Student Corner US Student Lauds SKK Business Program

By Eileen C. Olson

I have always wanted to go back to school for a graduate degree. Who knew that it would only be after a move of more than 6800 miles (11000 kilometers) that I would have the opportunity to attend. This past June, I moved from Atlanta, GA to Seoul. I had visited Seoul but had never before lived in Asia.

I left my marketing position in Atlanta and had thought about taking classes while living in Seoul but was not sure if it would be possible. Shortly after I arrived in Korea I mentioned my interest in taking classes to a friend. She suggested I meet with a professor of marketing whom she knew. I met him over lunch and he told me about Sungkyunkwan's Graduate School of Business EMBA program. First he told me that all of all the classes are conducted in English. I was very surprised. Being new to Seoul I just did not think that I would be able to find courses taught in English. In fact, one of the unexpected things to me about Seoul is the number of people who speak English. Next, he told me the location of the school. Luckily the school happens to be very close to where I live. Then he told me that the program is a dual degree program in collaboration with Indiana University. Indiana University happens to be where I went to school for my undergraduate degree. I was so surprised to come all this way and find a program with SKK and my school - I.U. I knew that the Indiana University Kelley School of Business consistently ranked as a top MBA program. I could not believe this was possible.

I left the lunch meeting very excited. Still it would be a big commitment and quite a challenge. I spent some time considering and after some deliberation I decided to apply.

So now I am a student and loving every moment. I am enjoying my new life in Korea. Attending SKK GSB is so enriching to my experience here in Seoul. I am surrounded by talented, intelligent and friendly individuals. My fellow students are high-caliber, very collaborative, and come from various fields. As a class with diverse backgrounds we learn from one another and we help each other. The teachers, both from Kelley and from SKK, are experts in their subjects and exceptional teachers who are very accessible. The focus is on critical thinking, learning to solve complex business problems, and real world applicability. If a topic is of particular interest to a student the teachers will provide recommendations on how to go deeper into the subject. All of the courses are taught with a global perspective. Today's world is becoming smaller especially as far as business is concerned so I wanted an MBA with a global perspective.

I am exposed to a variety of teachers since our classes are taught by both professors from IU and from SKK. I look forward to coming to each and every class as the teachers go through a lot of material but manage to make it very interesting. Additionally, the building we are in is a state of the art brand new facility. Our floor is reserved for EMBA students only. So we are very comfortable and have everything that we need. The campus itself is quite pretty. One of these days I will get out and explore more of the campus. It has a very old history in Korea and has some very interesting older buildings along with modern new facilities.

I am thoroughly enjoying my life in Korea. The people are very friendly, very focused on education and quite hard working. The food is healthy, fresh and delicious. I also love the culture and history. And my experiences at SKK GSB are so rewarding and enriching! SKK GSB is a place to challenge and push yourself. It is a place to investigate new opportunities both academically and personally.

Eileen Olson is a first-year student studying Executive MBA at SKK GSB. She can be reached at eileencolson@gmail.com.