Doing an MBA: Crazy, Genius, or Somewhere in Between?

In March 2022 I received my acceptance letter from the DeGroote School of Business for their Master of Business Administration program. When I told my friends and family that I would be pursuing ANOTHER Master’s level degree, I received very similar reactions.

“Congratulations!” they would say. This was often followed by a quizzical look, and a question I soon grew to dread.

“But…Why?”

My answer to this question seemed to differ each time I was asked. Why WAS I putting myself through the stress of working full-time during the day, then going home and working on a business degree late into the night?

So, I put on a LUSH face mask, poured myself a glass of wine, and took some time to untangle my complicated, multifaceted “Why?”.

The “Why?” To My MBA

1. To Learn How to Run a Business

2. To Make Connections with Likeminded People

3. To Improve Eye Care Knowledge Across Canada

During my time at the New England College of Optometry, I was taught how to be a great optometrist. I gained extensive knowledge and experience diagnosing and treating ocular diseases.

But one area of study I did not learn much about was business. Over my four-year program, we had only one class which touched on business related topics such as balance sheets and the importance of creating a business plan.

To be honest, at the time I was perfectly satisfied with this level of business education. My brain was already filled to the brim with thoughts of licensing exams and doing well in my clinical rotations, and I never once considered the skills I would need to manage an optometric practice.

Grads of the Master of Science / Doctor of Optometry Dual Degree

1) “Why?” Because Optometrists are Small Business Owners

When I graduated and started working in my family’s optometry practice, I had my first glimpse at the “other side.” I quickly realized my father, the practice owner, had responsibilities that extended far beyond just doing eye exams. His responsibilities included hiring and firing, staff training, inventory management, budgeting, and high-level decision making. Leadership and collaboration are other important skills for running a business that are not typically taught in an optometry program.

My hope with my MBA is that it will help me gain the fundamentals of how to run a small business. If I open my own practice, I want to enter in having a full understanding of how the market works and how I can effectively grow my business and succeed.

2) “Why?” To Make Connections

Coming back to Canada after completing my studies in Boston was difficult. In Boston, I had a large network of American peers, friends, and mentors that I could look to for guidance in my career and my life. But when I moved to rural Eastern Ontario, I found that I no longer had the same professional support system I once had. It might seem cliché to say the whole point of an MBA is to make connections, but there is certainly some truth to the statement. I have been in my program for 9 months and I have met a wonderful group of likeminded peers that I can bounce ideas off of and share my struggles and successes with.

3) “Why?” To Improve Eye Care Knowledge Across Canada

I have always known that I wanted to do more with my degree than just see patients. I have always had a keen interest in optometric research and optometric education, particularly when it comes to educating the public about how to keep their eyes healthy. My hope with my MBA is that I will learn new approaches to help expand eye care knowledge throughout Canada, and even worldwide.

My MBA So Far

Summer 2022: I walk into DeGroote School of Business terrified and filled with doubt. Would this be a waste of money? Was I even smart enough to do this program? (Imposter syndrome is very real!)

Throughout the day I met my classmates and learned what they hoped to do with their MBAs. The people I met were bright, friendly, and creative, and I instantly felt the support system I had been yearning for since I moved back to Canada. The doubt I felt instantly melted away and I found myself looking forward to what I was going to learn next.

An MBA isn’t the right path for everyone, and I know it will involve a great deal of stress, frustration, and late nights. But I am confident that the MBA will get me to where I want to be, and I’m excited for the challenges and changes it will bring.

#Optometry #EyeHealth #Masters #Eyes #Business #MBA #Student