Rewinding 6 months back in time when I opened this email from my then student advisor (now colleague):
“This sounds quite interesting,” I said to myself, “but can I do this remote?” I replied to the email revealing my hesitation:
“The job is on-campus in Bloomington, Indiana” came back the reply.
I sat on this information for a day, slightly annoyed that my innovative business school was requiring an online marketer to be on campus to market an online MBA program (I now know that it wouldn’t be possible for me to be as actively involved in all our events if I wasn’t working on campus – the Connect Weeks are definitely one of the highlights of Kelley Direct & it’s great to be on the other side of that now). “Maybe I can interview for this and use it to negotiate a raise at my current job if I get it,” I thought next. Little did I know that a raise and promotion were already in the works. I too get to be a part of the “66% of Kelley Direct students who get promoted while earning their online MBA” stat. Learning about how to be a better manager and being around others in leadership positions motivates you to try harder at work and ask for more responsibility.
It just never occurred to me to consider leaving a job that I really enjoyed in the middle of my MBA. Even after the MBA that would have been a secondary option after I had tried to progress further in the same company. I most certainly didn’t think I would have left the state until I exhausted my options in the Chicago market. “I should not interview for this if I’m not going to be willing to relocate. It wouldn’t be fair,” I concluded. I needed more time to contemplate on this yet-to-be published job opportunity seemingly custom-fabricated just for me.
Making the Decision
After discussing it with my wife (who gave me a nonchalant “sure” because she didn’t think we were actually going to move), mentioning it to my parents and sleeping on it a few more nights I made my decision.
The next couple of weeks and months were a blur as things became busier at my last job while I was interviewing for this job. I went back and forth in my head about this idea of moving and giving up a position in which I was doing well, progressing and well-respected. I had the support and mentoring from my manager, who just happened to be a Booth MBA. I had access to great training conferences and courses, multiple online tools of my choosing and a sizeable marketing budget to use for my campaigns. I had the privilege of working on a start-up within an established industry leader, the freedom to run tests and the opportunity to train and manage people on my team. It was everything anyone could ask for. The only thing missing – I realized after careful consideration – was the motivation behind the work.
Up until this point in my life I was never in the position to think solely about “what I wanted” when it came to my job. It was mostly about getting a job in the right field and growing my skills – I hadn’t considered things like “organization type,” “industry, “company culture,” and “the broader impact of my work.”
Now the opportunity to make a choice based on all of those considerations was in front of me. I just need to convince myself that it was okay to go after what I wanted. That’s what a top-ranked MBA can do for you.
Telling the Parents I’m Leaving
Part of why this was so difficult for me was because I know how my parents would feel about it (not good). If you haven’t watched the video Telling Gujarati Parents You’re Leaving The House please take 5 minutes to watch this now (I am not saying my parents are like this – I’ve had all the freedom I could ever have asked for – but I needed some way to share this video because it’s hilarious!)
“What did we do to make you want to go?” was the initial (and expected) reaction, followed by the explanations for why they said and did the things they did that they felt Bhumi and I may not have liked. I reassured them that this was something I needed to do for myself – it wasn’t about them, and that it wasn’t easy for me either. I still remember the first few nights in Indianapolis, thinking about “what I had just done.” “I just left my parents all alone with a house to manage by themselves for selfish reasons.” Our small apartment felt quiet and lonely.
But the more I think about it, the more I’m realizing how lucky my situation is. I have a dream job in an organization that I was already a part of with genuine, motivated people just 3 hours away from home (I continue to refer to both places as “home” even though Google made me choose only one for the “navigate home” command). I’ve been able to go back to Chicago every month, and my parents have even been able to surprise us in Indianapolis on a random weeknight – you should have seen the look on my face that night as I opened the door to my unkempt apartment (“it’s not always this dirty we swear!” ha).
My parents left an entire country and created everything we have now all within the last 30 years that I’ve been alive. Moving across a state line is hardly significant in comparison. I’m certain that the gravity of the situation was a self-imposed manifestation that both my parents and I created for ourselves. We’re fortunately close and that won’t change. They know they’ll be moving in with my brother and me whenever they’re done working. In the meantime we’ll continue video chatting a couple times a week and getting together as often as we can. Besides, they still get to bother my brother about finding a “nice Gujarati girl” (okay that’s mostly just my dad) because he’s still at home.
We now have two homes, in two cities and I’m incredibly happy that I made the decision I did. Two months into my new job my manager approached my desk with a knowing smile, “We have a lot of RSVP’s for our San Francisco and Los Angeles networking receptions… do you want to go?”
Back to the Present
As I sit here reflecting on the last 6 months of my life with a smile across my face, I feel very grateful for what I have. I am earning an MBA from the #1 ranked online MBA program in the country (or world depending on which institution you ask), while directly influencing its future and in turn my brand. How many people get an opportunity like that?!
I am here because of the support I have received from parents, family, friends and wife who’s sharing this adventure with me. And a big part of where I am today is because of Kelley.
I feel re-energized after meeting my fellow Kelley’s in Chicago last week and California these past two days. Listening to stories about their personal and professional development. They too have been able to land dream jobs or are currently interviewing for them because of Kelley. One person was headed to Vegas for the weekend because she “had to” attend the Mayweather fight for her new role. Another was a finalist among 550 applicants for a job with an NBA team. And another classmate who I met in Chicago last week just received an offer in Silicon Valley after going through Kelley’s #1 ranked career services.
I love hearing those stories and now I get to be a larger part of their success. I want to give others the opportunities that I have been given – that is why I’m on a flight that will shortly be landing in Indianapolis. My second home thanks to Kelley Direct.
