What is wrong with that MBA?

Laddu Pintu was known as a classic academic achiever during school and university education. He had topped every exam, nailed every group discussion, and even wore his B-school blazer like a badge of honour. His MBA batchmates knew him as “Placement King” – the first one to get hired by a global MNC straight out of campus.

But six months into the job, Laddu was miserable. The corporate world, which once looked like the promised land, now felt like a strange, chaotic classroom but with no teachers, no report cards, and certainly no one to tell him what the “right answer” was.

“I don’t get it,” he sighed one day to his mentor from B-school. “I follow instructions, work late hours, and even meet deadlines. Still, no appreciation. My ideas are ignored. There’s no feedback. What am I doing wrong?”

The mentor smiled knowingly and said, “Laddu, the problem isn’t your effort. It’s your expectation. You’re still playing by school rules, but the corporate world is a very different game.” You cannot carry your school mindset into the workplace, dear. Grow up.

Laddu’s story is more common than we admit. Many young professionals enter the workforce with the exact expectations and behaviors that helped them excel in school. They wait to be taught, rather than taking initiative. They expect recognition for obedience, not innovation. Such students, especially those in Gen Z, prefer clear instructions over ambiguity, and they assume someone else will notice their work automatically and reward their effort as if it were a school event.

Unfortunately, the corporate world doesn’t operate on those principles. A Harvard Business Review article highlights that early-career employees often struggle because they lack “adaptive performance” – the ability to cope with unpredictability, take ownership, and acquire unstructured skills. These are hybrid real-life skills that are not typically taught in classrooms. In short, academic pursuits condition youth to comply, but the workplace demands creativity, initiative, and vision.

Taking his mentor’s words seriously, Laddu did a quick audit of his own behavior. He realised he was waiting for instructions instead of identifying problems to solve. He was playing it safe instead of taking bold steps. And worst of all, he expected someone to “grade” his performance like a teacher, when in reality, he was supposed to own his own growth. ‘You cannot expect an appreciation every now and then when you are in the corporate world,’ said the mentor. 

So, Laddu decided to change. He stopped treating his manager like a professor and started looking at him like a collaborator. He stopped asking “What should I do?” and began saying, “Here’s what I’m thinking, what’s your input?” Gradually, he became more proactive, more visible, and more confident. Within a few months, his team lead noticed the spark in him. Laddu was now not just a performer; he was seen as a go-getter.

Today, Laddu Pintu isn’t just surviving, he’s thriving. Once he changed his mindset, he found joy in ownership, pride in problem-solving, and excitement in the face of uncertainty. His career graph may still be in its early stages, but his learning curve and his happiness are on the rise.

These are three vital Lessons from Laddu’s Journey:

1. Unlearn to grow

The habits that got you success in school, obedience, memorisation, safe answers, etc., may hold you back in real life. Unlearning those is the first step to evolving as a professional.

2. Initiative beats instructions

In school, doing what you’re told gets you full marks. In the workplace, being able to identify tasks that need to be done even without being told sets you apart.

3. Don’t wait to be discovered

At your workplace, there’s no teacher walking around with a red pen. If you want to grow, seek feedback, build relationships, and make your work visible. Take bold initiative and show up.

Remember: Life after school isn’t about proving how smart you are. It’s about showing how you think, adapt, lead, and grow in the domain of unknown and uncertain situations. When you stop waiting for permission and start designing your own journey, life becomes a lot more joyful. If you’re a young professional feeling unseen or stuck, pause and ask yourself: Are you still acting like a student in a space that wants you to be a self-driven adult? If you answered yes, it’s time to evolve.

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