Moving from engineering to an MBA presents lots of opportunities, but also many challenges. To overcome these hurdles, engineer Matthias Schmitz leveraged peer-to-peer learning to get ahead at HEC Paris, sharing his engineering expertise and receiving support in areas where his knowledge was lacking.
A thriving learning environment is one that leverages the collective intelligence and experiences of its participants. The HEC Paris MBA program achieves this with peer-to-peer learning, a strategy that proved essential for Matthias Schmitz, a mechanical engineer turned MBA graduate.
The road from engineering to an MBA is well-trodden. Engineers boast plenty of technical expertise, and an MBA is an ideal opportunity to augment their skill set with business savvy. While it’s true that employers appreciate soft skills like communication and teamwork, the hard skills of business know-how remain highly desirable.
This is something that Matthias noticed in his career. After studying for a master’s in mechanical engineering, he moved into the realm of consulting. His time as a consultant showed him that he needed to develop business skills to advance his career.
“The more projects I did, the more it became obvious to me that often the managers or firms are not too interested in the details of a technical solution,” Matthias says. “Often their questions would be around business KPIs.” (00:52)
Matthias had already absorbed a lot of business acumen on the job, but he identified an MBA as a chance to get a formal education in business. He describes it as “something I felt that I was missing in my knowledge portfolio.” (01:40)
He also recognized that getting an MBA would open doors to exploring new career paths. MBA programs are known for enabling individuals to make significant career shifts. As Matthias puts it, “I think having that opportunity after five, six years of working is something unique and something that the MBA could offer.” (02:35)
Matthias’ decision to study for an MBA took him to Paris, France, and to one of the highest-ranking business schools in the world.
Matthias’ MBA journey wasn’t without its challenges. Engineers bring a lot of quantitative skills into an MBA program, but applying those skills in a business context can be a challenge. For example, having solid mathematical skills doesn’t necessarily mean you can forecast marketing budgets or control business spending. The business tasks demand a different skill set, a different mindset, and a different approach.
The greatest challenge Matthias encountered was his MBA program’s focus on people. An MBA program provides plenty of hard business skills, but soft skills such as communication and teamwork are also a key focus. Those skills revolve around one thing: people.
Matthias describes how in his MBA, he learned “how psychology influences people, how groups of people interact with each other, and the dynamics between people.” (03:44)
Matthias’ approach to overcoming the challenges of his MBA program: work even harder. He diligently hit the books and did a deep dive into topics he was least familiar with. Recognizing that he needed to stay up to date, he also began reading business and financial newspapers. (04:10)
But that approach only got him so far. To really understand the content of his MBA courses, Matthias had to draw on the support of his diverse HEC Paris MBA cohort. With an international student ratio of 97%, it is one of the most diverse MBA cohorts in the world.
Matthias’ MBA cohort also came from a wide array of different industries. This professional diversity was a valuable asset. Matthias’ classmates could complement and support each other by filling in the knowledge gaps of their peers. The peer-to-peer learning approach played a crucial role in assisting Matthias in mastering the new concepts of his MBA program.
“I think we really formed these peer-to-peer tutoring groups, I would call them,” he shares. “Where people who had come from the field and didn’t have any issues would explain topics in much detail to other people.” (04:41)
“Sometimes you would give, and sometimes you would take, but at the end of the day, I think that’s how everyone supported each other. To not just pass exams, but also better understand the core topic.” (05:01)
As Matthias engaged in this peer-to-peer learning dynamic, he was able to share his vast engineering expertise with others. His technical and engineering knowledge proved to be of great value to his MBA cohort by bringing an alternative perspective.
When studying for an MBA, your background isn’t the most critical indicator of success. What truly matters is having a clear motivation to study, maintaining an open-minded approach, and putting in the hard work. Matthias adds that it’s essential to be curious about topics you aren’t familiar with. (05:52)
However, your background does determine what you bring to the table. For instance, an engineer will always provide a different perspective to someone with a marketing, finance, or business background. According to Matthias, it’s important to stay true to your roots rather than trying to become something you’re not.
“I think doing that will definitely set you up to be value-adding for your class in an MBA” he says. (07:48)
Peer-to-peer learning at HEC Paris helped transform an engineer’s career, by providing a holistic understanding of business. The experience also helped him realize the value of what he had to offer. You’re never alone during your MBA journey, and Matthias’ story demonstrates the value of that strong support network.
Does Matthias’s journey inspire you? Connect with HEC Paris to get more insights on their MBA program.
