MKT 580 - Fostering Creativity

different kind of mba class. not a ton of work and you get to go on field trips. get what you put in

This class is very different and take you outside your comfort zone. You can not skip class, and Joe is an interesting professor. You have to really be invested in the class or else do not take it.

The class is unique. No syllabus, a few projects, and mostly activity based classes. You will have to participate. You will not be able to zoom in or use your phone during class. I think it's good if you lean into it, but maybe the concepts are a bit drawn out longer than needed. It's basically fun activities plus talking about your feelings and inner world. He rewards people who get out of their comfort zone. The grading is not transparent if that's a concern.

This class feels a bit like a pyramid or MLM scheme in the sense that the professor promotes the idea of "embracing discomfort" and "mindfulness" to get away with not providing a good product. As someone mentioned above, he also requires an expensive "lab fee" so you literally have to buy in to it. However, if you are looking for something that isn't a ton of work to offset a more quantitative class schedule, this is it.

So - there are some good nuggets here, but you can get those in any decent self-help book or podcast (or more individualized through weekly therapy). And I realize that these sessions are more suited for an in-person environment, but this "class" is so frustrating. The professor has been inconsiderate to students' needs while being incredibly unorganized himself, failing to set up basic resources for students like regular links for zoom and assignment submission on blackboard. This class involves a lot of personal sharing and feelings, which is OK, but he makes everyone speak every session and it feels kinda forced and a waste of time. Also still not sure what this has to do with creativity. That said, if you're trying to load your schedule with low-effort classes, this fits the bill, but I'd still try to something a little more useful like Influence or Negotiations.

This class is not difficult with regards to work-load (there are weekly reflective assignments) BUT only take it if you're willing to be open and share sometimes personal insights with the class. Great environment to get to know your peers better, learn about yourself, and become more mindful. As a consultant, the materials are also useful to learn how to motivate teams and create an environment where people are able to be creative.

Good class if you care about mindfulness. You practice letting go of suffering, handling your inner critic, meditation, and getting out of your comfort zone.

*Sigh* I was really excited for this class because it was pitched as being unlike anything else you'd take at business school. What it ended up being was an off-brand weekly group therapy session run by someone who read a self-help book once. While I sympathize that this class was originally designed to be in person, Joe was COMPLETELY unprepared for the online environment and is incredibly disorganized. It feels like he kind of gave up when he realized it would be over Zoom and didn't adapt the material. He also has you pay a very expensive "lab fee" sight-unseen (which we have yet to see why it was that much) so buyer beware. The bright spots of the class are actually when he brings in guest lecturers to teach, which have been the most enriching parts of the class so far.

The class is less about "creativity" as an abstract concept and more about removing the barriers within yourself to become a more creative person. That said, you have to be down for the ride Joe is going to take you on. You need to embrace the concepts, try them out in your own life, and then share your experience with the whole class, something that can make people slightly uncomfortable.

I highly recommend this class for anyone who struggles with ambiguity, identifies themselves as "not creative," and wants to be challenged out of their comfort zone. The class will push you to try new activities, and to become vulnerable with your peers in a way that most classes here in business school do not. It is up to you to be okay with the unstructured method, understanding that this class is for those who want long-term ROI and are willing to see the pay off once the class is done.

FAIR WARNING - the class is half creativity and half group therapy. Therapy is great and it's great that people enjoy it... but I was hoping to have my creativity fostered. Hearing about the intimate pains of classmates honestly makes me uncomfortable. It's too much information. Doing the creative activities has been fun, but I would not take this class if I could do it over.

This class is truly a unique creature within an MBA curriculum. This class will challenge you, push you to consider how you interact with your life and others, and will get you outside your comfort zone. That being said, you also have to be receptive to what this class has to offer. From my perspective this is a "you get out what you put in" kind of class. Overall, I feel so lucky to get to take this class at business school and would recommend to anyone with an open mind who is willing to be vulnerable and try new things in the pursuit of their own growth and development.

"This class does not provide me with hard skills that I can use in a career in finance, but that wasn't why I took it. I think that this class can be amazing if you are secure enough to be vulnerable with yourself and your classmates. The class pushes you out of your comfort zone and forces you to think about how and why certain things might be holding you back in your decisions. This can be great if you are self conscious about a work of art, or about taking a gamble on a new career path. I think that the lessons are applicable outside of normal ""creative"" careers. I have learned alot about my classmates and have gotten closer to them while at the same time learning about myself. This class is not for everyone, but if you are interested in taking a class that will help to better you personally (not solely professionally), then this may be a good class for you. To get the most out of it, you have to put a lot into it."

I enjoy this class a lot, but this class is not for everyone. It's hard to measure the value of the class while you're in it, but I think it does a good job of introducing you to a breadth of experiences and forcing you to think reflectively about things that are holding you back. I take it Thursday afternoons, and it's such a relaxing, thoughtful way to enter into my weekend.

This class is fantastic. I haven't been put outside of my comfort zone like this in a class before, and I enjoy the assignments we have to do. Course is definitely achieving my stated goal of approaching life more creatively.

This is not the typical class. This class provides frameworks on dealing with stress, personal and professional roadblocks, and fears. You will have to write a lot of small deliverables and that may be annoying to some. You will have accept that you might be vulnerable or encounter other people's vulnerability to fully appreciate the class.

This class definitely opens up my mind to other areas and gets me out of my comfort zone in order to foster creativity.

I LOVE this class. There are literally almost no assignments and no exams and you just spend most of class meditating and doing cool activities. This is the perfect class to take if you want an easy workload and want to coast through a semester. It's very touchy feely, however, so if you're reserved and introverted some of the activities may put you out of your comfort zone.