Why Choose an In-Person Executive MBA?
- blogs, product management
- 4 min read
Authors: Arjun Sethuram – Techno Project Manager at Accenture
After almost 20 years in the corporate world, going back to a classroom feels both exciting and unfamiliar.
I’m Arjun Sethuram, born and brought up in Bangalore, and I currently work as a Techno Project Manager at Accenture. With 19 years of professional experience behind me, I’ve reached a stage where I want to step beyond what I already know, develop new skills, and prepare myself for the next phase of my career.
That is what led me to pursue an in-person Executive MBA focused on product management and product leadership from the Institute of Product Leadership.
Change Has Always Been Important to Me
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that change is constant. More importantly, I’ve realized that I actively need change to keep growing.
When I do the same thing for too long, I tend to become comfortable. And I don’t necessarily see comfort as the best place for professional growth.
That’s why I’ve consistently looked for opportunities to take on something different. Even within my current organization, I’m now working on my sixth project. Each transition has given me an opportunity to encounter new challenges, work with different people, and expand the way I think.
Pursuing an Executive MBA feels like another important change – only this time, I’m returning to academics after nearly two decades.
Why an In-Person Executive MBA?
When I started exploring programs, I came across several options. Many of them were online, while others did not offer the kind of structured classroom experience I was looking for.
For me, that made a significant difference.
After spending close to 20 years away from a formal academic environment, I wanted to experience a proper classroom again. I wanted to sit with peers, interact with faculty face-to-face, participate in discussions, and have a schedule that would keep me engaged with the learning process.
The alternate-weekend classroom format particularly appealed to me. It gives me the opportunity to continue working while also being part of a structured, in-person learning environment.
Online learning certainly has its advantages, but at this point in my career, I felt that physically being in a classroom would push me to participate more, learn more, and remain committed to the journey.
That offline approach became one of the biggest reasons behind my decision.
The other reason was much more personal: the push from my wife.
Sometimes, we know we want to make a change, but having someone encourage us to actually take that step makes all the difference.
Where I Want to Be a Year From Now
I’m not pursuing an Executive MBA simply to add another qualification to my profile.
A year from now, I want to see myself as a better manager.
I want to develop stronger capabilities in product management and product leadership and apply those skills to what I already do. I see this experience as an opportunity to upskill, broaden my perspective, and eventually explore better avenues for career progression.
After 19 years of experience, learning is no longer just about acquiring information. It is about challenging the way I have been thinking and working for years.
Back to School After Two Decades
Coming back to school after almost 20 years feels completely different.
I come from what I would call the “old-school” academic experience, so today’s learning environment feels revamped and new to me. But that is also what makes the experience exciting.
I know this journey will require me to unlearn certain things and learn new ones.
And I think that is an important part of growth.
Interestingly, I’m going through a similar journey in my personal life. I’ve always been health-conscious, but an injury caused me to regain the weight I had previously lost. Now, I’m working towards getting back on track.
In some ways, both journeys are about the same thing: making progress, staying positive, and being willing to start again.
Whether it is health, education, or my career, I believe growth requires us to keep challenging ourselves.
After two decades in the industry, stepping back into a classroom is certainly a big change.
But change is exactly what I was looking for.
