MBA Student Profile: Todd Strickler, IMD

Todd Strickler shares his MBA experience from IMD with us, and tells us why he chose the school over others.

1. What were you doing before your MBA?

Strategy consulting for IBM Business Consulting Services   

2. What were your main reasons for deciding to attend business school?

- broaden my business exposure,
- gain cursory knowledge of key functional aspects not learned in previous employment (especially Finance and Operations)
- further develop leadership skills, and
- position myself for senior management in global organizations     

3. What research did you undertake in selecting your school?

Attended an MBA forum, but mostly research via internet, news sources, and most importantly, current students and alumni of MBA programs.

4. What were the main criteria in your selection?

Highly reputable, practical in application, global (not just international) in content and scope, with emphasis on leadership development     

5. Why did you decide to study either in your own country or overseas?

I wanted to study abroad, since I considered this the last opportunity to have such an experience.  I find great value in such an experience.    

6. How well do your think the MBA is regarded in your home country?

For those that know, there is great respect for the problem. The problem is awareness - most people don't know the program or have any idea what it is about.            

7. Have you already been, or do you intend to become an entrepreneur?

I intend to enter into business with my father in the future, focusing on manufacturing and wireless companies, based on our prior experience.     

8. What do you expect to do on graduation and where do you expect to be based?

I expect to work in the wireless industries in corporate and business development, based in the United States     

9. Where do you see yourself in ten years time:      

I expect to be either heading a medium- to large-sized business unit within a global organization or running my own business that focuses on early investments in small companies     

10. How easy or difficult do you expect it to be to achieve these objectives?

I expect it to be somewhat difficult, with a lot of work; however, I am excited by the prospects and look forward to the challenge.