5 career lessons I’ve learned watching thousands of MBAs
By Stacy Sukov Blackman ’99 MBA
When I was at Kellogg in the late ’90s, the “success” narrative felt relatively straightforward. Most classmates were chasing the traditional pillars of consulting, marketing, and finance and the dot-com boom was just on the horizon. My path felt exciting; I founded and sold a company before graduation and even landed on the cover of Fortune with my co-founders. It was a moment that felt like a finish line but was actually just a very noisy starting block.
More than 25 years later, as I host my B-Schooled podcast and interview diverse MBA alumni, I’ve realized that the most successful leaders aren’t the ones who followed a straight line. They are the ones who understand that an MBA is a foundation for a meaningful life of optionality.
If you’re a student or early-career alumnus feeling the pressure of “the perfect first step,” here are 5 lessons from the many thousands of MBA journeys I’ve witnessed.
1. Your first post-MBA role does not define your trajectory
There is immense pressure during recruiting to find the "perfect" fit and to maximize “ROI.” Looking at alumni 10, 15 and 20 years out, that first role is rarely where they stay. Whether it’s moving from equity derivatives to CEO of a Michelin-starred restaurant, or a jump from Goldman to museum CEO, the first job is simply the place where you sharpen the tools. It is one chapter, in what will hopefully be a very long story.
2. Success is rarely linear — and that’s a good thing
We often view career ladders as vertical. In reality, the most interesting careers look more like jungle gyms. I’ve interviewed founders who became vice presidents at massive tech firms, then left to run non-profits or boutique advisory firms. Embracing the "path less traveled" often leads to more resilience and a more unique value proposition in the long run. Often, there is a far better plan than the one that you originally dreamed up.
3. Reputation is a compounding asset
In the short term, we obsess over titles and salaries. In the long term, your career is built on the compounding interest of your reputation. The way you treat people builds a "brand" that follows you for decades. I am still best friends and occasional business partners with my Kellogg classmates because of the trust we built in Evanston. Those relationships are far more than a study partner or friend to grab a beer with — they sustain you through every reinvention.
4. Adaptability is the ultimate ROI
The world changes faster than any curriculum can predict. When I graduated, AI was science fiction and "streaming" was a dream. The real ROI of a Kellogg MBA isn't the specific framework you learned in a high-level Finance course; it’s the ability to learn how to learn: how to approach challenges, how to make decisions in the face of uncertainty. The most successful alumni I speak with are those who remained curious. Many have used their MBA foundation to pivot into industries that didn’t even exist when they were in school.
5. Weigh values over titles
Titles are extrinsic and temporary; values are intrinsic and sustaining. Career momentum often stalls when a leader chases a title at the expense of their core purpose. Those who sustain high-level success over a longer period are those who align their business expertise with their personal values. When the work matters to you, the momentum takes care of itself.
The bottom line
If you feel “behind” or uncertain, remember that an MBA is a long-game investment. You aren’t just building a resume; you are building the optionality to change your mind, change your industry and change the world — multiple times over.
To hear more stories of unconventional Kellogg paths, listen to the B-Schooled podcast.
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