I finished my MBA Degree!

I had been away for more than a year... Apologies.

At the age of 50, I decided to take my MBA (Masters of Business Administration) from Arcadia University of Pennsylvania at their Singapore Campus. After giving it much thought and after looking at my bank account- yes, I decided to take my MBA. And I finished it with flying colors. Juggling work, family and school- it was not easy. But I did it!

Looking back, I relocated to Singapore soon after I quit my MBA studies in the Philippines. It was something I didn't regret because after 10 years, I knew that even without it I had progressed well. Without an MBA (but with degrees in Psychology and Law) my responsibilities still increased from South East Asia to Asia, South Africa and now, Asia-Oceania (over-seeing an HR organization responsible for 16,500 people).

What made me decide to study again at the age of 50, when I am already at the height of my career in HR?

First, I want to finish an unfinished business. I started my MBA at the Ateneo Business School in the Philippines way back in 1999 but because of my promotion from a Country HR role to a South East Asian HR role, I quit. Travelling had been too much and HR projects really kept me away from my school assignments and classroom lessons. I have no choice but to change my priorities. I told myself "Let go of MBA, take the opportunities in your HR career." I was so sad when I let go however, I told myself that time will come that I would pick it up again and finish it. Never had I started something that I had not finished. So in July 2010, I started my MBA again in Singapore (again from zero, because the subjects I took in the Philippines were already obsolete).

Second, I want to put up my own business when I retire from my HR employment. And because I want to be a good and smart entrepreneur, I thought an MBA will help me.

So is MBA indeed my obsession? Maybe. I know I need it. I took it as a preparation for my semi-retirement when I can be my own boss. That's why I paid for my own MBA, I did it for my own use, not for my employer :-)

I have no regrets. I learned a lot, I gained lots of friends and widened my network, and I passed with flying colors. A GPA of 3.53/4.00 who could ask for more?