by Kathy McKay
I have to admit that I wasn’t too sure about attending the MBA Games. Although I love to participate in events, I’m not the most social person out there, and as a first-year Management of Technology MBA with a full-time job I hadn’t really had much time to get to know my fellow students. So in the end that’s exactly why I decided to join the team: it seemed like a fantastic opportunity to do some networking within my school and among other schools. By signing up for athletic events only, I also figured that it would be a great chance to see what the academic competitions were all about without the stress of actually competing in them. Then, if I liked what I saw, I could go back next year and try them out.
And I will definitely be going back next year!
Before the opening ceremonies even began, the camaraderie and enthusiasm within, and between, the various schools was amazing. Although the floorball and volleyball teams I played on didn’t exactly set records, I had so much fun playing the games and socializing with the other team members that I honestly didn’t mind. The sports events provided an excellent way to break the ice and start conversations with people regarding their programs at school, their academic backgrounds, and their goals for the future.
After our games were finished I managed to watch the presentations in a few of the academic competitions. The benefits that could be gained from this experience were instantly obvious and I look forward to giving it a go next year. Developing the ability to think and perform on the spot is critical to excel in business, and the MBA Games certainly provides that opportunity. I also saw how it provides the opportunity to witness how other teams attack problems and to receive feedback on your own approach.
After taking part in the MBA Games I definitely feel a great sense of allegiance to the SFU MBA program, and I feel a greater desire to network and get to know my schoolmates more. In many ways that is what business is all about – getting to know people and learning how to work together.