Tag: admissions

What makes a good entrepreneurship program?

Posted on | by Veronica Rafaniello | Leave a Comment on What makes a good entrepreneurship program?

 

Greta Maiocchi, head of marketing and recruitment at MIP Politecnico di Milano, answers our Applicant Question of the Week

 

Every week, we give you the opportunity to ask one of our chosen admissions experts anything you want to know about getting into business school. One question each week is chosen for our expert to answer.
This week, our question comes from an anonymous applicant, hoping to kick-start an entrepreneurial career through business school.
Their question is answered by Greta Maiocchi, head of marketing at the Milan-based MIP Politecnico di Milano.

 

Applicant Question of the Week

Dear BusinessBecause,

What are the best business school programs for someone hoping to become an entrepreneur, and how can I improve my chances of being accepted onto this kind of program?

 

The Answer

Within the collection of courses offered at MIP, the school provides several programs specifically focused on the topic of entrepreneurship, designed to meet the needs and aspirations of both future leaders who want to take their first step into the business world, and experienced professionals with the aim of updating their skill-set or searching for new opportunities.

First, we offer the International Master in Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IMIE), a 12-month program taught in English and designed for graduates with entrepreneurial mindsets.

Through the combination of class teaching, digital learning and on-site experiences, IMIE candidates will acquire the analytical skills and the creative thinking needed to become innovative leaders able to be in charge of developing and managing ground-breaking projects.

Participants on this program will access the Pre-incubation Lab, a nine month project co-designed and supported by Polihub – the internationally-renowned incubator at MIP – in which students are encouraged to work in groups and develop a full-fledged business idea.

Also on offer is the Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Startup module. This is a three-day course taught in Italian and delivered in partnership with the Politecnico di Milano’s in-house start-up incubator. The aim is to provide C-levels and professionals with a concrete vision of the development and evaluation methods of a startup in contemporary markets.

Participants can explore approaches and methods emerging from the world of startups, understand the issues surrounding corporate entrepreneurship, and acquire practical knowledge of design tools, assessment and development of new business models, useful for operating in a culture dominated by risk and innovation.

Although there are plenty of specially designed entrepreneurial courses to choose from, at MIP and elsewhere, undertaking a broader qualification such as an MBA or EMBA can also be beneficial for those with an entrepreneurial mindset.

These programs can often be tailored to support entrepreneurs, and provide a broad foundation for understanding how businesses operate.

For example, at MIP, MBA and EMBA participants can access Polihub, and carry out a supervised entrepreneurial project with faculty guidance as part of their qualification.

When it comes to being accepted onto a program, each one has a specific set of entry requirements. When applying for courses with an entrepreneurial focus, it’s important to understand that personality and passion are just as important as academic qualifications.

You must be able to demonstrate your ability to work in a team and possess a practical, agile mindset. Drawing attention to circumstances in which you have acted as leader is also helpful when applying to programs that focus on entrepreneurship.

Finally, having a clear vision of your ambitions for the future will also help selection committees understand exactly what you hope to get out of business school.

By using these selection criteria, business schools can create a network of high-value professionals able to enhance each other’s journeys, and impart a real impact on society.

 

Originally published on

 

This Business School Is Looking For Technology-Savvy MBA Students Just Like You

Posted on | by albe@mip.polimi.it | Leave a Comment on This Business School Is Looking For Technology-Savvy MBA Students Just Like You

Anna Bacigalupi is head of MBA admissions at tech-focused MIP Politecnico di Milano. She says incoming students need to be passionate about technology and innovation

17% of business school alumni work in technology. Big-name tech firms—like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft—are ramping up their hiring of MBA graduates from business schools with a central focus on tech innovation.

MIP Politecnico di Milano in Italy is one such school. Anna Bacigalupi, head of admissions at MIP for the International MBA, says that focus on technology and innovation starts at admissions stage. When selecting new students, she says she evaluates the ability of the student to operate in a digital context versus a traditional one.

“The more dynamic and tech-savvy a candidate is, the more weight they will get in the overall admissions ranking,” she asserts.

Anna explains that this is indicative of the job market they will enter after their MBA, whatever the industry. “It prepares applicants to face the recruitment process with companies which are becoming more and more tech-based in candidate selection.”

How does the application process work?

Digital is threaded throughout the MBA admissions process at MIP. In fact, the entire experience—application, interview, presentation—is managed online in many cases.

Because many candidates apply from around the world—there are 22 nationalities represented in this year’s MBA class—interviews are frequently carried out on Skype, and an English-language test can also be done online.

Anna describes the application process for the MBA as the most demanding out of all the programs that MIP Politecnico di Milano offers.

“Even before students decide to apply, we always want to assess their profiles,” she says. “It’s fundamental to us that the students fit our program but also that the program meets the candidate’s expectations.”

 

How does the MIP MBA focus on technology?

Company connections and experiential learning are imperative to the MBA at MIP Politecnico di Milano. The school works with around 400 companies including Vodafone, L’Oréal, Gucci and Amazon to name but a few. Tech giants Microsoft and IBM also have strong relationships with the school.

Businesses are brought onto campus through management boot camps, where students are mentored by industry professionals throughout different projects. Each student will complete at least eight boot camps during their MBA, including examples like Big Data & Analytics, and The Silicon Valley Experience, which sees students tour San Francisco’s global tech hub.

MBAs further deepen their understanding of tech entrepreneurship, visiting startups and startup accelerators such as Plug & Play Tech Center, as well as Stanford Center for Professional Development, to learn how to take a product to market

Students also have the chance to gain a dual degree at MIT in the US. Studying at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics in Boston after their MBA, students can achieve an MBA plus a Master in Supply Chain Management from MIT.

 

What else can you do to stand out?

Anna says she looks for prospective students with at least three years of professional experience who are motivated to combine both practical experiences and theoretical knowledge to advance their careers.

Ambition to excel in their chosen career is also a must, as is a candidate’s desire to develop an analytical mindset. “Candidates should be ready to stretch their limits,” Anna enthuses.

Crucially, students on the MBA at MIP Politecnico di Milano are passionate about innovation, technology, and digital transformation. And Anna wants students who are ready to bring their unique background and perspective to the program.

 

Originally published on 

Applying to the International MBA at MIP: a seamless and friendly affair

Posted on | by albe@mip.polimi.it | Leave a Comment on Applying to the International MBA at MIP: a seamless and friendly affair

If you are wondering if doing an International MBA is your call, my recommendation as an adventurous soul is simply to jump the cliff and trust your instinct. The important thing is to have time to take the necessary steps, to get prepared for the journey.

I was already living in Italy when I decided to apply for an MBA. I won’t lie about the fact MIP was not my first choice for continuing my graduate education. What caught my attention about MIP was the kind and efficient support since the moment I asked for information about the Master programs on the school website. The Marketing recruiting team contacted me by e-mail, inviting me to send my CV to recommend me the program that suited my professional experience. They considered the MBA was my best choice for my career path. There are monthly promotional events, as well as fairs around the world to get first-hand information about the MIP and its Master programs.

I applied for the Full-time International MBA one year in advance. The application process started with an online form where I included my academic and professional records. I also did the TOEFL and GRE exams in Milan.

Just three days after submitting my application documents I was already contacted by Ann-Marie from Germany, who presented herself as my recruiter and invited me to schedule the MIP test and a motivational Interview on campus.

Due to work constraints I had problems scheduling my test before 5pm on a weekday. Ann-Marie was very kind and flexible, offering me the alternative to present the exam via skype from my home after working hours. The exam consisted of a business case analysis, data interpretation and a domino test. Compared to other schools which only ask for GMAT and GRE, I believe the MIP entrance test gives you the opportunity to show your logical and analytical skills, in a thorough manner.

During the interview on the Bovisa Campus I met Bhor from India, another caring and professional recruiter who made me feel at ease and was eager to answer my questions regarding the school and the program. During this experience, Bhor highlighted the importance of diverse and international profiles at MIP.

After completing the admission test and interview I chose to apply to the assistantship program, to cover part of my tuition fees. MIP offers many interesting scholarships, plus an early-bird discount.

Two weeks after submitting the remaining documents, I got the wonderful news: I was accepted to be part of the 39th Full-time MBA program at MIP. I couldn’t believe it. In less than a month I already had successfully completed the admission process, almost one year before the start of the program. I dropped my other applications immediately, I was convinced I had already made the smart choice.

I later found out my assistantship work was chosen based on my professional experience. Now I’m happily writing the monthly articles about my MBA journey and shooting videos with my classmates, while completing my business studies. How cool is that? Both Ann-Marie and Bhor are now my colleagues. Thanks to them and all the hard work of the marketing and recruiting team, the admissions process at MIP, is not a hassle but a smooth and pleasant process.

Stay tuned for the next chapter, where one of my classmates will share his experience after attending an MBA Tech Talk at the Microsoft headquarters in the UK…

 

About the author

Roberto Niño Betancourt

Roberto is a student of the International full time MBA. He is a Colombian filmmaker and new media artist based in Milan. He has collaborated as a post producer for MTV Latin America, as well as many European production companies. He is very passionate about international cross-cultural collaborations, craftsmanship and the sustainable conservation of natural resources.