With a compelling vision and a clear reason, getting accepted to an MBA without a business background is possible. Here’s how Raj Patel went from bank teller to MBA student at the Smith School of Business.
From barista to bank teller to MBA candidate is not the most well-trodden career path. For a long time, Raj Patel thought it wasn’t possible to do an MBA without a business background. Then, he came across the program at the Smith School of Business in Canada.
Raj visited the school for an open day. He struck up a conversation with the school staff, explaining his work background and motivations for pursuing an MBA. Raj found their response happily surprising.
Raj recalls, “They were very open and sharing with me, saying, ‘Oh, so what if you’re a teller in a bank, you can still do an MBA. And we can still upgrade your skills to the level where you would be able to lead as a better business leader of tomorrow.’” (01:34)
Raj and the Smith School of Business uphold the same philosophy of asking, “Why not?” Raj says it’s the question that ultimately “helped me be over here doing my MBA.” (06:46)
Many MBA students seek career growth. However, candidates like Raj prove that an MBA is an excellent opportunity to pursue a new career path.
Having a passion for learning isn’t enough to get accepted into an MBA program. MBAs are competitive, and only the best applicants are admitted. So how did Raj get accepted into the Smith MBA without a business background?
For one, he was very clear from the start about his motivation for applying for an MBA. In Raj’s case, his experiences during the pandemic gave him a renewed sense of purpose that showed in his MBA application.
“While working in a bank I saw a lot of people struggling with their personal finances, and also worried about, ‘Oh, what are my investments gonna look like moving on?And how is my life gonna get shaped?’” Raj explains. (04:33)
In particular, the MBA candidate highlights struggling businesses as examples of where he could make a difference. Raj recognizes the business acumen gained from an MBA could revitalize companies in need.
“There is a lot of skill and there is a lot of work put behind it, and there are a lot of people’s efforts put behind it. If we close it down, it’s getting diluted. Why not give them a better opportunity? Why not give them vision? Why not innovate with purpose?” Raj asks. (06:25)
This aligned with the guiding principles behind the Smith School of Business, and clearly chimed with the admissions team.
Raj clearly understands his career goals and how an MBA would help. He wants to use his MBA to break into investment banking, a notoriously competitive industry. He says that the Smith School of Business understood his career ambitions and has been invaluable in helping him achieve them.
“The personal attention they give to us in terms of resume, in terms of interview prep. And they’re giving out the resources which can really help us see what are the actual things we should work forward for, and what are the things we should ignore,” Raj explains. (08:42)
Yet, it’s more than just the careers team helping Raj to get where he wants to go. Faculty members have played a pivotal role in his journey, imparting industry knowledge and empowering him to achieve his goals.
As someone from a non-business background, Raj went into the program with doubts over his ability to succeed. “I consider myself as an underdog over here,” he says. “The reason why is because I saw that my experience had nothing to do with the MBA, and I don’t know what I would contribute to the program.” (17:01)
So how did Raj deal with these challenges? He emphasizes the support of his peers in the Smith MBA, describing them as a “shoulder to lean on”. They were there for each other in everything from interview prep to course projects.
“There are my team members who I sit with every single day to do my projects and assignments. There are personal development conversations going on. We support each other if there is some personal or professional thing going on. We do help each other in terms of interview preparation,” Raj adds. (14:13)
The supportive community in the Smith MBA is reflective of the school itself. It aims to foster a diverse and inclusive community that supports students before, during, and after their studies. It’s what allowed Raj to not only survive, but thrive in his MBA.
Raj’s experience proves that with a clear vision and a compelling application, you can do an MBA without a business background.
If you’re wondering why, the better question to ask is, “Why not?”
If you would like to learn more about studying an MBA at the Smith School of Business, you can reach out to one of the Smith School of Business ambassadors.
