Category Archives: career

I’m a lawyer applying to MBA programs. Will my background turn off potential employers?

“I am an Argentine lawyer with a LL&M degree in Law & Economics from a top school in Argentina. I am now considering applying to an MBA at a top business school in the USA.
However, I’m not sure whether a lawyer background is going to interest a potential employer. In addition, it may be difficult […]

How do you know when you’re at the cusp of success in your life and career?

How do you know when you’re at the cusp of success in your life and career?
The Harvard MBA Says:
I’m tempted to quote Potter Stewart on hard-core pornography: “I know it when I see it.”  The problem is, most people don’t know success when they see it.  Thanks to the hedonic treadmill, even those who achieve […]

Should I apply for a fellowship to study in Paris even if I’m not sure I can afford it?

I’m a freelance writer specializing in architecture and design. I’m about to apply for a 1-year fellowship that only supplies $23,000 maximum to cover tuition, room & board and airfare. This  isn’t enough for where I want to go: Paris, France. What’s more, I own a condo here in the good ole u.s.a. Do I […]

Do You Need A Killer Instinct To Be Wildly Successful?

After reading SI’s profile of Kobe Bryant’s incredible drive, Ben asks, “Are the big time CEOs freakishly competitive, mind-blowingly arrogant, and singularly focused on their business goals even at the cost of “balance”?
The Harvard MBA says: 
In a word, yes.  History is pretty clear on the fact that most great men (and women) are bastards.
Even Gandhi […]

Are you a complete loser if you don’t attend an Ivy League school?

“I am a high school counselor in Singapore where everyone is programmed to apply to Harvard from the womb onwards. Can I ask, Where did you do your undergrad education??? I constantly fight the battle of the perception that one is a complete loser if you don’t do your undergrad education at an Ivy League […]

Welcome Brazen Careerist Readers!

Thanks to this flattering post from my friend Penelope, a lot of new folks have been stopping by “Ask The Harvard MBA.”
You’ve asked so many questions that I’ll break my usual practice of answering one question per week and try to knock out a bunch of quick answers.  Onward and downward!
“I am sorry for being […]