I’m incredibly excited to share that I’ve officially started the Executive MBA program at the USC Marshall School of Business!
Last week, we kicked off the journey with an intensive immersion at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, and to be honest – I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew it would be a challenge. I knew I’d be surrounded by impressive professionals. But I didn’t realize just how energizing, inspiring, and hands-on the experience would be from day one.
The EMBA 38 cohort is exceptional – a diverse, driven, and collaborative group that’s already raising the bar. Our professors dove straight into the fundamentals with preview sessions in statistics, accounting, and leadership, setting the stage for what’s to come. But the real spark came from our first big group exercise: a live business strategy simulation.
The Challenge: Apple Goes Shopping
Our capstone activity for the week was a strategic acquisition modeling project. We began with a deep-dive into Disney’s purchase of Marvel – a $4 billion deal that, on paper, looked wildly overpriced. With over $2 billion in Goodwill, the financials were hard to justify – until you looked at how Disney monetized the brand. It became one of the most successful acquisitions in recent history, not because of the balance sheet, but because of vision and synergy.
Our assignment: pick a company for Apple to acquire and make the case for why it would be accretive, even if it didn’t fit the traditional financial mold.
My group chose Roblox.
Our thinking? It’s a completely different user base – younger, highly engaged, and primed for long-term brand loyalty. By acquiring Roblox, Apple would be investing not just in a platform, but in a future generation of lifelong customers. We envisioned integration with Apple hardware, services, and even education – creating a unique value loop between content, devices, and experience.
We stayed up working until almost 3 AM finalizing our pitch. It was intense. But it was also incredibly energizing – exactly the kind of challenge I came here for.
And the Winner Is…
The next day, each team presented in private to a panel of faculty and student judges. The top teams then presented again in front of the entire cohort.
I’m proud to share that our group won the whole thing.
More than the win, it was the collaboration, late-night problem solving, and high-level business framing that made this experience so rewarding. It’s already clear that this program is going to push me – in the best way possible.
Looking Ahead
I’m deeply honored to be part of this program. USC is a world-class institution, and this EMBA journey is going to stretch me professionally and personally. The next two years won’t be easy – I’ll be balancing work, family, and school – but I know the rewards will be worth it.
I’m here to grow. I’m here to lead. And I can’t wait to see what comes next.
– Vince