Last week when I was invited to write my thoughts on 'Why an MBA' I seriously pondered over the weekend on what an MBA had done for me.

Introduction
Starting my career from working on the field is sales, where I used to sell soap and toothpaste from outlet to outlet in Wattala, I progressed to brand marketing handling power brands like Dettol and then got the opportunity of working in finance in a British multinational to subsequently head a business unit. Thereafter, I went on to lead a multinational detergent business for Sri Lanka and Maldives and then my career took a shift to the public sector where I served the Government as the 8th Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and pivotal policy making body the National Council For Economic Development(NCED) reporting directly to the Secretary Treasury which was a very interesting time period when LTTE was waging war in Colombo. Today, I sit in a United Nations mission for Sri Lanka & Maldives working on Infrastructure development which is yet another interesting task. Let me throw light on how an MBA helped me along the way and why you need to embark on a typical MBA programme.

1) Right to be heard
When I was appointed as Category Head for Health and Personal care products in multinational organization I found that apart from my area of specialization in marketing, I had to interact with specialists from other deciplines like IT, Finance, Marketing, Procurement, HR, Production or assuarance and one had a understanding of how each of these desciplines work it was virtually impossible to be heard. Sometimes these interactions happened under severe pressure of meeting stringent time lines which added to complexity.This is where an MBA degree comes to use because a typical MBA programme gives you an insight to how each of the functions work,which differs from a professional qualification or a degree from university.

2) The key 80
I remember once reporting to a Managing Director who used to leave all the work aside and attend a Rotary luncheon meeting on Thursday. Once I inquired why he does this at work time and the answer was very logical. He said if one knows the top 100 people in this country anything can be done. When I moved to the MBA and graduated this same ethos held true. A top notch MBA has the best in class in the country. Hence, if you are in this network as time goes on you will find your self in a very influential network that sure can get things done.

3) Behaviour change
Some comment that an MBA is for learning. But, what I experienced was that due to a typical structure of a MBA programme that includes group work on real company visits, presentations, self study, critiques, video conferencing, twittering naturally there was a change of behavior that happens. This kind of behavior change is what a strong MBA makes of you. Infact, if you are not ready for such change of behaviour patterns, you must not embark on reading for an MBA.

4) Brand
Once you move through middle management and want to move to a higher position, you find it easier to qualify your self in front of an interview panel when you say you are from 'A' university where you read for the MBA. Its almost like a life currency when you are armed with an MBA from a high profile(branded) university. It indicates to a potential employer that you have the maturity and the right skill set to shoulder a higher management that require general management skill set.

5)Life balance
Sometimes I wonder how I made it in the MBA programme. I was on two category brand teams for South Asia running a brand, visiting lecturer for CIM, indulging in mercantile sports and martial art training, managing my social life whilst having time for the family. Hence the challenge was at what point do you cut loose from one role and move to another.This is exactly a skill that the MBA forces you master. Today when I look back, it is this task/role life balance that has helped me work in multi dimention roles. I consider this training the pick out of everything I learned from the MBA..

6) New Skills
A typical MBA gives an opportunity for one to learn a skill set which cannot be taught at foundation level and graduate school. Namely, in the soft skill area because your interactions are with the top end corporate executives from different work cultures. Separately, for you to leave work around 5.30 pm to attend lectures you have to manage your boss. This requires a lot of maturity and balance that an MBA makes you practice. This kind of rigorous training cannot be picked up unless one does an MBA progrmame.

7) Move faster
It's a very interesting concept but most who enroll to an MBA are people who are in senior management and are comfortable in their place of work. But, once they get into the programme its virtually a roller coaster ride when you are hanging on to life to survive. Those who complete the 2 year routine, suddenly find them self not been stretched at their work place and thus move out to higher positions or they move upwards in their own companies. In other words an MBA pushes you to high gear. It sure fast tracks your career path.

Conclusion
The above are only a few thoughts on how an MBA has helped me in my career to become what I am today. But I am sure there are many other resons that I have not captured that can be learned by getting on to one. Don't think too much. Just get on to one. Just one piece of advise. Until you have at least 2-3 years of post degree experience do not read for an MBA. You will not get the best out of the programmme. The logic being, be a specialist first.