Jacob Kist

MBA Candidate 2010
Part-Time Student

Concentration(s): Managerial Studies & Entrepreneurship
Industry/Field of Work: Management Consulting
Undergraduate Degree: Political Science
Undergraduate Institution: Illinois Wesleyan University
Organization Involvement: Student Ambassador
E-mail: j_kist@yahoo.com


Why did you return to school to obtain your MBA?
I decided to return to get my MBA for two reasons. First I wanted to gain the skills to approach business decision making in a more strategic fashion. Professional mentors and collogues of mine who had an MBA were much more successful than I was in navigating difficult business decisions. The second factor in my decision was the need to increase my business language. I increasingly found myself in situations where I understood the business dynamics, however, lacked the business language to articulate and gain buy-in from key stakeholders. These deficiencies were limiting my career growth potential and I needed to address them to continue to move up in my organization.

What was the most important factor for you when choosing a MBA program?
Receiving the best value for my money.

Why did you choose UIC Liautaud for your MBA?
The deciding factor for me in choosing the UIC Liautaud MBA program was the passion of the student body. During my selection process for an MBA program, I made an attempt to network and meet as many current students from each program. The student body at UIC Liautaud possessed an entrepreneurial passion similar to my own that I found very attractive.  

We all know that people pursue an MBA to increase their business knowledge, but since you have started the program, what has been the most unexpected gain the MBA has given you?
How quickly the learnings apply to the workplace. It seems like almost every semester I am taking classes where the concepts that I am learning can be applied to a current business situation. These newly acquired skills have given me the added confidence I was looking for. For some reason I thought that such traits would come only after graduation but have been pleasantly surprised how every semester continues to build out the skill set I was looking for.

Which course or professor has been your favorite thus far and why?
Hands down “Negotiations” with Professor Barnum has been my most favorite course. I enjoyed the simulated negotiations and the opportunity it provided me to test out concepts and theories taught in class. I learned a lot about myself and what I could change during a negotiations process to achieve the outcome that I was looking for.

What organizations have you become involved in? How have they benefited you?
I have been involved with the Student Ambassador program. It’s provided me with opportunity to meet and connect with some of the new students entering the program. As a part-time student, some of the full-time students that I started with have graduated and moved on in their careers and this program has kept me connected with the entire student body.

What is your favorite aspect of the UIC Liautaud MBA program?
My favorite aspect of the program is the access that I have to faculty. In almost every class that I have taken, I’ve had the ability to schedule an appointment with the professor during their office hours. This has given me the chance to get to know my professors on a more personal level and as a people person this has greatly enriched my learning experience.

How would you define the Liautaud student?
The average student isn’t much different from what I found when I was researching programs. There is a strong entrepreneurial spirit in most of the students that I have met. Many of the students that I have had a chance to interact with are interested in either starting their own companies or contributing to new products and services within their current firms.

If you were to come up with a tagline for the Liautaud MBA, what would it be?
Where the entrepreneurial spirit learns to soar.

What advice would you provide to incoming UIC Liautaud MBA students?
Dive in head first and get involved early. It wasn’t until I started my participation in the Student Ambassador program that I felt I was getting everything I wanted. When I was only taking classes I was learning the new skills I wanted however I was not meeting and expanding my network like I thought was I going to. Getting involved has introduced me to so many other people which I think is one of the most important things you get out of the program.

What has been your favorite networking event?
My favorite events have been the coffee hours at the Rebecca Port lounge. For starters I’m always up for a cup of coffee and the relaxed atmosphere encourages good conversation with fellow students.

How difficult have you found it to balance school with work and your personal life?
As a married man with a family, balancing a full-time job while pursuing my MBA has presented some challenges at times but it has not been impossible. It has required me to management my time in the evenings and weekends more than in the past. The ability to take core course on-line has helped tremendously with providing me the flexibility that I need. I would be remiss to say that I’m also blessed with a very understanding wife that I cannot thank enough for her support.