the holidays.   We jumped right in and each professor after the next were so passionate and excited to enlighten us with their course material.   From case studies to binomial probability to cash flows, I quickly found out from my classmates that I was not alone in feeling a bit overwhelmed.  It was at this point that I felt a sense of relief when I realized that we were in this together and that we would be teaching each other and learning as a group.

The rest of the week included team building exercises that took us all out of our comfort zones and accelerated the process of getting to know everyone.  Each exercise seemed impossible in the beginning but we quickly realized that collectively we could overcome any challenge they threw at us.   I’m especially grateful for this experience to finally find out that my body (let’s just say I could lose a few pounds and the delicious food all week wasn’t helping) could be lifted by a group of people six feet off the ground and fed through a three foot hole without touching the sides.   I didn’t see physics in the curriculum but I’m sure you won’t find this law in any textbook.

By the end of the immersion week, I realized I still had a lot of questions but the most important question was answered.  I knew I had made the right choice by choosing UNC Kenan-Flagler.   I may not have time to go to any UNC basketball games but I knew I was embarking on a special journey with 56 new friends.

When Brigitta Theleman, OneMBA Program Director, asked if I would give a short interview to the Financial Times, I quickly agreed. Who wouldn’t want to share their thoughts with a global media publication?

The call from the London reporter came in the middle of a normal busy workday full of other calls and teleconferences. At first it seemed like any other client call.

But about half way in, I realized some of the “thoughts” I was sharing really were likely to end up word-for-word in print. I realized I should make sure I shared some concise comments and remembered how reporters like to hear real world examples. We had a great chat for about 20 minutes before we signed off, and I went on to the next call of the day.

I was surprised to learn than the story was on the cover of the Financial Times special EMBA section — and that my “free thinking” quote ended up as the story’s lead. I was also taken aback when a colleague of mine emailed me to inform me that a number of people from the Middle East approached him at a conference they were attending in London to show him the article. It is truly a global village!

After just having graduated with my MBA, I agree with this professor (and Eric).

On September 26, 2009, I was honored to be nominated by my classmates to give the commencement speech at Kenan-Flagler Business School (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). The title of my ~8 minute talk was “P = MBA.” However, I believe that the “P” does not stand for “Pass” … instead it is short for People.

Continue to read DJ’s speech, and watch the video!

Researchers suggest that, on the whole, b-schools just aren’t female friendly. Schools are recruiting MBA candidates just about the time that many women are starting families. Business schools often have a male-dominated faculty, and a relatively inflexible curriculum that neglects areas like entrepreneurship, where women have been pioneers.

At UNC, we’re removing those barriers to entry for women. And it’s our dedicated women students, staff and faculty who are driving this change.

Becky Smith, MBA 2008 and mother of two preschoolers, mentioned in her graduation speech that she knew at least twenty classmates (men and women) who welcomed new children while in the Program. Starting a family and an MBA is hard, but not impossible. If you’d like to talk with one of our students to find out how they do it, write to me in the comment box below and I’ll set it up.

Most of the MBA for Executives staff are female, and we understand the challenges of being a busy professional woman with a family. We do everything possible (including offering our offices for pumping!) to enable these women to achieve all that they do.

And we have incredible women faculty at UNC Kenan-Flagler. It’s one thing to tout that we have a female-friendly environment — it’s another to lead by example. Our strong female faculty is a powerful model for women in business. Doctors Mabel Miguel, Patty Harms, Heidi Schultz, Ashraf Jaffer, Susan Palmer and Lisa Jones-Christensen are just a few of the impressive faculty members who will inspire you in the MBA for Executives Program.

So, come check us out! Come to an information session and meet some of the students, alumni, staff and faculty who are helping us make b-school more accessible to women. You can check out our facilities and learn more about the programs and resources available to you. Come and find out how you can get your MBA at UNC — and enjoy every minute of it.

Five top-ranked business schools from around the world joined together in 2002 to create the OneMBA Program. OneMBA is the only global executive MBA program designed by five schools on four continents.

Download this podcast.

I’m always amazed – and pleased – at the way our MBA for Executive students go out of their way to support each other. This is especially true when they rally to help their classmates who commute long distances to UNC.

For instance, Greg Crowder (Class of 2008) chose UNC’s Weekend Program because of our flexible curriculum. But here’s the catch: he lives in San Francisco, where there are no direct flights to Raleigh Durham, making a long flight even longer. When his classmates learned about his exhausting trip, they worked out a better plan. Anne Marie Holder, who lives in Charlotte, offered Greg her family’s spare bedroom. Greg now takes a direct flight into Charlotte and stays with Anne Marie and her husband. Then Greg joins her carpool of other Charlotte EMBA students for a ride to class on Friday mornings. They leave Charlotte about 6:00 am and roll into Chapel Hill with time to spare before their 9:30 class. Along the way, they often discuss class issues and cases.

Anne Marie is not the only generous EMBA student. Local students often offer a spare bedroom to a classmate who arrives on Thursday evenings. And there always seems to be someone in Raleigh or Cary willing to pick up classmates at the airport or drop them off after class.

Before the Program begins, we send out a class directory so everyone will know who is in their class. Some students use this to arrange carpools before the Program even starts. We also send out a calendar of class dates so students can buy air tickets well in advance.

But sometimes, even the best plans go awry. Recently, Mike Arnold’s Friday morning flight from Philadelphia was delayed. He called me from the airport so I was able to videotape the class, and his team took great notes. He arrived at class at 1 pm and didn’t miss a beat.

So if you’re worried about the commute, give me a call. Weekend Program students have commuted from more than 22 states, so I’ll probably know someone from your area. They will be glad to give you the inside scoop on how they managed their commute.

Download this podcast.

Check out Jeffrey’s tips for selecting the b-school that’s right for you

Investing in an MBA is a big decision, so it’s worth taking the time to make sure you get a good ROI. It’s certainly paying off for me. Since starting the UNC EMBA program about 18 months ago, my direct-report staff has increased 92%, revenues from my contract have increased 29%, and my compensation is projected to go up 10-15%.

Several people have asked how I chose UNC. I came to my decision using both sides of my brain – the analytical side and the subjective.

In early 2006, I was ready for new responsibilities with my company, but I wasn’t sure what my next step should be. I had thought about an MBA but never fully understood what the degree was actually about.

At 5:30 a.m., about to roll out of bed for work, I heard a UNC information session ad on the radio. On impulse, I decided to attend the lunch session and hear what UNC had to say. I was impressed, but I don’t make decisions based on emotions. I had to do some research.

Some might say I got carried away with my left-brain analysis! I built a spread sheet and analyzed the cost of seven b-schools from all perspectives. I even examined cost per class, cost per day, and cost per credit.

I narrowed my choices down to UNC and Georgetown. The deciding factors were cost, curriculum and team environment. Then I turned my attention to the subjective right-brain features.

To get the inside scoop, I contacted a coworker who was enrolled in Georgetown’s program. She gushed over the leadership and management aspects I was looking for. For UNC, I received follow-up calls from the alumni who ran the info session. I liked what I heard enough to visit both schools.

The UNC experience was great. I drove to Chapel Hill with my family. I wanted my kids to see where I might be going to school, and I value my wife’s opinion. She often sees things that I miss.

UNC’s class sessions were excellent and the professors fantastic. The facilities and dining experience at the Rizzo Center were also great. The UNC classes I attended affirmed the focus on collaboration and teams, rather than individual competition. The classes encouraged discussions, and the students were respectful of different opinions.

It’s easy for a school to say that they put students first, but UNC “walks the talk.” Teddie Nicholson, the programs coordinator, talked with my wife, Anne, and children while I was in the classroom. Anne felt very welcomed and appreciated the family support Teddy told her the program offers.

My impressions where confirmed when I heard that Anne-Marie, Weekend Program director, drove through football game traffic to pick up a backrest a student had left at the main campus. No one should expect this level of service, but she went way beyond the call of duty. That told me I could focus on my studies while the logistical aspects would all be handled smoothly.

In the final analysis, both UNC and Georgetown had their pros and cons. But with a more well-rounded Program and great people, UNC came out on top.

Even before graduation, my company and I are seeing a strong ROI. I’ve gained the knowledge and confidence to volunteer for new projects and assist with proposal development at the corporate level. I have conducted business development and written position papers with ideas to obtain new work for my company. I even negotiated a new one year contract with my customer to provide leadership, management and operational efficiency consulting, a far cry from the project management IT I was doing when I started UNC.

Most importantly, I have changed how I work with the 18 employees I manage. My attitude toward team development, customer satisfaction and individual motivation has changed 180 degrees and today we are enjoying a level of productivity and customer appreciation not seen before with this customer. I graduate in August, and I’m sure this is just the beginning.

Why choose UNC?

It’s important to find the school that fits your learning style and career goals. Here’s what sets UNC apart:

Top-tier program: Of course, you want an MBA that’s respected wherever your career takes you. For over 20 years, UNC has been a leader in executive MBA education.

UNC’s MBA for Executives Program is ranked among the top10 by BusinessWeek and US News and World Report.

Outstanding faculty: UNC’s faculty brings a wealth of real-world business experience into the classroom. Most also teach in UNC’s traditional MBA Program.

Strategy-focused curriculum: At UNC, you’ll learn the functional and analysis skills that are expected of an MBA. But UNC really shines in developing your ability to think strategically and cultivating your unique leadership skills.

Collaborative, team-based environment: Students who thrive at UNC select us because we offer a rigorous curriculum in a supportive, collaborative environment. Students say UNC’s faculty, classmates and staff set us apart from other schools.