The Journey, not the destination...

2011-11-02T14:53:00.002-04:00

http://www.businessweek.com/business-schools/business-school-admissions-needs-an-overhaul-11022011.html

My BusinessWeek debut!

MBA and Debt - Get comfortable with the idea...

2011-09-03T19:31:00.000-04:00

In Getting the MBA Edge - Wharton 2011/12 - Preview Guide, we talk about all the things that are officially and unofficially part of the Wharton MBA student budget. Unfortunately, the student loan covered items can be eclipsed by nickel and dime items, as well as various 'bonus experiences' that can cost several thousands of dollars.

This week Poets and Quants published an article about the record breaking debt that will be incurred by the Wharton MBA Class of 2013.

Here are some examples of things that can drive up the cost from what you see in the brochures:

· MBA Pub dues (generally $120 for the year)

· Various Club dues (up to $500 for the year on the expensive end, or as little as $5)

· Leadership Ventures (VERY EXPENSIVE, up to $8000 depending on your destination)

· Global Immersion Programs (another high $$$ item)

· Recruiting travel for unofficial events (see ‘informational interviews’ in the Career Management section)

· Budget for parties, bars, and group dinners (can be up to $400 a week if you go out a lot)

· Cabs to get around Philadelphia at night (a priority, especially for female students in a big city)

· Vacation travel with clubs (the Japan Trek, Wharton Rugby South Africa tour, etc…)

· Weekend travel for social events (Wharton Ski Trip, Beach Week, etc…)

The interesting part about all of this, is the fact that all of this does indeed put pressure on students at graduation. Not even the most well funded non-profit can offer a salary that offsets rent in a major city combined with $1500 per month student loan payments. This may have the effect of pushing students into jobs that can allow even a decent lifestyle after graduation.

This cash flow punishment on graduates does encourage them to do nothing but work, but people who have families or are trying to start them will be under incredible pressure.

All of this leads to the question - is this degree really REALLY worth it? If you do not know the answer to that question before you start, you might want to reconsider the journey.

In Getting the MBA Edge, we quote one of the songs in Wharton Follies 2008 that said "$150,000 is a small price to pay for a priceless time." You need to decide if you agree with that...

Applicant Group Discussions (?!) at Wharton - What do they mean for you?

2011-09-01T14:23:00.001-04:00

"Getting the MBA Edge - Wharton 2011/12 - Preview Guide" ends by saying that innovation in future Wharton application format and style is a clear opportunity given the mission of the school - well, some of that innovation was revealed today by Ankur Kumar, the newly promoted Director of Admisssions.

If you read today's WSJ you saw an article about innovative Admissions practices, and this bomb-shell was buried halfway through...

"Admissions officers say they are looking for more authenticity and honesty, since essays can be carefully crafted, often with help from a professional M.B.A. admissions consultant.

Beginning this winter, the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School will invite a random sampling of M.B.A. applicants to participate in a staff-moderated on-campus group discussion with fellow applicants. They will be encouraged to discuss and debate current topics in business, as chosen by the school...

...Ankur Kumar, director of M.B.A. admissions and financial aid at Wharton, said the purpose is to give applicants "a chance to demonstrate, not just talk about" their critical thinking skills and intellectual curiosity.

Though this year's discussions won't count toward the admission decision, if the pilot goes well, the exercise could show up as a regular component of future Wharton applications, alongside transcript, test scores and recommendations"

This is no less than a ground breaking change in the way that candidates are evaluated - essentially you are going to be observed on how you actually interact with other applicants, in a real life discussion. It stands to reason that the moderator will also be observing and (likely) evaluating the conduct of the people in the room to see if they have the qualities of a good Wharton MBA.

The MBA application in America (though you see some examples of group work in European schools) has, up to now, been an interaction between a single person and the Admissions committee. Anybody can be on their best behavior in an interview, but what is going to happen when you are in a room full of equally competitive and motivated people interviewing for a degree that will change their life forever, and you may be evaluated on (gasp!) how you actually listen and work with others.

Applicants out there who are prepared to plow over anyone in their way to an MBA are thinking: "That is just crazy talk! Thanks alot, Wharton, for breaking my carefully scripted and planned image of chosen recommenders, consultant polished essays, and carefully chosen background items and forcing me to actually be myself."

Is it possible that these interactions will tell the committee more about a person than an individual interview ever would? From the Director's comments above, it seems like this interaction may actually have a chance of replacing an individual interview?

In "Getting the MBA Edge - Wharton 2011/12 - Preview Guide" we discussed the shift of Wharton towards behavioral interviewing, and the qualities they may be looking for with last year's questions - odds are that this group discussion may be a better way of evaluating those key qualities...

No matter how you slice it - Wharton is thinking outside of the box here, and trying a totally new way of making applicants work together, and this better reflects what actually happens in MBA, in business leadership, and ... to some degree ... in life.

Getting the MBA Edge - Wharton 2011/12 - Preview Guide - Amazon Kindle

Getting the MBA Edge - Wharton 2011/12 - Preview Guide - B&N Nook

Getting the MBA Edge - Wharton 2011/12 (Preview Guide) (Series - Getting the MBA Edge (sponsored by Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Co.))

2011-08-27T18:35:00.000-04:00

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JKEQAG

Friends - for those of you who are thinking about apply to Wharton or getting an MBA, I have worked hard this year on an update to the 'Getting the MBA Edge' series about Wharton

I recommend this work to you - Please watch this site for updates and advice as the year progresses...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JKEQAG

The Wharton edition of this international bestselling series is intended to be a resource and guide for those evaluating the world's top MBA programs to learn more about the school and the application process beyond the ‘official story.’

It provides in-depth analysis of the Wharton MBA program including:
- Changes and trends in the Wharton MBA Application and impact for applicants
- Analysis of the latest admissions essays, with clear advice on how to approach them
- 5 things behind the numbers that you didn’t know about Wharton
- The future of path of the Wharton MBA Academic Program
- Notes on the past and future of the application from a former admissions committee member
- Key themes driving the future of the Wharton MBA Program
- 5 things you thought you knew about the Wharton MBA Application
- 5 things you did not know about the Wharton MBA Application
- Breakdown of the MBA interview process at Wharton
- Student Voices on all aspects of the Wharton experience

"A wonderful resource" - Judith Silverman Hodara, former acting Admissions Director, Wharton School
"Accepted to Wharton thanks to your book" - Teddy Ngu

This is the only book on MBAs that has been officially supported and sponsored by Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Co., BCG, Bain & Co., Booz, AT Kearney, Novartis, Cap Gemini and Roland Berger & Partners.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JKEQAG

Hurricane 2011 NYC!

2011-08-27T10:07:00.000-04:00

OK, it has been an interesting year no matter how you slice it, but now I am at an interesting predicament. I am hanging out with my 21 week pregnant wife in an apartment on the Upper East Side - and there is a 100-year storm on the way.

We are riding it out here, but it should be fun!

Getting the MBA Admissions Edge

2011-08-03T14:01:00.000-04:00

http://blogs.forbes.com/mattsymonds/2011/08/03/getting-the-mba-admissions-edge/

Look for the 2011 E-Guide for Wharton coming soon for Kindle and Nook!

I will post udpates and discussion points here as the year goes on for interested readers...

My book is now available on Nook and Amazon

2011-06-10T13:54:00.000-04:00

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Making-a-Submarine-Officer-A-story-of-the-USS-San-Francisco/Alex-Fleming/e/2940012952523

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052YQLWA

Troubled Times on 711

2011-06-03T20:34:00.000-04:00

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052YQLWA

No matter how long I have been onboard, I still notice the smell. It is a faint, chemical aroma, like sniffing a bottle of ammonia, and it is always present. Sometimes, I allow myself to forget about it and I walk around the boat for weeks without noticing, but it always returns. It is in my clothes and my hair and every personal item in the storage pan underneath my bed. The scent returns to me now, as I stand with my back against the wall outside the Captain’s stateroom. I am pressed up against the cheap plastic of the surface behind me, which is smooth and cold. Even with my back against the wall, there is only 7 inches in front of me in the hallway, so that every man who passes has to turn sideways and our chests brush against one another. In my case, my stomach is becoming significant enough from my nervous eating habits that it is my widest point.
The hallway is dark, which is normal after sunset, though the hours of daylight have little meaning when we are underwater. The traditions of the service tell us that we still turn the lights to red at night, which always seems like teasing to me, because there is some normal person somewhere who gets to watch the sunset and have a normal schedule. I stand in the dark passageway, listening intently to the unintelligible sounds coming from the behind Captain’s door to my left. There is white light shining under his door frame and the control room at the end of the hall on my left has a soft red glow coming through the small round window in the door. Every few moments a face looks through to check if I am still here, because everyone seems to know why I am waiting. I get tired of seeing the faces and trying to appear calm, so I look at my belt and the bottom half of my blue jumpsuit. My tennis shoes are getting dirty from a year of constant use on the ship, and I remind myself again that I must get new ones when we get back to port ... unless I am not going to have to get underway again. That thought makes me shift my eyes upward, past the polished walls. They are so clean I am afraid to touch them for fear of leaving fingerprints. It is still hard for me to imagine the painstaking time taken to clean cheap plastic walls with a fake wood grain pattern and thin metal plating. I focus on the ceiling, which is also false and easily removed to get to the equipment above it. The new powder coating is glossy white, but the latches have begun to chip after only a few days. The Master Chief will be furious, and we will probably have to get the job done again. That doesn’t surprise anyone, but we will still have to get angry about it for show.
The seconds tick by, and I try to avoid looking at my watch. I close my eyes and lean my head back on the uneven welds of the frame piece behind me. It is cold as well, but I have become accustomed to having a chill most of the time. I wear a thick brown wool sweater, which scratches at my neck and smells like it is as old as the boat. Washing repeatedly and dry cleaning did not fix the smell, and it is just another sign that the marks of being on a submarine are hard to remove. I shut my eyes tighter and focus on the sound. We are deep and going fast, and my head on the frame piece feels the deep throbbing vibration of the engines. That throaty noise is complimented by the fans. There is a ventilation duct above me, and the fans that push the chemical smelling air around the ship hum constantly. It is so much a part of our consciousness that the first thing we notice in many emergencies is the fans coasting down. My weight shifts slightly back and forth, from my heels to my toes, as I feel the ship rocking with the slight rudder corrections. It must be a new helmsman at the wheel, to be correcting so hard at this speed. The more experienced drivers correct their course so smoothly that you can hardly feel the turns. These rumbles and hums and shifts are the heartbeat of the ship, and they calm me with their familiarity.
I jerk out of my revelry as I hear someone on the stairs to my right. The messenger climbs up a staircase from the deck below, the dim glow outlining his form. I do not need to see his face, I know his body outline, gait and voice well enough. A voice is all I need to identify someone on this ship, especially the messengers, since they are the first voice you hear through the curtain when you wake up. He gives me a brusque nod and whispers “Excuse me, sir,” as he turns sideways and passes me, heading for control. People glance through from control to see if I am still there as he opens and then silently shuts to door. I am back in the darkness.
Suddenly, light floods into the hallway as the Captain’s door opens. The Executive Officer steps out and even though I am blinded and cannot see his face, I can sense the solemn expression from the outline of his features. He tells me that the Captain is ready to see me, and I walk into the outline of the doorway, and straighten my back as I knock twice on the already open door. I hear a pinched and abrupt voice telling me to come in and close the door. I turn my shoulders sideways to fit them through the doorway, and step into the cabin, silently latching the handle behind me.
The Captain’s cabin is the only space on the whole ship that one person has for himself alone. There is a safe and a desk built into the left wall, which is actually facing aft. The electronic equipment is affixed at seemingly random intervals, almost like every new screen or gadget had to be put in where it could fit at the discretion of the occupant. The far wall has a bed, which is normally folded into the wall, but since it is night, a mess steward has opened and made the bed, something that is only done for the Captain. There is a bookshelf with a metal restraint that prevents the contents from pouring out, and the forward wall has the door to the bathroom. I am standing against the thin plastic separating the cabin from the hallway, and to my right is a mirror with a sink that folds out of the wall. I have to concentrate to remain standing at attention and not glance at myself in the mirror to see if I am pale. There is a calendar on the wall in front of me that stares back at me: September 2003. The new month’s picture is of a submarine on the surface leaving Pearl Harbor. I wonder if there were officers on that ship with my problems. The ceiling of the room is solid in places, with patches of blue vinyl snapped over other rectangles. The Captain sits at the desk a few inches in front of me, and types on his laptop. I know better than to speak, and I stand tense, waiting for the inevitable explosion.
Paul Lovpock closes his laptop and folds up his desk before turning to look at me. He rotates his chair and gazes over his thin framed glasses and his sharp, beak-like nose. It is hard not to look at the shiny gleam from his bald head, and so I try to keep my eyes unfocused pointing at the ugly wood pattern on the far wall. Finally, he crosses his arms and speaks.
“Mr. Fleming, you are broken as a leader and I do not know how I am going to fix you.” His words seem to sneer without any visible facial expression.
I listen with exhaustion and defeat after the worst 12 months of my life, and I wonder if any job is worth this pain. I try to think of something to say that will not make the situation worse, but no thoughts come to me. It is like my brain is gridlocked. Only 30 months ago, I was commissioned as a Naval Officer after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with an honors degree in Physics and Russian. I was eager to join one of the most elite groups of officers in the Navy. But now, I am close to a nervous breakdown. How could my path could have lead me to the point of being fired and sent to a desk job for my remaining 3 years in the Navy?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052YQLWA

Making a Submarine Officer

2011-05-28T22:04:00.000-04:00

For those of you who enjoy reading real life stories of life, learning, and leadership, I would recommend you consider reading my book - a story of my 42 months onboard a US Navy Nuclear Submarine.

My target audience for this is young officers beginning their journey in the submarine force or the Navy, if you know anyone who would enjoy it, please send the link to them.

You can find it for purchase in the Amazon Kindle Store:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052YQLWA

My Amazon author page is here:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00535BB7I

Hello Mrs. Fleming!

2011-03-16T22:22:00.001-04:00

Well, let it be said - the most unlikely of things happened - I married one of my classmates from Wharton.

We are incredibly happy - here is the announcement:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/fashion/weddings/13BROOKS.html

Video:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13259386

Website:

http://alexandmk2011.weddingwindow.com

Big News in My Life!

2010-11-17T22:32:00.000-05:00

Hello readers! It has been a busy year, but my greatest news is that I am engaged and marrying the woman of my dreams in March.

Everyone... and I MEAN everyone... is invited.

http://alexandmk2011.weddingwindow.com/

Accenture is awesome! This is the first job I have ever loved.

Time Flies - almost a year as a consultant :)

2010-09-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

It is amazing how fast life can change, and how much it remains the same.

I was on the road almost every week since last November, and I am growing into my role and learning the various parts of my trade in Supply Chain. I am blessed with great teams, tolerant and accepting bosses who never get loud or overbearing. I found an excellent mentor who shows a great interest in my career. I started dating a girl who is incredible and we are having the best time of my adult life here in NYC.

Life is good.

A new stage in my life...

2009-11-15T19:53:00.000-05:00

I completed my move to New York City this week, and, luckily, I gave myself a few days to settle down. I am mildly amused that this is my first apartment to myself in 4 years, but with the consulting lifestyle, I do not expect to be here much.

Tomorrow, I begin the next phase of my journey as I report to Accenture for work at 8:30am. I am excited, even if it means that you will not see as much of me on social networks for a few years.

If you need to find me, I will still be out there.

New York City

2009-10-13T19:08:00.000-04:00

Well friends, after an interesting journey since business school, I am winding things down here in San Francisco. My start date for Accenture has been moved up to November 16th. That means in 3 short weeks I will pack back into my car, road trip to Arizona, pack up my stuff there, and fly out to New York City.

So ... 10 years circling the east coast, hundreds of visits, several collected months on Amtrak - Alex Fleming is coming to New York.

I am very excited.

District 9

2009-08-16T21:36:00.000-04:00

Every once in a while, the medium of science fiction hits the perfect balance between truth and fantasy, between reality and possibility, to create a truly unique and powerful commentary on the world we inhabit.

‘District 9’ is such a story. It is without question one of the most important science fiction films of the decade, precisely because it takes the viewer on a journey to grapple with some of the most important political, social, and economic questions that face humanity today.

The protagonist is disturbing to us in the beginning for his ignorance and weakness, but during the course of the film we are taken face to face with: forced resettlements, persecution and control of oppressed populations, international aid organizations and legal standards, refugee management, private security contractors in government roles, poverty, crime, weapons trafficking, industry exploitation of weapons development, genetic experimenting and manipulation on unwilling subjects, euthanasia, population control, identity and loyalty, and war profiteering.

Even though these issues are discussed in the realm of a fictional idea (aliens), the truly disturbing part of this movie is that every single thing that happens in this movie is something that is happening to humans in some part of this world – RIGHT NOW.

Many people chose to be happy in their ignorance, and a few people ask difficult questions about how these issues should be managed – but not enough.

Hopefully, in addition to being entertained, audiences will see this for what it is – an important piece of social commentary, in which science fiction holds up a mirror to humanity.

You might not like what you see.

Starting a Journey on the Open Road...

2009-07-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

My life has been defined by the moments that I went out on the open road ... starting a journey for an unknown destination. These are key, contemplative, moments in my life. I will tell you about them, because they have punctuated a lot of times that helped me get through.

Car: 1972 Scout II
Time: 16th birthday

The first time I ever left my house to drive alone. I was going from my parents house to a night school class at ASU, but I never felt more alive.

Car: 1973 International Travelall
Time: After high school graduation

My roommate Kris and I left Wallingford, CT to drive to Ohio, New Orleans and then Colorado. It was our post-HS road trip, and it felt like we owned the world. Nothing could touch us and everything was possible.

Car: 1992 Ford Bronco
Time: Junior year in college

My Dad and I left Phoenix on a dark morning to drive my car to Philadelphia. The first time I would take a car with me (and get lots of parking tickets trying to park in Philly). It was a feeling of ownership that I have rarely hard (even when I bought a house).

Car: 1992 Ford Bronco
Time: 1 week after college graduation and being commissioned in the Navy.

I left Philadelphia at 5am on the way to a wedding in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and then to South Carolina for Nuclear Power School. My first trip as a wage-earning adult and the beginning of my time in the Navy.

Car: 1992 Ford Bronco
Time: Leaving Washington DC in the Fall of 2002

I left DC at 6am on the way to Norfolk, VA to report to my submarine, the USS San Francisco.

Car: 1992 Ford Bronco
Time: Arrival in Guam

I left the vehicle depot in Guam after picking up my car and drove through the typhoon ravaged island, with power poles lying everywhere. I went to Tumon and watched the sunset on a quiet night over Nikko Palace.

Car: 1999 Nissan Sentra (the Bronco was totaled after it slipped off the road in a tropical storm)
Time: Back in the USA

I picked up the car in Los Angeles with my mother and then we drop up towards Seattle (almost getting in a car accident in the first 30 minutes). It was just when we arrived on the mainland.

Car: 1999 Nissan Sentra
Time: leaving the Navy

I had all my possessions packed in the Sentra until it was loaded to the axles. I left the personnel processing station and drove out of Seattle without stopping to change out of my uniform. I put 200 miles between me and the submarine before I changed. I was almost as excited as the first time I drove away from home. That trip took me all the way across the country to DC, where I sold the car.

Car: 1989 BMW 325i
Time: after business school

On a clear morning, I left Phoenix AZ with a back seat full of books an clothes on my way to San Francisco. I was taking a risk, going to a new city. My life is in closets (a storage unit in Philly, a closet in Colorado, a closet in my parents' house in Phoenix, a closet in my friend's house in SF, and I live in the closet of a room in Japantown.)

I am in flux. I have no home. But I have my wits and my knowledge, and I know that the future holds bright things.

I am full of optimism.

Interesting and Significant Changes in Wharton Essays...

2009-06-10T01:04:00.000-04:00

Hey all,

So, here are the new Wharton essay questions for the upcoming year. Very interesting stuff. I am going to take a few days to digest and comment, but I like them a lot.

2009-2010 Questions – First-Time Applicants

Essay 1 – (750-1000 words)

As a leader in global business, Wharton is committed to sustaining “a truly global presence through its engagement in the world”. What goals are you committed to and why? How do you envision the Wharton MBA contributing to the attainment of those goals?

Essay 2 – (750-1000 words)

Tell us about a time when you had to adapt by accepting/understanding the perspective of people different from yourself.

Essay 3 – (500 words)

Describe a failure that you have experienced. What role did you play, and what did you learn about yourself?

Essay 4 – (500 words) Choose one of the following:

a. Give us a specific example of a time when you solved a complex problem.

b. Tell us about something significant that you have done to improve yourself, in either your professional and/or personal endeavors.

Essay 5 (Optional) – (250 words)
If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application).

Post-MBA Chill Time

2009-06-03T15:28:00.001-04:00

So, the great part about having an MBA from Wharton is that you always have a long list of couches to crash on in NYC :)

I spent the last few days meeting with friends, cris-crossing all over my new home, and generally catching up. It was a crazy few weeks packing the whole apartment, putting everything into storage, shipping things out west, and saying goodbye over and over again. Oddly, it reminded me of Pre-Term, where we would say hi to new people daily for a month, in reverse.

I am having a great time building my list of activities for the next 7 months. The more I think about it, having a long vacation is just awesome. I am going to be working on my business, alumni panels, travel, friends, reunion planning, non-profit training, and I have a BOX of books that I am going to read.

I have also started a new presence as an online adviser for people applying to MBA. If you would like to ask questions, please email me at:
acfconsultingservices@gmail.com

Last week, the people from HBS came up with a great idea of an MBA Oath. It is a rough and non-binding set of behavioral standards for MBA graduates. There is some debate about its ... usefulness, but I think that it is a vital step to vocalize the 'right way' to be a professional manager. There will always be bad apples, but I think this will serve well as a conversation point in the future.

You can find information here.

Off to a wedding in Seattle this weekend. Tis the season...

ACF Consulting Services - Introduction

2009-05-22T15:49:00.000-04:00

Readers,

As promised, here is further information about my MBA Admissions Consulting activities. Please feel free to share this with anyone who is interested.

ACF Consulting Services - MBA Admissions Consulting (http://www.alexcfleming.com/ACFConsultingFINALwebsite.pdf)

ACF Consulting, a private, independent consultancy, serves candidates preparing for the admissions process at top US MBA programs during the 2009-2010 season. The primary consultant and owner is Alex C. Fleming MBA/MA from The Wharton School and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

- I will provide, for a select group of clients, comprehensive strategic advising, resume revision, content and essay development, editing of application materials, counseling on application process management, mock interviews, and other specialty services.

I have several key value propositions and differentiators:

1) Highly Relevant and Recent Experience – I received my MBA in 2009, and I served for the last 3 years as a primary student contact, official blogger, mentor, and leader of admissions volunteers at Wharton. This culminated with service as a Graduate Admissions Committee Assistant for the 2008-2009 season, during which time I evaluated MBA applications and conducted admissions interviews.

2) 100% Personalized Service – I conduct 100% of the advising, interviews, editing, counseling, and communications for the firm. There is neither assignment ambiguity nor questions about the background of your counselor. What you see is what you get.

3) Competitive Pricing – My base hourly rate is 30% below that of popular MBA admissions consulting firms, while at the same time providing personalized service and the highest standards of quality.

4) Diversity of Experience and Unique Perspective – I was a non-traditional candidate for business school, and I have successfully transitioned to management consulting. I have a breadth of work experience in the military, engineering management, diplomacy, and strategy consulting. My writing-intensive MA program and unique background allows me to provide distinctive insight and value to my clients.

Schedule your FREE initial phone conference now!
Contact: acfconsultingservices@gmail.com

http://www.alexcfleming.com/ACFConsultingFINALwebsite.pdf

Graduation Day

2009-05-17T19:44:00.000-04:00

Graduation ceremonies are something of a 'rite of passage,' especially at Penn, where your actual diploma is mailed to you in June. The Dean shakes your hand on stage and the roll of paper you are getting in the photograph, which appears very official, is actually directions on how to get to the cocktail party. Go figure.

The high point of the day was an excellent speech by Muhammad Yunus the founder of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. He gave a very motivating talk about the power of a single person acting against the establishment. I hope that all of us can have the fortitude and integrity to take his advice, which seemed particularly relevant given the world financial crisis.

I am finishing my time here in Philly, and then I am off to 'relax' for a few months before starting at Accenture in the end of the year.

In the mean time, I will be starting a small business of my own, doing MBA/MA Admissions Consulting for people applying this fall. I will provide strategic advice, mock interviewing, essay review, and other services. I will be releasing more information about details soon, but if you are interested in scheduling an initial appointment please email:

acfconsultingservices@gmail.com

All the best,
Alex

Last Day of Classes

2009-04-29T00:27:00.000-04:00

Well, my 3 year journey of classes is officially over.

It ended with a whimper not a bang, and a day on Amtrak to and from DC. I got my cool SAIS t-shirt "Will do Econ for Food." That sorta of gives you an idea of the sentiment among SAIS 2nd years these days.

I am not done, though many Wharton-only people are already partying like rockstars. I have 3 exams and my MA Oral left, but on the day that I finish I will be flying direct first class to Miami Beach for Wharton Beach Week!

It is going to be ridiculous.

The cycle of MBA life marches ever onward...

2009-04-21T13:24:00.000-04:00

Last weekend was Welcome Weekend for the Class of 2011, and for me it was a number of 'last times.'

Last time as a Mini-Cohort leader, last time I will welcome a new class onto campus as a student, and the most sad ... last time the Follies 2009 team got to perform together. I have not decided how I feel about finishing MBA yet. Part of me is excited to be done, and I feel like I have reached the next stage of my life. So, it is good that grad school is ending.

The other part of me knows that life will never quite be like this again. I wish I could just do VAC and GA and Follies and Rugby and Whartones for a living ... but, nothing stops the progression of time.

It is hard to let go and watch the 1st years take charge of everything, you have to fight the urge to micromanage them, and let them find their own way. I know that the new Technical Directors of Follies will do a great job, and I have given them everything I know and all the tools they need.

But now, it is time for a new generation. I did not go out partying with the admits, partly because I was tired, but mostly because they should not be spending time meeting me, they need to focus on the 1st years and their new classmates as they begin this exciting time.

I have been contemplating what I will take away from this experience, and I think my proposed Wharton graduation speech portrays it best. (40 people participated in an election type process, and a good friend of mine, Lou Marchetti, will be honoring us at graduation with his remarks)

But, for my blog audience, here are my thoughts...

Good Afternoon. Mr. Yuunus, President Gutmann, Dean Robertson, Vice Dean Jain, Distinguished Faculty and Guests, and most importantly … the MBA class of 2009:

The Wharton Experience is different for everyone. I am sure if I asked every person sitting here to tell me the one moment from the last 2 years that defines your Wharton experience, you would give me answers almost as diverse as the people.

However, I will attempt to give one answer. And there are many strong possibilities.

Is the Wharton experience?

- Your first friend from Welcome weekend, who came with you through this journey, and will be in your life forever
- A contemplative email from Anjani Jain, the math exam, and the first time you were cold-called
- MBA Café at 3pm, or Koo Plaza on a sunny day in April
- Your learning team meeting to finish the first Marketing 621 case
- MGEC 621, Jeremy Seigel’s Class, Problems in Financial Reporting, Negotiations with Prof. Diamond?
- Whartones Concert, Dance Studio, the Comedy Show, or WICS?
- The Charity Fashion Show, Philly Fight Night, Rebuilding Together, or the Social Impact Club?
- The Conferences (Consulting, Marketing, Finance to name a few)
- The 80s party, Foam Party, Argentinean Asado, the Russian Revelry Night?
- India Club, Israel Club, AAmbaa, Whambaa, Europa?
- Thursday Night Follies, Whalasa After-Parties, Beack Week, Wharton 54 … or is it PUB?

We have had so many incredible times in the last 2 years, it is impossible to list them all, but the sad fact is that somewhere, deep down … we know that this is not reality… that the joy, energy and exploration of our MBA cannot continue indefinitely.

This has been a year of intense change for the world, and this graduation feels a little bit like crawling from under a warm blanket, to the harsh cold of a financial crisis.

I think that leads us to a more important question: What if the Wharton experience is not any of the events I mentioned, but instead the shared value system that we create and embrace, and carry forward with us.

I believe the true Wharton Experience involves 3 things:

First, I think we all have gained a great humility in teamwork and human interaction. I have been exposed to so many incredible and talented people in this class, that I am constantly dazzled. From our learning teams to committees, we cannot assume that we have all the answers … we have learned to respect and rely on each other. This trust and humility allows us to get done more as a group then we possibly could alone, and it will serve us well as we go forward.

Second, we must take our sense of co-production, to use a Wharton buzz-word, and make it larger. The self-driven energy that conceived and executed all those things I mentioned earlier came from us. We create our environment through will alone, and we must remember that we each have the power to affect change. Call it whatever you want: entrepreneurship, co-production, self-motivation … but we must use this same energy to create value and be a force for positive change in our lives.

Third, and perhaps most important, we have built and shaped a vibrant and diverse community of shared experience. Each one of us, for years to come, will recall our friends and colleagues in this class and we will always be able to reach out across the globe, whether it be through email, phone, or perhaps Facebook. We must not let this community die, and as we go about our careers, we must use this resource to help people and to achieve good.

It should be our goal to share this Wharton experience with the world, and to make the world our Wharton community. The principles that we have lived here truly can make the world a better place, and we are the carriers of this message. As you go forward in your chosen career, work for yourself, but never forget our duty to each other, and to humanity.

My friends, it has been a privilege to learn with you, and congratulations.

A graduation speech in an alternate universe...

2009-04-02T01:04:00.000-04:00

So, just for fun, I auditioned to be the graduation speaker at SAIS. Though, to be fair, I was a pretty big long shot since I have been gone most of the last 2 years, and I didn't think they were going to have a stranger get up there.

So here, for your pleasure, are Alex Fleming's graduation remarks in an alternate universe...

"Mr. Secretary-General, President Daniels, Dean Einhorn, Distinguished Professors and Guests, and … most importantly… my fellow graduates – I would like to thank you for giving me the great honor of speaking to you today.

I don’t know about you. But I have spent a great deal of my time at SAIS in the library.

I imagine, in fact I am sure, that it warms the hearts of our faculty to see the constant traffic jams in Nitze library, and the surge of energy as young idealists grapple with hundreds of years, and thousands of pages of wisdom.

My classes at SAIS have fueled my dreams for the future. I can see, as I look around this room, a gathering of big dreamers. We are driven by the unseen fire to ‘change the world.’ We are not sure how it will manifest itself, but it burns within us, and our growth in the last 2 years has made it brighter.

Interestingly, the world in the last year has presented us with events that may give us a moment of pause.

Now, since I am a Strategic Studies concentrator, I knew as I was preparing these remarks that Professor Cohen would not let me leave this stage unless I quoted either Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, or Winston Churchill.

Luckily for me, Mr. Churchill gave a speech in 1943, which I believe bears on the subject matter. He said:

“The price of greatness is responsibility. If the people of the United States had continued in a mediocre station, struggling with the wilderness, absorbed in their own affairs … they might have remained forgotten and undisturbed beyond their protecting oceans: but one cannot rise to be in many ways the leading community in the civilised world without being involved in its problems, without being convulsed by its agonies and inspired by its causes.”

Well, the global financial crisis has truly convulsed us, and changed the world into which we are emerging. Many of us, and many people throughout the world, are filled with a great sense of uncertainty. This anxiety compounds with the incredible challenges we already face in all corners of the globe.

It is at this moment in history that we, as SAIS graduates, are taking our first professional steps. Therefore, I would like to offer some thoughts on the new roles and new responsibilities we will have as we go forward.

The last year brought us a chorus of new discussions about the role of capitalism in economic history. Indeed, it is a SAIS graduate who is spearheading one of the largest government interventions into the financial markets in the history of the world. We do not know where this historic shift in tools and techniques will settle, but we will be a part of it, and we must be prepared to take on the new roles that emerge.

Much of the response to world events has been irrational anger, mostly from people who do not understand the underlying factors at work. As SAIS graduates, we have been given arguably the most solid foundation in economic theory and practice that a person can have without getting a PhD; so our role in this crisis is to fight irrationality with logic and reason. We must not stand by and allow others to make decisions based on emotion.

The role of regulation and government intervention in the private sector will be drastically different in 5 years time. The end state of this development will involve hundreds of factors, but we will an integral part of its success or failure. We will be the regulators, the practitioners, the policy makers, or we will be advising the leaders who execute this change.

At SAIS, many of us walk and cross over the line between the public and private sectors. With the new interaction between these areas, our role is to maintain the big picture and step back from our daily work to assess long-term goals and priorities, and apply our unique knowledge to produce the best decision.

Whether we find ourselves in government or in business, the world today holds more questions than it ever has. We are the people who will answer these questions, and when our moment comes to offer a solution, we must be ready.

But, as Mr. Churchill said – “the price of greatness is responsibility.”

Our new roles will bring us new responsibilities, and we must not fail in these.

Despite distractions, we must continue to serve the ideal of making the world a better place. 61 years ago the United Nations proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a document that gives us a vision of a world without hatred or suffering, without oppression and fear. The realization of this vision has proven … illusive.

It is our responsibility to further the achievement of ideals like this even in times of adversity, and not to lose sight of the horizon as we crawl through the weeds.

It is our responsibility to understand global economics and world markets better then the practitioners. If we chose to become practitioners, it is our responsibility to be aware of and monitor the long-term effects of our actions.

It is our responsibility to understand the people of this world and to make them our brothers and sisters. The isolationism and aggression that drives countries apart is born in the fear of the unknown and in the distrust of the stranger.

We, as the SAIS community, understand that all of us can come together as one world. It is our responsibility to spread this knowledge, and to further the understanding between peoples and cultures.

Finally, it is our responsibility to maintain our moral and ethical compass on our path to greatness. It is seductively easy to make compromises during times of bounty, which in times of hardship lead us to bad decisions. It is our responsibility to use our own moral touchstones, our classmates, our professors and our families to stay on the right path.

“The price of greatness is responsibility.” We have the potential for greatness, and as we achieve it, we must not forget our responsibilities.

Thank you, and congratulations."

Going Forward from MBA

2009-03-27T21:11:00.000-04:00

I have been very contemplative lately. I can't quite figure out why.

It is possible that I am finally coming to terms with the fact that after 5 years in the Navy and 3 years in graduate school, I am actually on the verge of entering "real life." I am sure that MBA is not real life

- it is an incredible laboratory of leadership, teamwork, experience and human relationships.
- it is a place of few consequences, where people can become whoever they chose
- it is a place of forgiveness and catharsis, where people overcome old demons
- it is a place of exploration, where people discover the person they think they want to be, and try it on for size.

MBA is all these things, but it is definitely not reality.

There are only opportunities going forward, and I believe that I have the answers, if I can only unlock them from within myself.

Beginning the transition out of B-School

2009-03-16T00:01:00.000-04:00

Friends,

I have recently uploaded a video diary for the Wharton Diaries program, but updating this blog is a way of preparing for my transition out of business school.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03dMmVj2jZ0

I have come to enjoy blogging, and I hope to get a chance to continue as my work allows.

Cheers
Alex

Long Time

2008-03-01T00:13:00.001-05:00

Gentle Readers,

I am sorry for the hiatus, but I have been insanely busy. Let us start with Follies, which kept me in the theater 13 hours a day for a week. The show was awesome and I loved every minute, but it definitely focused my life on nothing else. I was able to front load work and catch up afterwards. There is nothing in life that excites me more than having a good team of people and leading them through and intense period of work.

Once Follies was over, I felt tired for days, like having jet lag. I was able to catch up on work, and then we had Fight Night. Every year in the Legendary Blue Horizon Gym in North Philly the MBA students box the Law School students. There was some incredible fighting, and one knockout at the end. I was the DJ and got a great view of the action. There was also the WGA election where my friend Joanne Liu won the job as the next President of the Wharton Graduate Association.

I finally caught up on work this week, and I am just in time to study for 4 exams at the end of this quarter and then pack for the Rugby trip to South Africa which is leaving on Friday. We are going to play some invitational matches with the University of Capetown and go shark-diving, wine tasting, and generally have some fun. I will tell you all about it when we get back.

The aftermath of DIP is starting to distill, and despite a slowdown in banking hiring for obvious reasons, people seem to be doing pretty well. I am very excited for Moscow.

I hope this finds everyone well, and I promise I will not take any more month long hiatuses this year.

Cheers
Alex

Big News

2008-02-13T13:05:00.000-05:00

Hey all,

Sorry for the hiatus. Interview week was crazy around here, and doubly so for me since I am the Stage Manager for Wharton Follies, which opens tomorrow.

www.whatfoolsthesembasbe.com

The R1 Admits are on campus now, which is a lot of fun and strange to think that I was in their place only a year ago. It feels like I have lived a thousand years since then.

On the job front ... the process of Wharton Recruiting was a rollercoaster ride, but I was very lucky to receive an offer from my top choice firm. I intend to accept and I will be a Summer Associate at the Moscow, Russia office of McKinsey & Company this summer. I am ecstatic for this opportunity, since this is exactly where I want to be for full-time after school as well.

We are back in classes this week, and the effects of the sub-prime crisis and the US economic slowdown on recruiting are still being ... determined. I will write more next week after I have recovered from Follies, but I just wanted to share this with all of you.

Cheers
Alex

Day in the Life...

2007-10-31T21:40:00.001-04:00

It occurred to me the other day that I have not done a detailed description of a day for you guys, so here we go. This is the story of a relatively average Tuesday, yesterday...

0720 Alarm, snooze
0724 Alarm, snooze
0728 Alarm, up, start coffee, check email with one eye open
0738 Shower, Shave, Dress
0755 Coffee, Cereal
0805 Finish checking email, review day schedule, pack bag
0815 Out the door
0820 Pickup Wall Street Journal, walk to bus stop
0825 Hop on 21 Bus
0835 Arrive Hunstman Hall
0840 Buy more coffee
0845 Read paper, chat with early risers outside class, drink coffee
0900-1030 Competitive Strategy Class
1030 Check email
1030-1150 Decision Models and Uncertainty Class
1150-1205 Run to food truck and grab lunch
1205-1250 Learning Team Meeting, assignment for project portion due at midnight
1250-1320 Check email, work on homework
1330-1450 Finance Class with Professor Allen
1500-1630 Negotiations Class, I am part of management team for 3rd stage of multi-round labor/management negotiation, 90 minutes of negotiation with classmates
1630-1650 Stand in line at Reprographics, buy bulkpacks, check email
1650-1730 Work on Accounting HW, get help from Finance buddy, look at Halloween pictures on Facebook
1730-1820 Dinner at Saladworks, while reading Strategy case for team assignment due at midnight
1830-2100 Whartones Acapella singing rehearsal
2100-2120 Walk to bar, couple of beers with guys in singing group
2145 Get home, unpack bag, sort paperwork from day
2200 Check email
2210-2300 Finish Accounting HW
2300-0030 Write portion of case analysis for Learning Team Project, email to project leader
0030-0045 Check and process email, update schedule for next day
0050 Lights out

Just a normal weekday here in business school...

Hope all is well in your life.

Cheers
Alex

All along the watchtower...

2007-10-15T23:43:00.000-04:00

Hey all,
I am getting out of my slump of late by throwing myself into school work :)

I continue to love Finance, and today I finally understood the greatest concept ever invented: arbitrage

It is amazing and whoever invented arbitrage should get a Nobel Prize. It is like you start with nothing, you make money, and by trying to make money you are actually working as a force to correct the market and price everything at the right level. No wonder investment bankers are rich: if you have the skill and instinct to be good at arbitrage in the real world - you deserve every penny you get.

This week also begins Q1 exams, with Marketing first, on Friday. People are already getting overwrought about that one. Go figure.

Something that you may not know about me, I define the periods of my life with music. Each major step or phase has a song that is the 'theme' or reminds me of the things I did or the people I met.

This summer in Russia, the theme song was 'Teenagers' by My Chemical Romance.

I have found the song for Wharton First Year Q1. 'All Along the Watchtower' was originally written by Bob Dylan, but definitively covered by Jimi Hendrix on 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience'. The the more you think about the lyrics, the more deep layers of meaning you reveal, but I urge you all to listen to the song and find out for yourself:

"There must be some kind of way out of here," said the joker to the thief,
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."

"No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke,
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."

All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.

Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.

Learning Team Retreat

2007-08-31T14:35:00.000-04:00

Well, Pre-term is coming to an end and it has been a success for me. I passed the math exam, waived out of one class by exam (MGEC), and had an incredible amount of fun. The more I hear about MGEC, the more I am happy that I passed the exam, and it proves to me that the SAIS curriculum, though focused on different aspects of economics, did equip me to quickly learn the handful of other topics that Wharton cares about for that class.

I was a little worried about my Cohort until this week, they seemed to be reluctant to bond or spend time with each other, but that problem was solved. We had an incredible bowling session on Monday night after the closing BBQ and then headed off to our Learning Team Retreat.

A nice 3.5 hour bus ride put us in the Catskill Mountains where we met our leadership fellows (the second year mentors for our cohort) and our learning teams (LTs). As a LT we will spend more time with each other in the next 9 months than all of our loved ones. We have two women, four men, two Americans, one Albanian, one Phillippino, one Spaniard, one Indian. It is an incredible bunch of people with VERY different ways of looking at the world.

The joy of this whole process is seeing how the group develops when there is pressure, stress, no rules, no clear hierarchy, no established guidelines, and everyone is insanely busy. We are still in our honeymoon phase, but I am optimistic.

The rest of the LT retreat was a series of activities and challenges to let us see the group dynamics and learn about our different personalities. We also learned about the tradition of "debriefing" every single event to see what we felt and learned from the situation. I found the whole thing incredibly useful, thanks to the work and sacrifice of our Leadership Fellows. I will definitely be applying to work as one next year, but the selection process is pretty intense.

Huntsman was quiet this month, but now all the undergrads are getting to town and the second years are back. We have "case day" on Tuesday, and then the fun really begins.

So, I am off to see the Navy-Temple football game tonight, and then a few days of relaxation before the storm.

Which reminds me, that is what we named our learning team "The Perfect Storm"

Pretty cool huh?

The Craziness continues...

2007-08-25T00:39:00.000-04:00

I am having so much fun it is unjust. What an amazing group of people, and they had so much energy they are tiring me out. I finished the math exam, and I am pretty sure I passed. I am now focusing on passing the MGEC waiver exam so I can get out of that class this semester.

The Class of 2009 and Cohort G are still getting to know each other, figuring out where people stand and what kind of person we want to be for the next few years. There were some initial signs of cliquiness, but they are waning as everyone breaks through the initial exhaustion of telling your story seventeen times a day.

Every new person I meet has an amazing story, incredible experience, and is so smart it makes me feel like a lightweight.

Talk about self-starting. We just got here 2 weeks ago and we are already forming a 250-person, 8 person teams, Flip Cup Tournament. If you do not know what Flip Cup is, just do a google search for it. In true B-school style, we are having team names, costumes, rules committees, brackets, and lots of other official stuff.

This two years is going to rock...