Today’s guest is Anthony Palomba, a professor at the Darden School of Business who challenges his students with a simple but powerful idea: be undeniable to yourself.

In this episode, we get into the real questions around business school. Why go, why not go, and how to think about the decision honestly. Anthony makes it clear that while there are great reasons to pursue an MBA, it is also an expensive roll of the dice. What matters most is what you do with the opportunity once you are there.

We talk about showing up with intention, going to class ready to engage, and being willing to fail in pursuit of something bigger. Failure is a major theme throughout this conversation, and Anthony shares openly about how many times he has fallen short on the way to meaningful success.

Anthony brings both academic and real-world credibility to the conversation. Beyond teaching at Darden, he has built an impressive career across media, marketing, and consulting, working with major brands and helping organizations think more creatively about growth and strategy.

In this episode, we cover:

Why you should and should not go to business school
How to think about the MBA as a bet on yourself
What it really means to “be undeniable to yourself”
Why failure is a necessary part of achieving meaningful success
How to maximize your time in business school

This is a thoughtful and honest conversation for anyone considering an MBA or trying to get more out of the experience once they are there.

Leland resources:

Leland Coach search: https://www.joinleland.com/search/school/mba/traditional-full-time-mba?via=67a30d
Free MBA events: https://www.joinleland.com/school/mba/events?via=67a30d

Enjoy the episode! 🎧