By the time Bakhtiar Feizi started Wharton’s executive MBA program, he had worked in the engineering field for over a decade. During that time, he left Iran to earn a PhD in the U.S. and became a senior tunnel engineer at AECOM. We asked him to tell us more about why he came to Wharton and his experiences here so far. This is what he said:
On Choosing Wharton:
I chose Wharton because it is great. When I visited Wharton’s campus, I liked the professors and the design of the program. When you’re in a class, you’re sitting in front of the best professors. That interaction with such great minds is very fulfilling and is an amazing learning process.
On Wharton EMBA Students:
Now that I’m here, I realize there is a third reason – the students. I have amazing classmates. They come from very diverse backgrounds. We have doctors and engineers as well as people from finance, the government, and the military. There is a lot you can learn from this diversity. It really opens your eyes because you are dealing with different types of thinking.
On the Degree’s Versatility:
I also appreciate how an MBA from Wharton is a very versatile degree. There are many options for what you can do with your education. When I first began the EMBA program, I was planning to start my own engineering company, but now I’m also seeing a lot of other opportunities. For example, I could use some of the entrepreneurship skills I’m gaining and do management consulting.
On the Application Process:
As you go through the program, you get to know what your skills are, what you’re good at, and what you can bring to the table. If you start thinking about those points, you can come up with a very compelling story for why you should be in the program. Don’t assume you can’t get in because the criteria are so high. You don’t want to miss the opportunity because this program is transformational.
On Work-Life Balance:
This is challenging, but it’s a good challenge. It shows that the curriculum is rigorous. It requires a lot of work so that you learn a lot. And with a little help and support from family and coworkers, it’s absolutely doable.
On Community:
It might sound like a cliché, but it’s true that Wharton’s EMBA program is a tight knit community. That’s because the individuals in this community are among the most supportive and nicest people you’ll ever meet. This includes the professors, students and program staff. Everyone goes out of their way to help you.