Why Culture Matters in Business School

Back when i was looking at various business schools, there was little conversation about the "culture" or "fit" that School X has--- rankings, size, and concentrations dominated the dialog.  Sure, every admissions officer told you how important the "culture" is, how School Y has this amazing culture that breeds Z type of learning, and fosters W type of critical skills.

These "touchy-feely" notions didn't resonate much with me back then, but in hindsight, the culture of the school should have been in my top 3 qualifiers.

I'm a year into this whole process and i'm finding out just how important the Owen culture is to me and my experience.  I guess getting away from school for my internship has really allowed me to step back and view this all with a critical eye.

As it turns out, Owen is a very, very special place.  Recently at an old friend's wedding, i struck up about a dozen conversations with B-school alums and current students from various schools--- we talked about our experiences, what we've learned, what surprised us--- and guess what... none, NONE of their experiences sounded anything like mine.  They all talked about their schools with the vim and vigor one talks about their choice of dry cleaners.  I was shocked; was I crazy?  Was I some sort of zealot?  Turns out... no... i'm not a zealot, it's just that most people just have a totally different reaction to their MBA experiences.

What separated my experience from all others was how I felt I was part of a community that cares about their students. What do I mean by this?  During the summer I've run into challenges during my internship; I wasn't sure where to look for a certain piece of research, I wasn't clear what direction i should taken on a certain analysis-- so what did I do? 

I asked a professor for help. 

I'd send an email to a professor asking a question, and guess what, they answered.  Every time.  Not only did my professors answer my initial question, they took interest in what i was doing, how i was doing it, and wanted to help in any way they could.  They then referred me to OTHER Owen professors (some of which i've never had class with), who had more experience with the subject matter or who had faced a similar situation back in their business careers. Those professors, who didnt know me at all, took the time to answer my questions, referred me to additional sources, or even offered to have a phone call to discuss my challenges.

The bottom line is, this support network we have at Owen is unparalleled.  The faculty really, truly cares about my performance during my summer internship.  I feel like i have access to all the fantastic resources this summer that i have during the school year.  That gives me a distinct advantage over other MBA interns.

How do you foster such a culture at a B-school?  Hire the right professors.  Support a low student-to-faculty ratio.  Have an academic program that focuses on the student's real-world success. 

Hats off to the Owen administration; you have built a very special place that focuses on all the right aspects of our education--- even those that don't get a quantitative "rank", but a so important for my growth as a successful professional.