The Consortium OP: An MBA head start

I traveled to Orlando, Florida, from June 9-13 for The Consortium’s annual Orientation Program & Career Forum with a team including Olin classmates and staff.

Founded in 1966, The Consortium is an organization promoting diverse representation in the business community.

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Brinda Gupta, MBA 2020, wrote this post for the Olin Blog.

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The entire week was packed with events from the moment I landed in Orlando. Olin staff and second-year Olin Consortium fellows were committed to our success throughout the process.

I had several opportunities in group and individual settings to practice interviewing and learn more about companies that align with my interests. It was exciting to see how fellows had different career goals but all sought a workplace that values diversity and inclusion.

In addition to meeting several potential employers, I left OP with strong friendships with Consortium fellows across the country and a great excitement to start my MBA program in the fall at Washington University’s Olin Business School, a founding partner of The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management.

The Consortium’s Orientation Program (fondly known as “OP”) is one of the hallmarks of the fellowship. Before starting our respective MBA programs, Consortium fellows from all 19 member schools come together for one week to network with each other, learn more about the business sector, and explore future learning opportunities.

One of my favorite sessions at OP was an ethics workshop with Accenture where we were presented with different scenarios and had to justify our decisions. For example, would you promote an individual to a C-suite position if you overheard a conversation where he mentioned taking unprescribed medicine to enhance his performance at work?

I also attended “career track” sessions where I learned more about consulting and general management. It was here that I worked on my first case study with representatives from Bain!

A unique aspect of OP was that I could really learn about companies I was interested in. I attended breakfasts and dinners where I could speak to recruiters and senior executives one-on-one. The final day of OP culminated in private interviews for summer internships – several of which led to offers, which was incredibly humbling.

As much as OP prepared me for career development, it also molded my character development. Throughout the week we were reminded of the importance of working hard, staying humble, and being open to opportunities we might not have considered otherwise. I am looking forward to bringing these lessons to the Olin classroom this fall and building upon everything I learned at OP.

Pictured above: WashU MBA students Brinda Gupta (left) and Jessica Sanchez at The Consortium’s Orientation Program in Orlando.