Stanford MBA Discusses Coffee Chats

https://blog.accepted.com/stanford-mba-discusses-coffee-chats-episode-437/

Bob Manfreda discusses his experience in the Stanford GSB program and shares wisdom from his co-authored blog, MBA Coffee Chats, and book, Coffee Chats: Thoughtful advice on how to get the most out of your MBA.

In this episode:

My first burning question is, do you like coffee?

You were at Deloitte before you went to Stanford GSB and you’re now again at Deloitte. Did you intend to return to Deloitte after your MBA as you’ve done?

Has being at Deloitte worked out for you?

What did you enjoy most while you were a student at Stanford GSB?

Looking back on the MBA program, the education, the extracurricular opportunities, whatever it was – what class experience or extracurricular activities were most valuable to you or really stand out in your mind?

What could have been improved? Even though Stanford GSB is a fantastic institution and experience, what could have been improved for you or what do you wish you would’ve done differently?

I’m wondering how one could balance that need not to try everything and at the same time focus maybe with more exploration before you get there

Are you glad you earned your MBA?

What advice do you have for applicants who want to get a Stanford MBA?

What are coffee chats?

How did you and Adam Putterman, your co-author who’s a Kellogg MBA and also your pre-MBA colleague from Deloitte, come to write the book called Coffee Chats?

Did you and Adam ever compare the cultures at Kellogg and Stanford and discuss some of the similarities and differences?

In the book you identified several key questions for admits. The biggest question you have is, “How can I make the most of my MBA experience?” How would you answer that question?

One topic you address in your book is preserving your relationship with your partner, and you’ve noted that both of you and Adam were able to do so. Could you review the suggestions you gave on that topic?

What are your plans going forward? Any more books, more coffee chats? What do you think you’re going to do?

It’s a little bit off topic but why Chinese as an undergrad? Just curious. Physics and Chinese, that’s an interesting combo.