Author: Andrea Mendoza
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Why Goal-Setting Isn’t Useful
Unpopular opinion: Goal-setting isn’t effective. Let me clarify: In my opinion, goal-setting in the classic sense isn’t as effective as we may think. This first week of January was filled with newsletters, social media posts, and conversations about resolutions and goals. It’s tempting – for many of us, creating the list in itself feels like…
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Business As Un-Usual: 9 ‘Catastrophes’ that will Probably Happen to You
“All I want is a normal, boring year.” I caught myself joking-not-joking to a friend earlier this year. I was tired of the ups and downs, tired of weighing out ALL the options of ALL the dilemmas we face as leaders of our organizations. In the thick and thorny forest, I wish someone would just…
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Preparing For Ethical Dilemmas & Challenges
A few weeks ago in our Business Ethics class, we were assigned a fascinating article, Giving Voice To Values by Mary Gentile (2010). There’s a book of the same name, and its website shares the summary of the work: “Giving Voice to Values (GVV) is not about persuading people to be more ethical. Instead, GVV…
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So You Think You Want To Open A Business…
Over the years, I’ve had many conversations about clinic ownership and entrepreneurship in general. With the rising desire to create the life you want, the buzz of ‘passive income’, and the allure of working for yourself, it’s easy to see how starting your own venture pops up as a possibility. Described here are reasons (mix…
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As & Bs & Cs, Oh My!
I have a conflicting relationship with grades. On one hand, my awareness is growing about the vast spectrum of learning styles, settings, and content, and the shortcomings of traditional didactic teaching. One person’s (often subjective) assessment of another person’s work isn’t necessarily an accurate reflection of that person’s learning. On the other hand, I’ve always…
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EMBA Kick-Off: Whistler Retreat
We launched the SFU EMBA program with a mandatory 3-day retreat in picturesque Whistler, BC. It was a beautifully crafted weekend organized by our coordinator, Catherine Craig. Through a combination of structured discussion time, group activities, catered meals, and social opportunities, we were able to create meaningful connections with a majority of our cohort. The…
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Proximity Is Power
Guess who made the cut for the SFU EMBA? Me! I MADE THE CUT! (cue relief/elation/gratitude/fist pumping). I was thrilled, and incredibly grateful for the encouragement and support I received throughout the application process. In July, we sent summer pre-program prep. There were many housekeeping tasks, one of which was to introduce ourselves to our…
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Resumes, Interviews, and… Perfectionism
It was final – by January 2022, I set my sights on the Executive Masters of Business Administration program at SFU’s Beedie School of Business. With the rolling deadline for applications to the SFU EMBA program, I knew I wanted to be earlier than most but also didn’t feel the need to rush the process.…
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Why an MBA?
Great question – I’ve been asked this a lot since I decided to pursue an MBA. After building The ScoliClinic over the past six years, it may seem like an odd move. I’m 35, in the middle of the growth phase of my career and my company, and far from being financially independent. I’m also…
Andrea Gets Schooled 