Through the journey of the UofSC Professional MBA program, I have found that an element of learning that is paramount to our developmental success is group projects.

At the start of the program, students launch into the Competing Through People class, where we engage in group work with partners, who in many cases, we had never met. The course presents theory of the process that new teams undergo, from getting started and finding effective working strategies to delivering results. We are given the opportunity to apply this theory right away to a real project.

Based on my interactions with classmates, I learned that some found this experience stressful and frustrating. I will argue that this experience is invaluable. Getting first-hand practice with building working relationships with people of different cultures, professional and personal backgrounds, language barriers and biases is an integral part of developing the business acumen we are all trying to achieve. Fortunately, we do this in a safe environment that doesn’t involve the risk of negatively impacting our daily lives. Many of my classes had a group project element, and I learned unique nuggets from each experience.

I gained insight into the diversity of ways people can tackle the same problem. This exposure equipped me with new tools and approaches that I can apply in different settings. I grew my patience as I learned to adjust to varying standards for quality of work and pace of making progress. I learned how to better leverage distinct strengths and make a bigger whole from the sum of the parts. I found myself energized by the passions people held, which inspired me to look closer for mine.

While it’s possible to develop many of these elements through other avenues, our Professional MBA program offers an expedited and targeted way to grow ourselves. So, while group projects might feel daunting at first, I wanted to affirm their effectiveness in moving us forward.

-Anna Codron
’22 MBA candidate
Currently a progress advisor with Michelin in Simpsonville, South Carolina