EP. 23 What Sitting In The Woods And An MBA Can Teach Us

Joe Stephens, Sr. Asst Dean & Director at the McCombs School Of Business (University Of Texas), has lived in both the private sector and higher education. His calling ultimately brought him back to higher education, because of his passion for helping people grow.  Joe says there's nothing better than watching someone's journey to being a better version of themselves. Joe is also an avid hunter and shares how the skills learned in the woods translates to admissions, education, strategy and even family. Being spatially aware, patient and in the moment with mother nature has allowed Joe to better understand the nuances of people, which in turn allows deeper discussions.  Joe dives into the art and science of putting a great MBA class together.  What makes a strong MBA candidate isn't just their academic aptitude.  One’s ability to reflect, be honest and genuine with their future classmates are critical factors when assessing the right candidate.  It's about the whole puzzle when choosing each puzzle piece, because who you select in each class, should also enhance the experience of their classmates. Joe believes that even though someone can get much of the academic content in public domains, nothing replaces the human connection of enduring a challenging program together, like an MBA. He shares that much of his success and the success he has witnessed in his students, have come from fellow classmates vouching for each other, because those closes to you, really know how you are.  It’s not only about what you learn in a book, but it’s the relationships you build that ultimately bring you forward in life.