When I was 23 and entered a part-time MBA program, I was one of the youngest in my class by several years. My fellow students were all older and had already changed careers a couple of times, had an extensive resume, or an rolodex. I had ambition, a solid undergrad resume, and a growing list of side hustles — but I also had a full-blown case of imposter syndrome.
In a world of product leads, engineers, and consultants, sometimes I felt I snuck in the back door.
But here’s what I’ve learned to date: getting going early was one of the best things I’ve ever done — not because it was simpler, but because it made me fail and learn faster, speak up, and juggling numerous positions at once.
What I’ve Actually Learned
1. Experience Isn’t Always Measured in Years
First, I was motivated to overdo it — talk less, listen more, or not talk at all in case I did something wrong. But gradually, I realized that an outside voice truly matters. My colleagues would want to understand how Gen Z thinks, what’s new in fintech, or what social-driven growth entails.
Being the youngest worked in my favor — if I owned it.
2. The ROI Isn’t Financial — It’s Proximity
Yes, the MBA teaches you frameworks and case studies. What it really buys you is proximity: to professors who’ve built billion-dollar companies, to influencer classmates, and to recruiters who might not otherwise have glanced at your resume.
I’ve been given chances, coffee sessions, and invites I might not have received otherwise — merely because I was there.
3. You Learn More Outside the Classroom
I’d pictured the grand unlock would be the classes. Well, it was the group work, happy hours, WhatsApp group messages, and hanging out after a lecture to talk business with someone 10 years older than me. The real learning happens in the in-between.
Each celebration I almost skipped? Good I didn’t.
4. Comparison is Inevitable — But Not Helpful
Everybody who is in a business school environment is accomplishingsomething great. Someone just closed a round of funding. Someone else just got promoted. I’ve learned to cheer others on while staying planted in my own journey.
This is not a race — it’s compounding.
Juggling a Startup, Tech Consulting, Blogging, and Modeling
Each time a person asks me what I do, I prevaricate. Not because I’muncertain — but because there isn’t a neat job title that encapsulates it all.
During the day, I work as a tech consultant full-time. At nights and early mornings, I build a fashion-tech startup. Weekends are spent model-ing, writing about finance, and mentoring young investors. It sounds magnificent, perhaps even mad — and to be honest, it’s a bit of both.
But what others can’t perceive is the discipline within the mess, sacrifices I make every week, and real reasons why I do it all.
I’m not chasing hustle culture. I’m building a portfolio life — and here’s what that’s actually taught me.
Identity Is Multi-Dimensional — Let It Be
I used to fear that being multi-hyphenate made me less credible. But each role I’ve taken on — modeling, blogging, consulting, startup building — adds a new lens. They don’t compete; they compound. The trick is learning how to let them inform each other.
You Can Do A Lot — Just Not All At Once
The “doing it all” myth is exactly that — a myth. I have learned to come in seasons: there are weeks when my startup takes the lion’s share, others when it’s working or writing. I look at my week, plan, and prioritize — nothing can be at 100%.
Compounding Happens in Unexpected Ways
What seems random to the outside world is purposeful on the inside. A modeling job once led to an investor meeting. A blog post led to a speaking engagement. Every room I walk into builds equity — even if the payoff isn’t immediate.
Discipline Is the Price of Autonomy
No one but me is scheduling my calendar. No one but me is checking to ensure I followed up on a startup milestone or podcast pitch. I’ve learned to be responsible to myself. And just as important — to block time to rest, recharge, and recalibrate.
Don’t Wait for Credibility
I didn’t wait to be “qualified” before launching my blog, or call myself a founder. I just started. Credibility stems from consistency — not titles.
What I Wish I’d Done at the Beginning
1. Set My “Why” Earlier
I knew I wished to “grow” but failed to decide what that truly was. Morein-depth expertise? Larger network? A start-up launchpad? After that, everything — electives and networking included — made sense.
2. Focused on Building Relationships Before I Needed Them
I waited too long to get close to professors and classmates. I workedwith them as resources instead of long-term allies. That was a miss. The most successful MBA outcomes often come from the people, not the courses.
3. Played Bigger, Sooner
I reduced my ideas, startup momentum, and wins. I waited to be”ready.” But the thing is, nobody ever is. Start before you are qualified — you’ll become it quicker than you think.
Final Thought: Creating a Life You Don’t Want to Escape From
Venturing headfirst into a part-time MBA while juggling multiple ventures wasn’t the cozy route. But it was the most aligned one.
It’s taught me how to stake my claim on my time, develop my voice, and stitch together a career that responds to every aspect of who I am.
If you’re thinking about pursuing an early part-time MBA, or wearing a few different hats as you test it out — know the path doesn’t have to be straight to be valuable.
You don’t have to shrink to fit one title. You just need to begin. And remain curious enough to continue building.