No one in my class is counting down the months. We’ve done enough finance, statistics and accounting to make us a bit weary when it comes to counting pretty much anything. Even so, the OneMBA experience keeps you so busy that it forces you to live in the now. Perhaps Eckhart Tolle’s bestseller, “The Power of Now” should’ve had a section on doing global executive MBA. A program like this bombards you with readings, assignments, papers and meetings. There is little time to worry about the long term because you have to dedicate so much energy to surviving and succeeding today. This need to live “in the now” teaches you a skill that is not always abundant among busy executives – the ability to be present.

This is especially true on the weekends when we have class. And you don’t just have to be present “in” class, it’s also important to be present outside of class on the weekends away. So much of this program comes from the bonds you make with your classmates and a lot of that bonding happens after class. Be it on a racquetball court, golf course or in the bar dominating the shuffleboard – having fun with your classmates is all part of the MBA experience.

What has been interesting for me in the last few months though is that while you’re going through the rollercoaster of MBA work, real life happens. The world outside the OneMBA doesn’t have a pause button. Some of my classmates have had some wonderful adventures of having babies, getting engaged and getting married (I have 2 more months to go). Some have had stressful adventures like having their company taken over or losing a parent or changing countries. In between all of these events, it’s the people sitting next to you that keep you going. Your classmates, especially the members of your study group, are the ones that hit you up on Skype when you’re having a bad day or who send you crazy Youtube movies about the why you need to be badass like the honey badger. You’re supposed to work together on MBA stuff but in truth you end up leaning on each other for so many other things. That’s how you benefit from being “present” for your group.

Everyone tells you beforehand that the best thing about doing an MBA is the people who you get to work alongside. Learning from world-class professors: Pretty Cool. Discovering new management skills: Pretty Valuable. Developing a support network of top-notch professionals from around the world: Priceless.

And it’s this support network that’s the real reason why no one is counting down the months till we’re done. Or maybe it’s because half my class are Apple geeks and they can’t focus since Steve Jobs left us. Either way, not long from now we’re all going to have to work a lot harder at maintaining these friendships, and we’ll have to do it without seeing each other in class or gathering over GotoMeeting. Which makes me wonder: maybe the real uphill comes when all of this is done.

This has been a tremendous help for me, not only in business school, but my entire life. In this ever-connected world with a multitude of responsibilities, adding an MBA has forced me to become intensely focused. When I am at work, I work. When with friends and family, I focus on those relationships. I reduce multi-tasking and become focused on the what’s right in front of me.

The MBA program at UNC Kenan-Flagler will give you focus now and in the future. There are three factors I’ve found are making this program work:

1. Focus: Stare down challenges. Think small and break up your work into small bites. Turn off the noise.

2. Persistence: Think in the present, but know it will all get done if you do the small things first. Like a marathon, take one step at a time.

3. Adaptation: Always be ready to shift. Lean on your network of colleagues. Keep your eyes open to opportunities.

Despite popular wisdom, the increased commitment of business school has forced me to better FOCUS my time. As one of our professors might say, I’ve simply removed all of the”fluff.” When I can do that, I not only survive — I thrive.

Being back at school has been an amazing experience. It is really something special to feel part of an institution again. Some info on how OneMBA works. We meet once a month for a weekend – normally at a stunning resort near Dulles Airport outside of Washington, DC but occasionally down in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The program is run in conjunction with four other partner schools in Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands and Hong Kong. The big group of all four schools comes together four times during the two year program, each time for a week. The first global week was in DC but the next one is in March in Amsterdam and Istanbul. We go to Mexico City and Sao Paolo in November next year and then Delhi and Hong Kong in 2012.

Not surprisingly the best bit about the program is the opportunity to work with some amazing people. I have a group of UNC students that I work with for the full two years and then my global group changes each six months. Working in a global group poses time zone, work schedule and language challenges. Still the experience and the chemistry that gets created is priceless. As are the amount of laughs we share over beers when we do see each other. I’m sure that none of you are surprised to hear that just like my undergrad days, beer plays a prominent role in my new student life.

The once-a-month weekend classes are something like an AA meeting. “My name is Alan and I haven’t done all the readings.”… Everyone’s stories are similar. We hug at the end. Seriously, though, when you’re away from your class for that long it’s amazing how much you can stress about. Even me – I get stressed. But when we get together, it’s clear that everyone is struggling to juggle the demands of work life, studies, kids (in my case – cats) and spouses (in my case – spouses-to-be).

Recently I received an envelope with one of my textbooks inside: Financial Accounting! It was like seeing an ex-girlfriend…and not the attractive one, the crazy one. I remember that amazing feeling after getting my board exam results and realizing that I would never again have to take another accounting exam. Why did the universe decide to prove me wrong? The other bit that I’m working through is understanding the expectations around grades. Back home at university in South Africa, 50 was a pass and just passing was considered something of an achievement. My team recently got a grade for a paper and scored 88. I’ve never scored 88 at university! Then I discovered that our grade was similar to the other teams and to pass you needed 80. Fortunately, you can’t re-cork champagne, so we celebrated regardless.

Then I received a box of textbooks and was reminded that I actually go back to school after the summer. The OneMBA program at UNC starts on September 10^th – less than two months away!  Like most OneMBA students, I haven’t been a student in a long time. What can I do to prepare for this stimulating 21-month journey?

First, I have been evaluating ways to better prioritize my time throughout the day. Many Executive MBA students work demanding jobs and have busy schedules so it is important to manage your time well. Based on a recommendation from OneMBA Director, Brigitta Theleman, I started to read the book, “The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal.” Hopefully this can help and so far it has been a great read.  It is helping me to live in the moment – close the ESPN.com window, turn off the Facebook alerts, and make the most of an hour.

Managing time is an element that Executive MBA students may have anxiety with. Having a positive work/life balance is difficult enough, but mixing school into it proposes another challenge. But a challenge I am confident all of the OneMBA students are excited about and capable of handling.

This summer I have been busy watching some baseball games, taking road trips with my wife, and playing some golf… but alas, “summer vacation” must come to a close for students of all ages.  Now, I need to move on to cracking open that first textbook!

Fast forward  a year later as I’m now preparing to set aside my hobby of triathlon training to embrace juggling 3 other major themes in my life: beginning the Evening MBA for Executives program, preparing for a new family addition (my wife and I are expecting our first child two weeks after classes start), and continuing to excel at work.  I think the key to balancing these responsibilities will be to take each day one at a time and really ensure I’m spending 80% of my time on the 20% of things that truly matter.

As a recovering perfectionist, I sometimes find it hard to leave my to-do list incomplete, but I am learning to embrace the notion that perfection is the enemy of greatness. I try to begin most days by looking at my calendar and reflecting on what I will be most proud to have accomplished at day’s end.  This is certainly easier said than done in a world full of distractions from email and Facebook updates! I have often found, though, that the more I have to do the more I am able to focus and get things done.

I can’t wait to begin this journey with my classmates and the UNC Kenan-Flagler faculty, staff, and alumni. I’m also looking forward to blogging about my experiences throughout the program.

Read Kecia’s keys to mastering the balancing act

Getting an MBA has been a goal of mine for a long time. So, the question wasn’t whether to do it, but how. I just dove right in! It hasn’t always been smooth sailing. I’ve had my share of challenges, but I’ve found support and friendship at every corner.

Challenge #1: Work
Right when I started the MBA for Executives Program, the banking industry was hit with some challenges of its own. As a recruiter, I’ve been busy hiring specialized people to work on the mortgage crisis. But in this economy, we also have to watch our bottom line, so we can’t hire the support staff we need in our office. As a result, my job responsibilities increased three-fold.

Fortunately, my coursework has helped me become more efficient and effective at my job! I have a better grasp of the challenges facing our industry. Now I contribute to strategic discussions on a different level, and my boss has noticed that I’m applying new concepts and ideas. Bank of America has lots of opportunities for growth, and the MBA for Executives Program will clearly help me reach my career goals.

Challenge #2: Personal
Long before I started the program, my husband and I had been trying to start a family. We didn’t want to put that on hold. So, we knew upfront that we might have a baby during my two years in the Program. I was honest with my teammates, asking them to share any concerns with me. Later, when I told them that I was pregnant, they were very supportive. Now that I’m waddling, they even carry my books for me. It’s really sweet and it means a lot to me.

Recently, I found out that my due date might be during December Immersion Week! When I told Anne Marie, she immediately set to work on plan B, so I can graduate on time no matter when Baby Atkins (it’s a boy!) arrives. The MBA for Executives staff is amazing. I don’t know if other programs would be that supportive of this kind of thing.

Challenge #3: School
I’m the only Human Resources Professional in my class, and I was worried I’d be weak in the quantitative classes. Some of my fellow students have finance backgrounds. At first, I’d hear them, and I’d think, ‘I don’t know what they are talking about.’ I admit, I struggled in those classes, but I learned a LOT. Now I understand the language, and I’m not intimidated by those conversations. I’ve also learned that everyone gets a chance to shine. I made it through Finance and Accounting, and now we’re in management classes where I’ve been able to make valuable contributions. We all have something to add. And we learn from each other.

I’ve made an amazing bunch of friends. In particular, there are 11 women in my class, and they’re all unique, remarkable individuals. We’ve really bonded. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought I’d just plug through the coursework alone. I knew I’d learn a lot, but it’s so much more than that!

Watch UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA for EMBA students describe how they balance their work, home and school lives while in the MBA for Executives Programs.

OneMBA’s once-a-month schedule was a huge selling point for me because of my work demands. The class schedule and OneMBA’s four global residencies were big factors in choosing UNC over other top schools like Michigan, Duke, and NYU. But I also had to consider the time and expense of the commute, especially since I have a family and would be paying travel costs out of my pocket.

Most OneMBA classes are held at Lansdowne Conference Center and Resort near Washington, DC. I tried driving, but heavy Sunday traffic after weekend classes turned a 4-hour trip into 6 or more hours. I also considered taking the train, but the cost was more than flying! A direct flight from Newark to Dulles takes about an hour and typically costs about $120 round trip ($200 during summer months). I decided flying was the best means of transportation for me.

Class starts at 9:30, so I can easily fly to Lansdowne on Friday mornings. Here’s my typical schedule:
- 4:00 Wake up
- 5:00 Leave for the airport
- 6:00 Arrive at the airport
- 6:50 Depart from Newark NJ (EWR)
- 8:30 Arrive at Washington/Dulles (IAD) and catch a cab
- 9:00 Arrive at Lansdowne and grab breakfast before class
- 9:30 Class starts

Winter weather can cause problems, of course. I arrived an hour late for class a couple of times due to flight delays caused by high winds and flurries. But the professor and staff understood, and I caught up on what I missed. On Sundays, we get out of class by 3:00, leaving plenty of time to get to the airport for a 5:00 flight. When all goes well, I’m home by 7:30.

For Chapel Hill weekends, I take a direct flight to RDU. I have customers in the Carolinas, so I usually try to piggyback UNC weekends with a business trip. I could fly Friday mornings, but the timing is a little tight, so I usually travel Thursday evening and get some extra school work done.

In July, several of us brought our families to Lansdowne for a special family weekend. Our spouses and kids thoroughly enjoyed the pool and resort amenities while we were in class. I only wish the students had more time to enjoy these great facilities.

When I first started the Weekend Program, I assumed I’d fly from DC to Raleigh-Durham every other Friday for classes. If you add that up, it’s expensive, but I decided the cost would be worth it over the long run.

My plans changed during the first immersion week when I met classmates who also lived in the DC area. They talked about carpooling, and it seemed like a great opportunity. Three of us – Tony, Sam, and I – agreed to commute together on Thursday evenings. Another classmate decided to drive Friday mornings instead. He would leave home at 4 am to make the 9:30 class. Friday and Saturday are long class days, so his schedule just wasn’t practical for me.

On Thursday before a UNC weekend, I packed my bag in the morning so I could leave straight from work. The three of us met at Tony’s house in Arlington about 7 pm. We took turns driving, so the cost of gas and other expenses were shared. The drive took about 4 hours, or sometimes less. We left after rush hour traffic so we made good time.

UNC doesn’t cover Thursday night stays, so we used Priceline.com to find the best hotel rates at least a week in advance. We easily grabbed rooms at the Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn or Comfort Inn for about $45. The morning commute to class from the hotel was a breeze, only 10 or 15 minutes.

The return drive home Saturday afternoon was also easy. We left class about 4:00 pm and arrived home by 8:30 or 9:00.

For me, the benefits of carpooling instead of flying were:

• Camaraderie: I made two great friends. During the commute, we talked about coursework or just unwound from the work week.
• Inexpensive: Even counting the hotel costs, we saved a lot of money over flying.
• Simple: We avoided rush hour traffic, so we made good time. There was no reason to worry about flight delays or airport congestion.

I considered other top-ranked EMBA programs — some closer to home — but UNC was the right choice for me. UNC’s ranking, the quality and character of its students and faculty, and its overall value are a perfect combination. It’s well worth the drive.

We designed OneMBA to make it possible for business people with incredibly busy schedules to earn a great global MBA degree.

Providing a top-notch curriculum was our first priority. We partnered with four of the top business schools around the world to design a truly global MBA program.

But it was also important to make the Program convenient. We decided to conduct classes once a month. We also needed first-class facilities in an accessible location so executive students could easily commute from across the U.S. and Canada.

Lansdowne Resort and Conference Center fit the bill perfectly. It’s one of the premier executive conference centers on the east coast. Located in Leesburg, VA, it is about 40 miles northwest of Washington DC and only eight miles from the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Most major cities have direct flights to DC, either into Washington National (DCA) or Dulles.

While most OneMBA weekends are held at Lansdowne, some are in Chapel Hill. On these weekends, students stay at the Paul J. Rizzo Conference Center, close to the UNC-Chapel Hill campus and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). Both facilities provide an outstanding learning environment with tiered classrooms, multimedia technology, and executive hotel and dining services.

One great feature about OneMBA is that you really get to know your professors. During weekends at Lansdowne, OneMBA professors commute from Chapel Hill, so they are weekend residents as well. After class, students and professors often enjoy eating dinner together or networking at the bar. Sometimes the professors even try to keep up with executive students in a game of basketball or volleyball.

Plus, Lansdowne has two of the top golf courses in the country. We’ve arranged a special summer rate so that students and faculty can play after class. When the days are long, you can almost get in 18 holes, if you are willing to give a few puts!

OneMBA students have commuted from 25 states, including California, Washington, and Colorado, as well as Mexico and Canada. We even had a student commute from Europe. Stefan Hoffman was a director with Siemens in Germany when he joined OneMBA. He had clients in the United States, so he combined his OneMBA weekends with business trips.

Several OneMBA students received overseas promotions and were able to complete their coursework thanks to OneMBA’s monthly class schedule and convenient location. So if the commute is standing in your way from earning a truly global MBA, we’ll be glad to talk with you about OneMBA.