Diploma

… now I just have to find and frame my undergrad diploma …

I’ve gotten a bunch of emails recently from potential Smartly students with questions regarding the Smartly EMBA program, and I love connecting personally with them. I’ve written about it here and here; but I also thought I’d share my generalized feedback on Smartly here for anyone googling around looking for reviews of the Smartly EMBA program.

 

Smartly EMBA Review: For me, the Smartly EMBA was absolutely worth it—but my main caveat is that I operate in and would like to stay in an entrepreneurship or startup-influenced world, where taking a risk on a “startup” school makes more sense than in more traditional industries. I was never going to commit the time to a traditional MBA or EMBA, so there isn’t much of a comparison for me.

As far as curriculum goes, class itself wasn’t a huge time commitment because the bite-size lessons make it easy to complete courses in the margins of time—waiting on things, between meetings, etc. What’s cool is that the learning really sticks when you interact with the concepts constantly through the gaming interface. I essentially repeated a few courses I had taken in college and learned and performed way better this time around, I think due to the method. The exercises and group interactions are extremely self-motivated, though, so you have to make sure you’re disciplined enough to force yourself to participate when it’s not absolutely required.

I think the in-person weekends should be considered mandatory. I don’t know that I’d feel as connected to my classmates if I hadn’t done them. We had two Washington weekends during my year program, and the strongest relationships (including the group I did my final business plan with) were with those people I met during the on-sites. The value of the larger alumni network does remain to be seen, as I’m part of only the second cohort to finish—but that’s also kind of on us to be successful and connect up with and give back to our network.

 

Specific Smartly EMBA questions? I’m happy to answer anything, just leave a comment or drop me an email!