Dear younger self: From English major to MBA and published author

Reflecting on life’s lessons is one of the most valuable things we can do for personal growth, and the MBA experience can be an opportune time for self-discovery. Hear the six takeaways Osamase Torbest Ekhator ’24 Two-Year MBA would tell himself for navigating B-school.
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On the left is a young Osamase Torbest Ekhator with his family and on the right a photo of him performing spoken word at Kellogg.
A boy becomes a man. A young Ekhator in his father's arms next to his mother (L), and now a matured man (R) who has leaned into poetry to share his life experiences.

By Osamase Torbest Ekhator ’24, Two-Year MBA Program 

Dear English major turned consumer banker turned published author,

I know you’re wondering if you should start your MBA journey or continue working your way up the corporate ladder. I know you’re wondering if obtaining a second degree is worth disrupting your comfortable lifestyle. I know you’re wondering if leaving your stable job will lead to attaining your dream career. Well, luckily, I know a few tips that will help make your decision easier.  

1. Don’t worry about the cost and time that goes into the MBA application prep.

Applying to a top business school is not done in a day. A good application can take a year or more to craft and perfect. Your year has consisted of joining programs like Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), going to tutoring sessions, re-taking countless GMAT/GRE tests, networking with dozens of admissions counselors, and writing and rewriting your repository of B-school essays. 

All these come with high costs, and it may seem like you’re depleting tons of money with no return on investment…yet. But I’m happy to share that this spending is normal, and some may even say, “a necessary evil.” The amount of money you spend trying to get into business school will never outweigh the wealth you can earn after.

2. Know which school is the right fit for your post MBA career. 

Acceptance into any top business program is a blessing —  kind of. While brand name and strong alumni networks can help you get into some conversations with the gatekeepers, also known as recruiters, choosing the right school can help get you through that golden door. 

Kellogg was your first choice because you did your research and learned that a lot of alumni worked for your target company after graduation — showing you that this company has a liking to Kellogg and trusts the caliber of business leaders Kellogg produces. Though it is not a guarantee that this will be the case for you, at least Kellogg will provide you with the right resources (e.g. trusted alumni, career services, etc.) to come closer to your career goals.

3. Don’t be afraid to move to a new city and enter an uncomfortable space.

You’ve spent your entire life in one spot: Revere, Massachusetts. You never considered leaving your parents, siblings, nieces, nephews and close friends. And that’s what makes this decision hard. Sure, Illinois to Massachusetts is only a few states away, but some nights, the distance feels like an entire world in between. Getting accepted to Kellogg will force you to miss birthdays, holidays and even spontaneous hang outs.

But you must look at the positives. A change of location will give you an opportunity to grow and find a new family full of life-long friends and mentors, and it will show you that Chicago and Evanston can become a second home for you. 

The old saying of “you learn the most when you’re out of your comfort zone” is true.  Sometimes you need to leave home to return to it as an elevated leader and stronger person.  

Upon graduating from Kellogg, Osamase Ekhator will be starting a position at New Balance.
Ekhator will be applying his MBA knowledge in his new role at New Balance.

4. Don’t sell yourself short — apply to stretch roles and companies.

You will enter B-school with the expectation of receiving a summer internship in your favorite field of marketing. Subsequently, any role within marketing seems like a “safe” option and any role outside of marketing like strategy seems like a reach.

But that shouldn’t deter you from applying for that stretch role – even if the company only accepts under five interns each year. Because truth be told, those same “safe” internships will end up not accepting you; instead that role that you thought was a reach will.  

5. Be patient — what’s delayed is not denied. 

After your first year, you will have the summer internship of your wildest dreams! But you will not receive a return offer and will be forced to re-recruit. Do not internalize this disappointment. Many external factors out of your control are at play, and the right doors will open themselves for you — you just need to have enough wisdom to close the wrong doors.

Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, learn more about new fields and functions and network with as many people as possible. 

I was once told that “the hungry samurai walks around with a toothpick in his mouth.” In other words, do not let anyone see you sweat, remain persistent and show companies that you’re eager to bring value to their teams. Remember it’s about knowing and showing your worth. I promise you; this will pay off when your dream company offers you a perfect role right before graduation.  

Osamase giving a poetry reading at Kellogg
One of the many poetry and spoken word performances Ekhator gave while at Kellogg as part of the Black Management Association’s programming.

6. Embrace your uniqueness to relate to others.

Even though you’re at Kellogg to become a great business leader, don’t forget what got you here: your unique talents and passions. For you, it’s poetry. Throughout business school, you will write poems about breaking ceilings, overcoming the stress of business school and learning how to live with uncertainty.

Share these poems with your classmates because the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that others are going through the same silent hardships as you. They may be too scared to share, so you must initiate vulnerability, and let them know that they are not alone.

In one poem, you write:  

“Somebody out there loves you
even if it’s unknown
or maybe it’s untold
because they don’t know to say it
so you say it because they say,
love is like a dove
always searching for a home
it won’t spread its wings
until it knows it’s not
alone.”  

So, take these lessons as you start your MBA journey, step out of your comfort zone and seize the job of your dreams before it’s time to come back home, a true Kellogg Leader.  

Sincerely, 
Osamase  

 

Read next: Charting your MBA path: Helpful tips from the Class of 2024