Paolo Fornasini shares an introduction to influential classes he encountered at Wharton business school and offers a bonus article on how to create high-value content that converts.
I get asked all the time whether I thought getting an MBA was worth it, and which classes were “actually helpful”. If you’re currently doing your MBA, thinking about getting an MBA or taking a class, these are my personal recommendations for some of the topics you should explore — especially if you find yourself in Wharton’s orbit. If you’re not thinking about any of those things, consider this my personal reading list from the last two years and draw from it what you like.
- Managerial Decision Making — Joseph Simmons
I start with this class because it’s like a crash course in critical thinking, which I think might be the most important skill a person can have. On top of that, this class gets you about as close as you can be to predicting the future. And if there’s anyone who can teach it, it’s Joe Simmons — literally, he has won competitions. Joe (as he’ll ask you to call him) will teach you why so much of popular statistics is wrong, and help you separate bias from noise — a much needed skill in a world full of AI-generated content and disinformation. When he’s not teaching, Simmons is busting fraud in academia, calling into question “research” from professors at Duke and Harvard.
- Strategic Implementation — Claudine Gartenberg
Some businesspeople are known for being masters of strategy. A smaller group of even more talented people are skilled in execution. Fewer still understand both. Claudine Gartenberg’s Strategic Implementation gives you a front row seat to learn from the most knowledgeable of this group, including herself. Chatham House Rule prevails so I can’t name specific guest speakers, but the lineup spans CEOs, former ambassadors, chiefs of staff and unicorn founders. In between you’ll learn why strategic plans often fall apart, and how to avoid making the same mistakes in whatever you choose to spend your career working on.
- Corporate Development: Mergers & Acquisitions — Emilie Feldman
Most of us will be impacted by M&A at some point in our careers, whether as a target, buyer, banker or consultant. But it may also be the most misunderstood business practice out there. I was blown away by the myth-busting pragmatism Emilie Feldman delivered in this class, and the way she unravels convoluted mergers into straightforward takeaways applicable to many lines of business. The cases are fascinating, and Prof. Feldman does a great job making it all intuitive — from the financials, to corporate culture. Also, when was the last time you thought about divestitures? Feldman’s approach emphasizes the value to be had on both sides of the value equation, and her book on the subject is a must-read.
Key points include:
- Advanced Global Strategy
- Managing and Competing in China
- Influence
Read the full article, 5 Business School Classes That Changed My Perspective, on Medium.