{"id":397,"date":"2013-01-30T02:19:54","date_gmt":"2013-01-30T02:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scqa.hult.edu\/en\/news\/hult-labs\/2013\/january\/from-student-to-professional\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T10:40:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:40:22","slug":"from-student-to-professional","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hult.edu\/blog\/from-student-to-professional\/","title":{"rendered":"From Student to Professional"},"content":{"rendered":"

A couple of weeks ago, I did not remind my students that an assignment was due. Until then, that was never the kind of professor I wanted to be. But I have changed.<\/p>\n

After years of working with busy, stressed out MBAs, I know that many are likely to forget deadlines. Out of fairness to those who do observe them, I strictly enforce those deadlines. But rather than alienate half the class with a zero on an assignment, I have become accustomed to sending out reminders \u2013 often.<\/p>\n

The other day, I did not do that. I admit that I am dreading the drop in student satisfaction ratings that are likely to come my way.<\/p>\n

In my defense, I am following the advice of some of my students\u2019 future employers. I could ignore them, but the whole purpose of interviewing 100 business leaders around the world was to spur improvement back on campus. I believe I have to try to take the advice that I\u2019ve been given.<\/p>\n

What business leaders told me (sometimes it felt more like a trip to the woodshed) is that we business educators don\u2019t give much thought to cramming our charges into a student mold. Upon graduation, though, employers\u00a0 expect students to have broken out of that student mindset and immediately adopt a managerial one. Employers end up having to un-train graduates before they can do the work of managers. One CEO told me, \u201cAs it is right now, I feel like we have to \u2018blunt them\u2019 on stupid projects for the first four or five years before they can do higher-level things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over and over again, I heard the explicit or implied refrain: \u201cThey have been students (or very young employees) their whole lives; can\u2019t you do more to help turn them into professionals?\u201d That frequent request moved me to completely redesign my courses \u2013 and the way I think about education.<\/p>\n

I know there is a theory that good education is all about very clear standards for giving grades. One of the top-performing business professors in the world brags about a nearly 20-page syllabus for his courses and counsels other professors to make sure there are no surprises in the classroom. And he\u2019s right \u2013 that is a proven path to top satisfaction ratings from students.<\/p>\n

But in an era where all companies are grappling with a world high in uncertainty and ambiguity, it is really no surprise that employers continue to ask business educators to better prepare students to face the reality of a messy and unpredictable world after graduation.<\/p>\n

I am sure that the business leaders I interviewed meant much more than just \u201cdon\u2019t remind students about due dates.\u201d But my recent deadline dilemma was a pregnant reminder of how difficult it will be for me to curb my natural knee-jerk inclinations after many years of teaching. It\u2019s my desire to inspire successful business leaders for the future; however, implementing that goal has steered me \u2013 and hopefully my students \u2013 in a very new direction.<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of thetaxhaven<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Grow your leadership capabilities with an MBA in international business at Hult<\/a>. To learn more, take a look at our blog Why there\u2019s no time like the present to start your Executive MBA<\/a>, or give your career a boost with our Masters in International Business<\/a>. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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