Many MBA applicants are already accustomed to getting their news – not to mention Business Week and Economist articles – delivered through their headphones, but some might be unaware that most top business schools also offer podcasts. For the applicants out there with extremely busy schedules, podcasts offer one more valuable way to get a feel for the current research and developments unique to each institution. This helps prospective students identify the programs that best fit their own interests (i.e. healthcare management, hi-tech entrepreneurship, marketing, etc.), enabling them to offer a nuanced answer to the dreaded ‘why School X and not School Y?’ interview question, if the time comes. Let’s take a closer look at a selection of some of the podcasts available:
LBS Podcasts – Free, no subscription required.
The LBS approach to podcasting is somewhat more integrated than that of some other schools. For instance, the majority of the news stories available on the school’s website are also available via podcast. The subject matter touches on faculty research, the application process and campus events.
MIT Sloan Podcasts – Subscription required (free).
As we recently posted on our blog, Sloan’s new podcast series is updated twice a week and includes both audio and video features. Like LBS, this series is more explicitly oriented towards helping prospective applicants get to know the school better. Towards that end, these podcasts include updates on student activities, as well as interviews with guest speakers and accomplished alumni.
Chicago GSB Podcast Series – Subscription required (free).
Chicago began producing this podcast in 2006 and has since posted new episodes approximately twice monthly. Archived episodes include conversations with Nobel Laureates, faculty members, popular authors and current industry leaders.
HBS Working Knowledge Podcast and Harvard Business Review IdeaCast – Free, no subscription required.
Harvard offers two different podcast series. First, the daily newsletter Working Knowledge produces interviews with faculty members on their latest research and publications. Meanwhile, the Harvard Business Review offers short summaries of the latest journal edition, interviews with recently published authors, and reflections on business education with Harvard administrators.
Knowledge@Wharton – Free, no subscription required.
Wharton’s online journal has offered approximately four podcasts per month since February 2006. The journal’s staff interviews experts on hot topics in the news, as opposed to the more campus-focused series that some schools offer. There is a bi-monthly interview with renowned Finance Professor Jeremy Siegel, and several more faculty presentations will soon be on offer as a result of Wharton’s Economic Summit in April.
RadioTuck – Subscription required (free).
Since 2001, Tuck’s Center for Digital Strategies has sponsored about 20 interviews with industry leaders on technology related issues. The interviews are conducted by second-year students and feature prominent Tuck alumni who have capitalized on digital innovations in industries like sports media, personal electronics, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, among many others.
iinovate – Free, no subscription required.
This podcast series is produced by Stanford GSB and Design School students, though it is not formally affiliated with either school. This series features in depth interviews an all-star line up of innovators and entrepreneurs, including the presidents and founders of Craigslist, Pixar, the Grameen Foundation, and many other successful and influential ventures.
There are a growing number of podcasts throughout the MBA landscape, and we encourage readers to download a few episodes to get a feel for this exciting new trend. Remember, the key to a strong application – as well as a productive MBA education – is to know about all the available resources at one’s target schools. Happy listening!
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