Biggest Regrets Of Executive MBAs

I wish there was more time.

It is the universal lament. It is easy to get lost in the moment, focusing on tasks and comforts, neglecting health and relationships, losing sight of the long-term and what really matters. For many Executive MBAs, the value of time – and how quickly it passes – is the biggest takeaway from business school.

“It is not really two long years; you start, and it is over before you know it,” observes Amandeep K. Chawla, a 2024 graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School. “I did not spend enough time connecting with the network because I always thought, “We have two years – that’s a lot of time.”

Iain Turnbull, Duke University (Fuqua)

Iain Turnbull also earned his EMBA this year. A Google program manager who earned his degree from Duke University’s Fuqua School, Turnbull initially dismissed having any regrets about business schools. While he wishes that he had spent more time with classmates during residencies or earned all A’s, he points to how he gave everything he had given all the “constraints” in his life. Upon further review, there was one area where Turnbull wishes he had invested more time.

“Knowing what I know now, I wish I would have communicated better with my wife as we were learning how to be new parents together and I was going through a career transition while being a student in grad school. With any significant change in life, there is a learning curve to figure out how to adapt. I wish I could have known just how much strain was going to be put on my family because of my choice to pursue an Executive MBA and how much over-communicating could have alleviated some of that strain.”

Where are other areas where Executive MBAs wish they had spent more time? As part of the nomination process for the Best & Brightest Executive MBAs, Poets&Quants asked top graduates from top programs to share their biggest regrets from business school. From playing it safe to failing to leverage school resources, here are areas where EMBAs wish they had done more.

1) Taken More Risks: “My biggest regret in business school was worrying too much about grades, workload, and how I’d manage to get everything done. I wish I had done a better job of living in the moment and letting myself enjoy the learning, networking, and relationships with my classmates without adding unnecessary pressure. At the end of the day, it’s the education and the network that matter, and as with nearly all things, if you put in the effort, the results will come.”
Louisa Brody, Fordham University (Gabelli)

“When given the choice for group projects and research, I tended to stick to topics that were relevant to my current job. My MBA cohort was incredibly diverse and included members whose skills ranged from arts administration to covert military operations. By sticking to what I knew, I missed some opportunities to learn from members of my cohort in ways I don’t imagine I could ever replicate in my professional life.”
Greg Wallig, Georgetown University (McDonough)

“Looking back on my time in business school, my biggest regret is perhaps not stepping further outside of my comfort zone academically. I chose many electives based on personal interest, which were immensely enjoyable and provided valuable networking opportunities with peers across various industries. These courses certainly inspired me and helped shape my career aspirations.

However, I sometimes wonder if I should have challenged myself more by diving into areas where I’m not as naturally skilled, such as finance. Taking more rigorous courses in a discipline that doesn’t come easily to me might have strengthened my skills in a domain where I feel less confident. Expanding my expertise in such areas could have provided a more well-rounded educational experience and potentially broadened my professional capabilities even further.”
Mana Yamaguchi, UCLA (Anderson)

Rochelle Zarzar, University of Minnesota (Carlson)

2) Didn’t Apply Lessons Immediately: “There were a lot of opportunities to immediately apply concepts and ideas learned in class to my organization, and my biggest regret is not seizing these opportunities sooner. While it seemed overwhelming to spearhead some of these changes when I had just learned these concepts myself, this immediate application is a fruitful way to cement what you learn in class while bringing positive change to your organization. Plus, it allows for more gradual progress and prevents downstream frustration as items continue to get added to the list.”
Rochelle Zarzar, University of Minnesota (Carlson)

3) Didn’t Spend Those Few Extra Minutes: “I regret not spending that extra hour after class talking to classmates, not staying that extra hour after dinner or drinks socializing, and not arriving a day earlier or leaving a day later at the segments. We are all part of such a busy life, rushing between home, school, and work, and I regret not stepping back and realizing that the EMBA is a very short part of our life journey. That being said, I have made some lifelong friends, and I’ve committed to making the most of these connections.”
Antonie Jagga, National University of Singapore

4) Didn’t Tap Into School Resources: “My biggest regret from business school was not leveraging WashU Olin’s offerings earlier. It was halfway through the program before I started fully utilizing the resources available. Whether attending one-on-one office hours with professors, participating in extracurricular activities such as case competitions, or using amenities like the library and swimming pool, I wish I had engaged with these opportunities sooner.”
Erin Nazetta, Washington University (Olin)

“My biggest regret was not fully taking advantage of all the resources the career center has to offer. It is easy to say you are too busy, but that is also why you are there.”
Natalie Rojas, New York University (Stern)

5) Didn’t Believe I Belonged: “My biggest regret in business school was not letting go of my insecurities and fears and starting to believe in myself much sooner in my journey. The energy and time spent in self-doubt were time taken away from reaching my full potential. I also realized that letting comparison be the thief of my confidence, authenticity, and the unique value I bring to the table hindered my progress. Embracing confidence and focusing on my own strengths helped me master this in due time and allowed me to make the most of every opportunity and maximize my growth.”
Aida E. Adams, Texas A&M (Mays)

6) Focused Too Much On Academics: “Looking back, I wish I had recognized sooner that my primary goal wasn’t simply to excel in my classes. Rather, the essence of my journey lay in getting out of my comfort zone and learning new ways to approach leadership from a relational standpoint. It took me some time to realize that I wasn’t there to validate things I was already good at. I think if I had recognized this earlier in the program, I would have made faster strides toward developing the leadership qualities that would truly take me to the next level.”
Liz Castelli, U.C. Berkeley (Haas)

7) Made More Time for Reflection: “I have enjoyed the pace of delivery in the Exec MBA but doing it alongside a busy job doesn’t allow much time for reflection on what you’ve learned from each element. You must move too quickly onto the next subject. I’ve got time allocated to going back to do that reflection, but I wish I’d managed more of it in the moment.”
Alistair Crawford, Warwick Business School

8) Prepared My Loved Ones Better: “Reflecting on my time in business school, my biggest regret is not fully understanding the extensive commitment required by an Executive MBA program and not adequately preparing my friends and family for the times I would have to say “no” or “I can’t make it, I have class.” I underestimated the intensity of the workload and the impact of this on my personal life. This oversight occasionally strained relationships and led to missed personal moments. If I could do it over, I would communicate more transparently about my availability and the necessary sacrifices, ensuring that my loved ones were better prepared for the demands of my educational journey. This experience has taught me the importance of clear communication and setting expectations, lessons I now apply in both my personal and professional life.”
Brennan H. N. McMurry, Northwestern University (Kellogg)

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