Preparation With Purpose
In September, I attended the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Conference in Los Angeles. This was my second MBA conference, and after attending my first conference without a clear strategy and leaving without any interviews or connections, I knew if I wanted different results, I needed to prepare differently.
I rewrote my resume, applied to internship opportunities beforehand, and made a shortlist of companies that I wanted to connect with. This time, I went to the conference with one goal, to make meaningful connections with at least two companies that I could nurture for future Brand Management positions. My preparation resulted in connections on LinkedIn with two companies on my shortlist, and an invite to a private networking reception which was very validating. However, my most valuable experience came from somewhere I didn’t expect.
An Unexpected Interview
One of the highlights of the conference was being invited to a private networking reception hosted by a beverage Consumer Packaged Goods company. I felt honored by the invitation, and was very excited to connect with the company, but upon entering, I quickly realized this was an interview. During the reception, I was asked to describe a time when I had used data to make a business decision. My professional background is in sales, so I struggled to provide a compelling example.
I realized to successfully pivot into Brand Management, I needed to strengthen my ability to work with data. I used the remainder of the reception to network with the other MBA students in the room, and I connected with a student who had advanced to the company’s private interviews. She generously shared how she approached similar questions, drawing on her experience using Circana and IRI data to analyze sales performance. She explained how she used Pivot Tables to identify trends, uncover insights, and recommend next steps. In preparation for Brand Management interviews, she identifies 2-3 meaningful insights from the data, what they mean for the business, and recommends next steps.
Turning Feedback Into Growth
Seeing what a successful candidate looks like changed how I approached my development. After the conference, I began mock interviewing with the Wisconsin School of Business career center more frequently to nail down the STAR format. When I gained access to a NielsenIQ dataset from class, I began teaching myself how to analyze that data in Excel using PivotTables, including filters, slicers, and calculated fields to analyze both business and competitive performance. A challenging interview question became an opportunity to build a valuable professional skill.
Conferences are a great way to round out your MBA experience but make sure you have the right plan in place before attending. Going into conferences with the sole focus of getting interviews and internship offers makes it easy to ignore the people attending alongside you. These are your potential future colleagues, coworkers and friends navigating many of the same challenges you are. Be sure to take time to connect with the students authentically and with the same care and passion that you bring to the companies. A common saying in sales is the fortune is in the follow up, so be sure to stay in touch with all of your meaningful connections. You will get from the experience what you put into it so be sure to put in your best.
Looking Ahead – Reflections From Chi!
I went to NBMBAA hoping to build relationships that would open doors to future opportunities. I left with those connections, new friendships, and a clearer understanding of the skills I needed to develop. The greatest value of the conference wasn’t just the opportunities it created, but how it helped me become better prepared for the opportunities ahead.