EMBA Alumni Profile: Sharif Fakhr, Columbia Business School

Sharif Fakhr was an executive MBA student at Columbia Business School. He is currently director of a consultancy based in New York and even found the time to create the popular apartment rental website Inside Digs while studying.

What would you say were the advantages of studying an executive MBA?

The advantages of studying an EMBA were the ability to earn an income while working towards the degree. Additionally, having several years of professional work experience, I felt that I was able to bring more to the table and give more effective contributions to class discussions. This also meant that I was able to meet and learn from other classmates currently working in various industries. Most importantly, I was able to apply what I was learning in class immediately to my day-to-day work in my current job.

Was it easy to juggle studying an EMBA with your work commitments?

It was not easy to juggle an executive MBA with work commitments. If it were easy, everyone would do it. The key to the EMBA is time management. You have to prioritize your time, organize your schedule, make a plan and do your best to stick to it.

The Columbia executive MBA program made it a point to have all sponsored EMBA students have their supervisors sign a sponsorship form - this built a strong understanding with my supervisor of my commitment to the school’s program.

Also, you learn to become more efficient at work given the time crunch as your schedule is less flexible. And finally, you learn how to get by with minimal sleep.

What advice would you give to somebody considering applying for an EMBA program?

My advice to somebody applying for an executive MBA would be to apply only if you can fully commit to the program. The time in the program will fly by, so you should try to take advantage of as much as you can. There is so much offered in that short time, like amazing courses with great professors, extracurricular activities, clubs, trips, and social events with classmates and new friends. 

If you have too many distractions in your life and can’t commit fully, you will be doing yourself, your potential classmates, and the EMBA program a disservice. Make sure you have buy-in from all the important people in your life; your friends, family, significant other and work colleagues. They will need to acknowledge you are taking on a big commitment and that you will need their support and understanding.

Now that you’ve graduated, what are your strongest memories?

There are so many. Some of my strongest memories are the ones with my learning team, getting to know each other, working on projects together, and our trip to Brazil. My learning team on the Columbia executive MBA program came to my wedding. They are some of my closest friends. 

I also have strong memories with other friends from our international seminar in Munich, trip to Amsterdam, and other social events coordinated by the class. I had the opportunity to help Barbara Corcoran with a venture for Shark Tank (you might know it as Dragons' Den or Money Tigers or Lions Arena or any number of other names). I got to mingle with an astronaut. I’ve been lucky to meet some truly amazing and inspirational people.

Can you describe the Columbia executive MBA classroom experience?

The EMBA classroom is extremely rich in experience and different perspectives. As I mentioned earlier, given the deeper experience of my classmates, it was beneficial for me to see a classroom topic from many different perspectives. My classmates included doctors, marketing professionals, engineers, finance professionals, and entrepreneurs (just to name a few). And the professors weren’t looking to beat us up - they were not easy, but they showed a strong understanding of our life and work commitments.

Was the program what you expected?

The program was a great surprise. I’ve made some great friends and met some amazing people. I’ve learned so much from my courses and made connections with professors, alumni, and guest speakers that I find to be very valuable. I was able to travel to great places and see things that I don’t think I would have seen had I not entered this program. And most importantly, I am now part of the Columbia Business School community and tradition and look forward to keeping that tradition of excellence alive. I can honestly say the Columbia executive MBA program has changed me, my outlook on life, and sparked something in me that makes me want more.

What’s next for you?

I transitioned to a management consulting job eight months ago while in the program. I am able to apply my EMBA education on many different consulting projects, so I’m looking to continue my career growth (and learning) there. Additionally, I want to take my new skills and apply them to my own business as well as startups my friends are looking to launch. Also, I want to make sure that I keep the connections I’ve made in the program. And now I might have time to get back to the gym or read a non-fiction book. The bottom line - the sky is the limit.