Butch3

Butch Sarma is the Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business graduate weekend programs (Executive MBA and Decision Analytics Professional Track programs). I manage the P&L, operations, staff, and program logistics. I really enjoy getting to know the students and seeing them achieve their educational goals.

Renegotiating the Deal: Talking to Your Employer and Family Now That Classes Start

Leave a Comment / Learning /

If you pitched your employer for sponsorship or ran the numbers on your ROI before you applied, you already had “the conversation” once. Your manager nodded. Your family said, “of course, we’ve got this.” Everyone agreed the next 18-24 months would work out fine. That was the theoretical deal. Now classes have actually started, and […]

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Who’s in the Fall Cohort — and Why Late Applicants Still Belong in the Room

Leave a Comment / International Trips, MBA applications, MBA networking /

 Who’s in the Fall Cohort — and Why Late Applicants Still Belong in the Room  Every fall, on the first night of class, I watch the same thing happen. Twenty-some strangers sit down at the same table, size each other up, and within about an hour someone points across the room and says, “Wait —

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Is It Too Late to Apply for Fall? Here’s What ‘Rolling Admissions’ Actually Means

Leave a Comment / MBA applications /

If you’re wondering whether it’s too late to apply for an MBA this fall, the short answer is: probably not. Every July I get the same email: “Am I too late?” The MBA application deadline listed on the website has passed. Last week, the faculty interview panel interviewed a person who asked me that same

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Why Waiting Another Year May Cost More Than Starting Now

Leave a Comment / Learning, MBA applications /

If you’ve been putting off applying, you’re not alone. Most working professionals spend months — sometimes years — waiting for the right moment. But the delay may be costing you more than you think, and the math is worth confronting. You Already Know You Want This You want the increased knowledge in business skills, tools,

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What Executive Leaders Learn That Managers Don’t

Leave a Comment / Learning, MBA experiential projects /

What Executive Leaders Learn That Managers Don’t | EMBA Communication Skills There is a real skills gap between managers and executive leaders. It shows up first and most clearly in communication. Over a 40-year career—college jobs with an entrepreneur, service in the US Army, corporate roles, and now higher ed administration—I’ve noticed a common pattern.

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AI Questions to Ask Your MBA Program

Leave a Comment / Learning, MBA experiential projects /

AI in MBA programs. AI is rapidly reshaping how business schools design curriculum. New courses, concentrations, and learning experiences are being introduced, often within existing degree structures. That is expected. What matters more is how *you*, as a working professional considering a part-time, weekend, or executive MBA, evaluate whether a program is truly preparing you

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