Stanford GSB MBA & MSx Programs: what I wish I had known prior to accepting an offer
Pros
- MBA & MSx Programs hires incredibly talented and intelligent individuals, unfortunately there isn’t much room for innovation and creativity. - Good benefits/ Stanford Sweeteners - There's $800 Staff Training Assistance Program (STAP) fund which allows you to get reimbursed for most expenses, including tuition, required textbooks and registration fees-- however these need to be approved by your supervisor and must directly be related to your role (Healthy Living classes are an exception). PTO: Stanford closes for a week between Christmas and New Year's, however, you are forced to use your PTO towards the days the university is closed. If you have not accumulated enough PTO, you can take unpaid time off.
Cons
Similar to other higher ed institutions, decisions are often made centering the ego of deans, tenured faculty, and certain students. As staff, you will spend many, many hours writing and rewriting documents and e-mails to ensure the correct tone, according to leadership, is achieved. There are many non-mandatory (but in reality, mandatory) team-building activities that you are required to attend that will eat away at your time, as well as many standing weekly and bi-weekly check-in meetings that prevent you from getting work done during the work day and force you to work outside of 9-5pm hours. You will constantly be reminded that the department is less focused on expediency and rather prioritizes how things get done and that the “correct” processes and methods are followed. The trial period for any new employee is one year; you will frequently be reminded of this during your first few months as well as be reminded that many people want to work at Stanford. Your actions, words, and tone will be scrutinized, especially as a new hire, to ensure that you meet leadership’s expectations. Your colleagues will be encouraged to make note of and communicate to leadership any behavior that does not align with leadership’s expectations. Leadership has known and worked with each other for many, many years, have similar backgrounds, and will construe any questions raised regarding processes as pushing back on their leadership. Your success with the department is directly correlated to how well you get along with leadership. If you speak differently or have different values and make them known, you will not be successful. Stanford GSB values Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as long as nothing changes. In the same vein if, as a person of color, you raise concerns regarding not feeling psychologically safe to Stanford Staff Help Center, HR, or Employee & Labor Relations you will be told “Stanford takes such matters seriously and appropriate action will be taken”, however, nothing changes.
