25.06.01 LOG AMBASSADOR REVIEW

Beyond the MBA: The Real Questions Young Professionals Must Ask - Questions thats what will help us retain some of our capabilties.

A. DISCUSSIONS

In a quiet online mentoring session, RTM dialed in, ready to present his progress. The conversation, however, quickly evolved into something much deeper—beyond weekly tasks and into the heart of personal growth, mindset, and direction.

Settling In and Stepping Up

RTM had recently relocated, and while navigating new tools like Power BI and SQL, he admitted that the learning curve was steep. Still, he showed signs of adaptability: weekend visits to family, exam preparation, and steady self-upskilling.

He also took initiative to complete pending tasks, including a README file and an insightful interview with a senior from college. But it was the story behind the interview that sparked a reflective storm.

The Dilemma: Business or B-School?

The interviewee—a young man caught in a 2-year career gap—had spent that time managing his family’s jewelry shop while prepping for competitive government exams. Despite setbacks, he persevered and eventually cleared MBA entrance exams with good results. Yet, with acceptance letters in hand, he now faced a hard fork in the road: Should he go all in on the MBA? Or return home and take full charge of the family business?

RTM believed the MBA route could offer broader exposure, networking opportunities, and help break the geographic and generational comfort zone that bound the family business to a small town. But DAV79, the session’s mentor, offered a more pointed challenge.

The Missing Question

“Does he actually like jewelry?” DAV79 asked. “Does he love doing business, or is he simply doing what’s in front of him?”

This fundamental question—about passion and preference—hadn’t been asked. And it mattered.

DAV79 compared the decision to either renovating an old house or building a new one from scratch. “Sometimes, it’s easier to start new than to fix something old.” He challenged RTM to explore the interviewee’s entrepreneurial DNA: Is he building his own value, or maintaining what’s already been passed down?

They talked about comfort zones, about how children of doctors often become doctors—not out of passion, but out of familiarity. Similarly, someone born into a business may keep it running, but never grow it, unless their heart is in it.

Ideas Are Not Enough—Action Is the Test

RTM reflected on this, recognizing the ease with which comfort can cloud ambition. Yet DAV79 emphasized that action—not talk—is what proves mindset. “Give him a test,” he said. “Can he make $1,000 in a month using the resources he already has? If not, it’s all theory.”

The conversation exposed a common trap in young professionals: mistaking strategy for substance. Many say they’re “building a network” or “renovating the business,” but without clear metrics or outcomes. DAV79 was blunt: “Until you’ve sold something, it’s just talk.”

Turning Ideas Into Action

RTM had a few early ideas, including a small-scale supply chain observation exercise—analyzing bottlenecks in everyday environments like kitchens or schools. DAV79 encouraged him to turn that observation into a short article or case for the Hacker Business series, where participants build business thinking through practical challenges.

“Ask better questions,” he urged. “while Telegram was tying knot with GROKE. Why was it being banned in some countries? Was it really about scams—or something deeper?” He nudged RTM to pursue the real why, beneath the usual surface narrative. The War Room was a game of questions - the deeper the better.

The Bigger Picture: Train the Mind, Embrace the Unknown

As the call wrapped up, DAV79 left RTM with one final insight: “Our brains don’t forget—we just need to give them reasons to remember.”

He explained that 2025 is a perfect square year, something rare and symbolic. “We live in peace today, and that peace gives us the privilege to think, explore, and invest in ourselves. Don’t waste it hustling for memory. Connect with meaning.”

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Closing Reflections

In that session, what began as a routine weekly check-in transformed into a reflective masterclass on decision-making, risk, and the responsibility that comes with owning one’s choices.

For any young professional standing at a crossroads, perhaps the question isn’t What should I do? but What am I willing to test, build, and grow—even if no one’s watching?

And more importantly—Why?

Most importantly, DAV79 appreciated that Rohan showed up—with consistency and dedication. In contrast, several members had informed in advance that they wouldn’t be able to attend due to upcoming examinations. Blue and Phuong Anh submitted their presentations late, but both now face the challenge of building resilience and momentum. While Blue openly shared reasons that leaned toward excuses, Phuong Anh withdrew more quietly—without communication. Both approaches, though different, point to a need for greater accountability moving forward.

B. ONLINE SUBMISSIONS

BLUE : Needs to more discipline on the timing and execution. DAV79 was following up and even pushing him to ensure and complete the delivery.

• Read and commented on some posts on Hack a Business.

• 3 Articles in preparation for War Room has been found.

• Ideating for some games to make VUCA more memorable for participants: Trying to find common symbols where any age could find interesting

  • A puzzle exploration game themed around Egyptian sphynx where each stages, the player will guess the correct answer to the question propose by the mascot to get to the final end goal.

The questions were rather good - let’s evaluate progress for the next session.

Phuong Anh : needs to be more vocal and proactive

What insights from this experience can Phuong Anh relate back to her own life and journey? Deeper insights required.

C. TRAIT INSIGHTS

As we evaluate members based on the materials shared across channels and discussion rooms, it becomes increasingly clear that these 8 traits are essential to track. What we’re building is not just a scoring system—but a structured developmental pathway. It enables members to articulate their challenges, refine their ideas, convert those ideas into actions, and report measurable progress. This framework supports both individual growth and collective momentum.

1. RTM

Score: 8.5/10
Status: Attended live, demonstrated follow-through, and engaged deeply in learning.

Trait Highlights:
⚠ Accountability → Missed a README initially but took full responsibility and coordinated recovery.
✅ Resilience → Managed a steep learning curve (new location, new tools) without disengaging.
✅ Adaptability → Navigated cross-disciplinary work and cultural contexts with openness.
✅ Strategic Insight → Outstanding; linked interview learnings and MBA choices to broader life impact.
⚠ Influencer Mindset → Thoughtful and reflective, but not yet assertive in shaping peer dialogue.
⚠ Composure → Occasional nervousness, though shows self-awareness and efforts to improve.
✅ Collaboration → Actively communicates, supports peer discussions, and listens well.
✅ Entrepreneurial Mindset → Shows initiative and curiosity in exploring real-life business scenarios.

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2. Blue

🔴 Score: 1.5/10
Status: Did not attend live; submitted late; showed flashes of creativity but lacked consistency.

Trait Highlights:
⚠ Accountability → Needed multiple nudges from DAV79 to deliver; showed low ownership.
⚠ Resilience → Tended to explain away delays instead of problem-solving or bouncing back.
⚠ Adaptability → Struggled to keep pace with expectations or adjust behavior in time.
⚠ Strategic Insight → Idea generation present, but no effort shown to connect it with real-world impact.
⚠ Influencer Mindset → Passive; no evidence of motivating others or contributing to team direction.
⚠ Composure → Avoided real-time feedback moments; unclear response to pressure.
⚠ Collaboration → Minimal team interaction; focused on isolated efforts.
✅ Entrepreneurial Mindset → Proposed an Egyptian-themed VUCA puzzle game—concept shows promise if developed.

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3. Phuong Anh

🔴 Score: 1/10
Status: Missed the session without notice; submitted late with no visible engagement or reflection.

Trait Highlights:
⚠ Accountability → No communication or initiative to recover from absence.
⚠ Resilience → Withdrew silently; no sign of regrouping or bouncing back.
⚠ Adaptability → Inflexible response; no effort to adapt to missed timelines or expectations.
⚠ Strategic Insight → No articulation of takeaways or forward-thinking shown.
⚠ Influencer Mindset → No contribution to collective thinking or peer growth.
⚠ Composure → Lack of presence and visibility suggests disengagement.
⚠ Collaboration → No interaction with team or feedback loops observed.
⚠ Entrepreneurial Mindset → No new ideas, initiatives, or experiments proposed.

Hopefully, next season we will get all other Ambassadors to share and review. As usual only time will tell and we need to remain patient and embrace the unknown.

Note for Next Week – June 8: THE WAR ROOM EVENT

There will be no weekly 1:1 sessions for ambassadors. However, all required documents must still be submitted on time. DAV79—or another mentor—will review the submissions and provide evaluations accordingly. Please also ensure you have followed up with Cloudy on the WAR ROOM plan and execute as needed.