I just spent ten days in Mexico City, Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro as part of my OneMBA program. On reflection this was one of the greatest trips I’ve ever been on. In between the festivities (I won’t lie — there were a few) and some interesting lectures and company visits, it was a chance to engage with our fellow classmates from Mexico and Brazil and have an opportunity for them to share their home with us.

The countries have fascinating histories and, despite some very different circumstances, have many similarities to each other. What was even more interesting for me was seeing how similar both countries are to South Africa, my native country. The comparisons and banter between Cape Town and Joburg is a copy of the ones between Rio and Sao Paolo. The news coverage of drug cartels in Mexico is almost identical to story of crime in SA. All three countries are success stories and yet all three have their challenges.

What was remarkable was that the confidence of the people in Mexico and Brazil (especially Brazil) reminded me so much of living and working in South Africa. It’s the confidence you gain from having been through economic challenges and come out stronger on the other end (currency crisis in Mexico, hyperinflation in Brazil, apartheid in South Africa). I will remember the food in Mexico, the raw energy of Sao Paolo and the beauty of Rio. Most importantly though, I’m coming back!

However, in a global MBA program like ours, the real magic occurs when you get together with your classmates from all around the world. We do four of these weeks together during our program – DC, Amsterdam and Istanbul, Mexico City and Sao Paolo; and Delhi and Hong Kong next year. Despite our best efforts to hide the fact, we are a serious bunch – for example during one cab ride, a couple of us had conversations comparing our experiences with the transition from communism in Russia to the transition from apartheid in SA. Even so, we are also a festive bunch, and once again we were the Bacardi people taking over a bunch of trendy night clubs in a couple of the world’s most happening cities.

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.

Sarah Perez: “Know your values and what you are not willing to sacrifice”

Sarah Perez recently joined the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in the US, as the executive director of EMBA programmes. These programmes include the Evening MBA, Weekend MBA and Global OneMBA, all of which are now offering Forté Foundation Fellowships for women.

Before going to UNC Kenan-Flagler, Ms Perez worked at Florida International University for eight years and served as area manager in Europe for Information Handling Services, a global information company. She also worked as a marketing manager for the New Zealand Dairy Board in Guatemala.

Ms Perez has an MBA in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and international travel.

1. What academic achievement are you most proud of?

Graduating with an MBA in international management and learning a second language, which I have had the opportunity to use extensively throughout my career.

2. Who are your business heroes?

I don’t have one hero in particular. I admire different business people for different reasons, such as Steve Jobs for his vision to bring innovative products to market.

3. What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy watching the transformation as students go through the programmes and grow personally and professionally – their experiences can be life changing. There are many challenges in graduate education today, technology has changed the environment and the opportunities are incredible. We will see dramatic changes in delivery over the next few years.

4. What is the best piece of advice given to you by a teacher?

Do what you are passionate about. I took that advice and studied languages and international relations followed by an MBA. My education opened the door for opportunities in Latin America, Europe and the US. I have worked with people from many different cultures and industries and have enjoyed every moment.

5. What is your biggest lesson learnt?

Be flexible, be open to new opportunities and don’t be afraid to take some risk. The change from working in a corporate environment to working in academia was a major shift for me. Over the 10 years I have worked in the business school field, I have had incredible opportunities for challenge and growth. I believe that flexibility and willingness to take on challenges contributed to those opportunities.

6. What advice would you give to women in business?

Know your values and what you are not willing to sacrifice. Choose the opportunities that match those values and be sure to find something you enjoy doing. Finally, never stop learning.

7. How do you deal with male-dominated environments?

I have worked in different male-dominated environments and cultures. I don’t know that I handled it any differently than any other environment. I worked hard, proved myself and got the job done.

8. What is the last book you read?

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip & Dan Heath.

9. How do you deal with pressure?

I find that after exercise, I am able to think more clearly and focus.

10. What are your future plans?

I joined UNC Kenan-Flagler less than two months ago. I look forward to working to ensure that we continue to deliver the highest quality EMBA programmes available. I also recognise that I have been fortunate and I want to work harder to find ways to give back. Education is a wonderful way to do that.

For example, several leadership development exercises involved students role-playing as new leaders at an organization. In one video-taped session, I assumed the role of a senior executive whose company had recently been acquired.  With only five minutes to prepare, I presented my division’s performance plan to my new, very demanding supervisor.  I received invaluable insights into the verbal and non-verbal messages I send while in pressure situations. Another role-playing session had me providing an annual review to an employee. After each session, I reviewed the video and read the facilitators’ feedback on my performance.

In our Marketing Management class, our study group applied what we’d learned about segmentation and portfolio analysis to computer simulations of fictitious companies launching a new product.  Our group met weekly to decide what market segment to target with our product and made decisions around advertising media and distribution channels while sticking to a budget.

These experiential learning exercises have kept the program fresh and challenging for me. Years from now, I believe the insights I gained about myself and the managerial process from these experiences will be what I remember most from my time at Kenan-Flagler.

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.

Some have told us that their UNC MBA opened the door for a promotion or career shift.  Others have gained skills, knowledge and confidence.  And nearly all build a lifelong network of friends and business connections.

But we really want to hear from our EMBA students and alumni firsthand – what has been your return on your UNC MBA investment so far?

My experiences in the Kenan-Flagler MBA program rekindled the fire in me to pursue my goal of becoming a CFP. The personality assessments, CareerLeader tool, courses, and professors kept pointing me to consider my strengths and start developing my own definition of success.  I re-dedicated myself to making a transition into the world of financial planning, and I started by reaching out to alumni and current students who were already in the field. I found people more than happy to share their experiences and advice with me. In January 2011, I was searching the alumni job board when I came across a job posting that really appealed to me. A local investment advisory firm was looking to hire a CFP to join their practice. Although I didn’t meet the stated qualifications, I decided to email the owner and setup an informational interview knowing if nothing else John Worth, our esteemed Director of Alumni & Executive MBA Career Development, would be proud.  I viewed the meeting as an opportunity to gather information on the profession and thought I’d at least take a small step in keeping my dream alive and make a contact in the field along the way. A few days after the meeting, I was invited back to meet the second owner. Then another week after that I was called back and practically fell out of my chair when I was offered a formal interview. This interview culminated in a job offer that I jump to accept. I’ve just completed my second full month in my new position and absolutely love it. I have never felt so invigorated by a job and wake up each morning excited about my future career journey.

The decision to enroll in the MBA program is one of the best I’ve ever made. The tools, courses, and staff have cultivated the self-confidence I needed to go out and pave my own career path. Now that I’m on my way to checking off the last item on my list (moving to Durham from Phoenix satisfied number 2), I guess it’s time to start a new list to work on for the next 10 years.

Doing business in Europe is very different to doing business in the USA or South Africa, my native country. The Netherlands has a strong culture of collaboration and consensus building, which is very different from countries with an Anglo-Saxon heritage.  We visited companies where the topics ranging from the recent EU financial struggles to how European companies embrace diversity.

In Turkey, the speakers confronted entirely different issues. The question of Turkish accession to the EU was a common theme. However, a group of us visited a nine-month-old company that was modeled on Groupon, a U.S. web-based business.  We witnessed the same universal frenzy you see in startup companies all over the world.

This week of “school” was not for the faint hearted. It required all my tiger blood reserves to survive. I foolishly made it harder for myself by giving up caffeine for Lent. I will confess that there were one or two afternoon sessions when the wildebeest came out – when the head dropped and suddenly jumped up again as I almost fell asleep…but I blame that on the jetlag.

But even after a full day, you could often us “studying” at a local bar.  Here’s my new global team —  a Russian, a Saffer (me), a Belorussian, an American, A Dutchman and the king of Brazil.

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.