Full Time MBA

One of the newest initiatives from the graduate programs at Fisher College of Business is Advantage Columbus and the name fits. Designed to elevate the student experience through exclusive company visits across Columbus, the program offers something rare: direct access to industry leaders, operating environments, and real-world business challenges beyond the classroom.

This spring, I had the opportunity to participate in the COE Summit 2026, and it was a remarkable experience. What made it truly unique was that I got to see the event from two perspectives: as both a volunteer and an attendee.

As we all know, February is the month of love, and I was genuinely excited to attend the OUAB Valentine’s Day Ball at The Ohio State University. The theme was Casino Royale, and for one night, the usual winter grad-school uniform of backpacks, heavy jackets, and sweaters was replaced with tuxedos, gowns, and everyone fully leaning into the theme.

I came into my MBA program with a clear intention: to grow from being technically strong in accounting and finance into someone who can think more broadly about strategy, value creation, and long-term business impact. I wanted transformation not just in what I know, but in how I make decisions. The first semester provided a shared foundation across core disciplines and gradually trained me to see everyday problems through a business lens.

The MBA program is full of a variety of courses, and each offering unique perspective of business. Some of the courses are elective, meaning one has the option to pick and choose those courses, and while others are core courses designed to build a strong foundation. One of the core courses in the second semester of the Full-Time MBA program is Strategy Formulation and Implementation.

One of the most talked-about aspects of an MBA program is case competitions. Most of these competitions are optional, requiring students to take the initiative to register and form teams. However, we had a mandatory case competition to close out the semester. While it was not graded, it offered prizes and the opportunity to represent our college at the national level, an incentive strong enough on its own.

One thing business school keeps teaching me is that the most meaningful lessons often appear in places you do not expect. When I signed up for LeadX: Unplugged with Stuart Weitzman, I was simply curious. I thought it would be a fun break, a couple of hours of fashion talk, maybe a glimpse into shoe design, and a chance to see a few iconic pieces up close. And I did. Seeing the diamond-encrusted sandals once valued at nearly a million dollars and the famous six-inch heels felt like stepping into a small piece of fashion history.

Diwali is one of the most meaningful festivals in India, celebrated as the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. There are many fables connected with Diwali, but the most well-known is the return of Lord Rama to home Ayodhya after spending 14 years in exile in a forest. The people lit lamps across the city to welcome him back, and that glow became the heart of the festival.