Last Friday I had the opportunity to speak to a handful of 1st year MBA students from UW's Foster School of Business.  I was one of several people who spent a bit of time with this great group and wanted to share what I shared with them as it relates to my key takeaways from business school:

• No one is going to hire you to be CEO even though that is what business school teaches you.  Set yourself apart by understanding the CEOs perspective while executing your job responsibilities.
• Learning how to manage and interact with people is critically important so don't dismiss those organizational dynamics classes.  You can't do it all yourself and knowing how to lead will set you apart.
  
• Learn how to sell and be comfortable doing so.  Whether you are selling an idea internally or selling a new product to the market, learning the patience and discipline of this process is essential.  
• Concentrate on analytical frameworks and quantitative approaches.  No one is going to ask you the R-squared of anything, but having a command and comfort with quantitative analysis is very important.
• Where you went to business school matters until you achieve something new – this is the beginning, not end of your achievements.  Avoid those that point exclusively to their MBA as proof of their value.
  
• You create your own opportunities.  Seek out others to learn from and cultivate leadership qualities in those you manage.
• Please, don't take yourself too seriously.

I think there were a few others but I seem to have misplaced the post it note where I had jotted down my thoughts during lunch.