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People always ask me, “Rona, why did you take your MBA?”
And every start of a new semester, a professor asks the same question - which means I have to stand up, introduce myself again, and explain myself in front of my classmates like it’s a courtroom hearing.
The truth is...
I never really planned on taking an MBA.
If you asked 18-year-old me, or even 21-year-old me fresh from Japan, I probably would’ve said something like, “No thanks, I’m tired.”
But life has a funny way of steering you toward things you didn’t think you needed -- until you’re suddenly in the middle of it, eating accounting sheets (i hate accounting) and case studies (there's just too much) for dinner and midnight snack.
If you asked 18-year-old me, or even 21-year-old me fresh from Japan, I probably would’ve said something like, “No thanks, I’m tired.”
But life has a funny way of steering you toward things you didn’t think you needed -- until you’re suddenly in the middle of it, eating accounting sheets (i hate accounting) and case studies (there's just too much) for dinner and midnight snack.
So yes, at this point, I’ve memorized my answer.
Here’s the full version - both the serious one and the slightly chaotic on (my personality, really).
1. Because - initially - I was bored
Let’s start with the honest (and funny) reason - which, according to my METRES prof, is valid. :>
I took my MBA partly because life felt too routine, too predictable, too “wake up, work, sleep, repeat.”
Basically, “because I was bored.”
So, I complicated my life by enrolling in grad school. (Peak decision making lol)
Healthy coping mechanism? Debatable.
Effective? Absolutely.
Of course, that’s the version I say jokingly during introductions.
But there are deeper reasons too.
2. Because I wanted to understand the business behind the tech
2. Because I wanted to understand the business behind the tech
I’ve spent my entire career inside the tech world: engineering, SAP, AI, Japanese systems, and all the glorious chaos that comes with them.
But somewhere along the way, I realized something important:
It’s one thing to build technology.
It’s another thing to understand why companies need it, how they pay for it, and what value it creates.
Suddenly, I didn’t just want to know how a system works.
I wanted to know why companies decide to build it, invest in it, or scrap it entirely.
But somewhere along the way, I realized something important:
It’s one thing to build technology.
It’s another thing to understand why companies need it, how they pay for it, and what value it creates.
Suddenly, I didn’t just want to know how a system works.
I wanted to know why companies decide to build it, invest in it, or scrap it entirely.
MBA felt like the missing puzzle piece.
3. Because I’m leading teams now - and leadership needs more than technical skills
When I started handling people, clients, and entire delivery lines, I officially learned that technical skills aren't enough.
I realized leadership is not just “being good at your job.”
It’s:
- understanding how businesses move
- managing people with different personalities
- making decisions backed by data, not vibes
- communicating clearly
- balancing budgets (stressful, would not recommend)
- and having the confidence to speak for your team
4. Because I wanted to grow outside my comfort zone
Most of my life has been all about tech, and I wanted to expand my world - I wanted to learn from people who think differently.
And MBA gave me that.
It stretched my thinking and challenged the way I solve problems.
Studying with people from different backgrounds - finance, marketing, HR, operations, med, creatives - helps me see things from angles I’d never encounter in my day-to-day work.
MBA feels like a reset button.
A chance to step back and think bigger.
A chance to step back and think bigger.
Uncomfortable? Yes.
Worth it? Also yes.
Worth it? Also yes.
5. Because future Rona will thank present Rona
I know myself.
I would never regret learning more, but I would regret not taking opportunities when I had the chance.
Whether I stay in tech forever, shift to strategy, move deeper into leadership, or end up building something of my own - this MBA will support that version of me.
And honestly?
Right now, I’m trusting the version of me who said “Why not?” and sent in that MBA application.
Right now, I’m trusting the version of me who said “Why not?” and sent in that MBA application.
So, yeah, taking my MBA wasn’t really part of the plan.
But I’m glad I’m here - learning, growing, tired, caffeinated (with matcha only lol), and building the next chapter of my life.
Here’s to the journey. 🦅💙
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