MBA student profile: Olga Savintseva, Harvard Business School

For Russian Olga Savintseva, a Harvard Business School student (class of 2011) the work-life balance is not something that begins after graduation but a lifestyle choice that begins right now. For her, finding the right balance is essential to getting the most out of her MBA course, as well as life in general. "I believe that 8 hours of sleep for me is a must, regardless of the amount of work I have to do. A lack of sleep directly correlates with vulnerability of the immune system. In addition, it negatively affects performance in class and social life. Daily sport activities are a must too. As I usually have less energy in the evening, I try to plan my sport activities for the early morning or during lunch break."

The same is true of her attitude to study in general. Many MBA students spend vast amounts of time striving to be the very best they can be. For Savintseva, there needs to be more space to breathe and to grow and that perfectionism isn't the be-all and end-al. "You do not need to be perfect in all courses unless you are going to very competitive industries such as private equity and investment banking where diploma with honors is a selection criterion. If you were admitted to a top business school, most likely you already graduated from your previous school with distinction. You do not need to prove it again. Instead use your time wisely to make your real dream come true."

Savintseva's approach, especially in what is regarded as the world's top business school in many rankings, is refreshing. In the most recent TopMBA.com Applicant Research, from 2009, a significant percentage - over 50% - of MBA candidates said that they expect to work more than 50 hours per week after graduating from their course. And most MBA candidates are quite phlegmatic about the amount of work they will have to do, and how to approach the work-life balance in one of the most demanding times of their lives. 

Travelling around the globe with the QS World MBA Tour (see www.topmba.com for details of a time and venue near you) I meet dozens of prospective MBA students and MBA alumni each year. One alumni, who asked to remain nameless, told me that despite his best intentions to knuckle-down to some serious work during his two-year course, he was "surprised at how many opportunities the students created for socializing, drinking, partying and so on." For him, business school was a serious time for work and not t=for the myriad distractions available, especially living in a big US city.

For others, business school is as much about networking and growing to meet new friends and contacts as it is to learn the hard facts about the business world. In fact networking has increased in popularity year on year according to the same QS survey and networking now is a major reason for 52.8% of candidates to go to business school.

Savintseva has no such dilemmas. For her, one if the three downsides of the course is the "stress from a variety of interesting activities [and] peer pressure to do them." In addition she cites an often heard criticism of hugely influential US schools such as Harvard: "Adjustment to dominant cultural mentality is a negative," she says "and it's particularly true for non-U.S. MBA candidates who have never had previous experience of living in the U.S."

But, of course, the positives outweigh the negatives for her. She cites, in particular the "opportunity to discover new career paths through understanding of your own needs and interests, and access to best employers or entrepreneurs." The networking is important too as it leads "to new friendships, inspiration through role models, new ideas for entrepreneurship or business opportunities worldwide."

But, importantly, it's back to the work-life balance again at the end of the day. Taking a rest from your previous job is important, she says, "especially for ex-investment bankers and management consultants."