As a mom, my MBA strategy looks different from that of my peers. Several times a week I hear some version of, “I don’t know how you’re doing it.” But as I navigate the ramped-up pace of the third module – complete with new classes, new groups, new projects, and new opportunities – it’s something that is part of my daily routine.
Besides sheer necessity, I think parenthood drives you to be relentlessly strategic. Your priorities must be crystal clear, your choices are rarely easy, and your resilience is tested constantly. Here’s what it’s looked like recently:
- Building an investment portfolio on a train ride to the mountains while dodging my daughter’s sticky fingers
- Trading Friday night Aperol Spritz with my classmates for Sunday afternoon apple juice with my family at Lacustre
- Discussing household roles and responsibilities in a “family business” meeting with my son at Bignami
- Asking for a lot of help! Classmates and other partners have pitched in on babysitting and dog sitting, making more work and play possible
- Saying no to the optional and committing to “done over perfect.” My current strategy means avoiding the diminishing returns on late nights, impeccable slides, and fretting over grades
Try as anyone might, it’s hard to do it all – and doing everything at 100% is impossible. I think that’s the point. We have to get good at making choices, accepting the trade-offs, and moving forward. At times, these choices can be excruciating – the risk of inconveniencing a teammate or my partner, the acceptance of a lower grade because I chose something else over studying, or having less time with my kids. It’s far from perfect, but like any sound strategy, it’s meant to be evaluated and evolved over time. Sometimes we have to be willing to give some things up to make something better.
My kids are watching me navigate these challenges – sometimes successfully and occasionally not – but already they’re among the lucky ones to get woven into the fabric of this MBA. That makes it a choice I won’t regret.
