Shonda Rhimes is a brilliant writer, creative, and businesswoman. It’s no surprise that I (and 82 million other people) loved her hit series, “Bridgerton,” based on the novels by Julia Quinn. Bridgerton takes us to high society London in the Regency period and follows the story of the Bridgerton siblings as they navigate the complicated and glamorous social scene of London’s “marriage market.” (Could dive into the whole “marriage market” idea, but will refrain for today).
In some ways, business school is a bit like Bridgerton. Hear me out. It’s this glamorous, privileged experience reserved only for those who have been selected by the gatekeepers. This is not to disparage b-school students’ aptitude or deservedness, but rather to acknowledge that the b-school bubble, much like London’s high society in the Regency period, is unlike most peoples’ reality.
It’s easy to normalize what we see every day in b-school: hundreds of classmates who could afford to take two years off from work and pay the tuition that runs in the $150,000 – $250,000 range for some programs. (For context, the median house price in my home state of Indiana was $156,000 in 2021 – source) We have companies come to campus to convince us to apply for their roles. We have events to help us learn the inside tips and tricks from alumni. We even have events to help us build social relationships with our classmates.
None of this is good or bad or meant to be a judgment. It’s an acknowledgement that business school, and the people who have access to a full-time MBA education, are not representative of the population at large. Business school today is the professional equivalent of high society London in the Regency period. As future business leaders, let’s remember that and use our privilege in a way that makes the world better for everyone, not just the b-school bubble.
Daily Learnings 