Lenka Hlavacova (Hlah-va-cho-va) is about to graduate with an MBA in International
Business from University of Houston-Downtown, where she also works as a Graduate Assistant
in the MBA Program Office. Originally from Slovakia, Lenka has lived around the world
before coming to Houston, TX, and speaks five languages. While she has 10 years of
experience in the oil and gas industry, and is a member of ISM-Houston, her proudest
moment is making her rescue dog Caramel a decent member of society. Lenka also believes
one is never too old to discover new hobbies. In her free time, Lenka can be found
traveling, cycling, country dancing, and enjoying musical theater.
I recently asked Lenka if she had any tips concerning important skills that she recommends all UHD MBA students learn prior to starting the program. She shared a short, yet potent list of skills to know (or learn, if you haven't yet). If you're not sure where to pick up these skills, I've noted resources and ideas in the blue boxes, where you can learn them for free.
All right Lenka, it's your turn now!
Tip #1: Read your syllabus.
Read your syllabus - I can't stress this enough. Read your syllabus! Know what's expected
in the class, what's coming up for the semester, and what are the due dates and exams.
It will make your life so much easier and less confusing. For me, taking three classes
each Part of Term* with different requirements and deadlines, it was helpful to map
what's important. Once you have a plan going in, it's easier to follow and less stressful
as you are on top of the game.
*Marilyn's note: In UHD's MBA Program, semesters are actually split into Part of Term 1 and 2. Each Part of Term typically spans about eight weeks, with different classes taken each Part of Term. Each MBA class therefore has a more accelerated pace.
- Schedule 20-45 minutes to read the syllabus start to finish. Reading the assignment names and dates out loud may help with processing all the tasks (and prevent assignments getting missed if you skim too fast)
- Schedule a time to add all of the assignment due dates to your planner or phone calendar. If you add it to a planner, but struggle with "out of mind, out of sight," consider keeping the planner always open and nearby, rather than closed, so that way the tasks and due dates remain visible at all times.
Tip #2: Plan your time accordingly.
Time management is important in general. And it's doubly important when you decide
to add yet another activity to your already-full plate. You went back to school for
a reason. Remember it. It's an investment for your long-term future. Plan accordingly
your time to get the most out of the program. Don't do it for those 3 letters (MBA),
do it because you want to advance. And advancement needs time. Plan it accordingly.
- University of Oxford: A Short Guide to Managing Your Time, Youtube video
- The Pomodoro Technique: What It Is and How to Do It (businessinsider.com)
- Perhaps use a planner that's aesthetically pleasing or interesting to you (tip: for people who struggle with "out of sight, out of mind," consider keeping the planner open at all times and always nearby)
Tip #3: Know how to use Excel.
Excel is a relatively basic but very powerful tool. It will not just make your MBA journey easier, it will also make your life easier in any job post-graduation. The two key Excel functions which help people are =VLOOKUP and Pivot tables.
Then you could talk about =SUM / = SUMPRODUCT / =MIN / =MAX / =CONCATENATE and Analysis ToolPak, but if you don't know =VLOOKUP and Pivot tables, learn them fast.
I've learned Excel thanks to Google, because Google helps dramatically - you need to have basic understanding of the software - what it does and/or could do - and then any other functions you might Google based on what you are trying to do.
- Simply Google "Excel functions" and 1,700,000 results appear.
- LinkedIn Learning for Library, available to anyone with a free Houston Public Library card. Dennis Taylor's "Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365)" is a very comprehensive beginner's course.
- Harris County Public Library also offers access to card holders. Get an HCPL card
- YouTube offers plenty of videos, but some viewers may find the frequent ads annoying.
Tip #4: Know how to write in the era of ChatGPT.
As for academic writing skills - I'm going to be the first person to admit - I love ChatGPT. It makes life so much easier. It generates ideas and it helps you navigate complex topics. But it's not error-free. You still need to question what it provides. While it makes some parts easier (generation of ideas, structure, etc.) it's also a tool that at the moment produces lies. Question it! At the same time, it's you who is trying to learn. ChatGPT is a shortcut and at the end of the day, it's not your work. It's a modern form of plagiarism.* It's outsourcing the work to someone else and pretending it's your own. Learn how to use ChatGPT for coming up with research ideas, but don't use it as a way to get your paper done.
Lenka has an additional note: For writing in the corporate world, [it's very different than academic writing].
You get to the point. It's not fluff. It's a lot of bullet points in emails.
*Marilyn's note: Always ask your professor for clarity prior to using ChatGPT. While some professors may currently accommodate ChatGPT usage, not all UHD professors do, and they may implement software to check students' submitted assignments. It's important to be able to know how to write papers well enough without needing ChatGPT, in the event that your professor(s) prohibit using AI in their class(es).
- Harvard's Graduate School of Education Writing Center resources:
- Purdue University: Purdue OWL writing resources (some users may find the ads annoying)
The Executive Path is the official blog of the University of Houston-Downtown's MBA Program. For further information on the UHD MBA Program, you may find our webpage at Houston's MBA Program (uhd.edu). For the upcoming calendar of virtual Information Session links, visit MBA Information Session (uhd.edu). To reach the UHD MBA Office, our contact information is here: Contact Us (uhd.edu).
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