creative answer to prompt letter D for the International MBA Application

1. Table Top Gaming
More than a hobby- a leadership training method
*Pictured here- a logo for Dungeons and
Dragons as created by Wizards of the Coast

2. What Is It?
Table-top Gaming is defined as games that are
played amongst people who sit around a table.
These games can be anything from your simple
board games to games such as Dungeons and
Dragons that involve pencils, paper, and a big
imagination
*Pictured here- On third of
my board game collection

3. My History
I have been table-top gaming for almost my
entire life
It is one of my favorite things to do in the entire
world
I go to conventions and attend weekly gaming
sessions with several groups
Recently, I have been made the deputy RPG
organizer for Double Exposure Events
*Pictured here- a logo for DexCon 19 by Double Exposure

4. What Does Table-Top
Gaming Teach Us?

5. 1. How To Handle Multiple
Different Personalities
One thing table top gaming involves, is sitting at a table
with different people. Depending on who you are playing
said game with, whether it be people you know or don’t
know (yet), you are trying to solve a problem together or
defeat your opponents. This brings out the best and worst
in some people.
By doing this frequently and consistently with other people,
you quickly learn how to handle multiple different
personalities in order to successfully bring the game to it
conclusion.
To be able to lead a team in a business, you need to be
able to handle multiple personalities in order for the team
to work well within the group.
Not to mention, that inevitably in business you are going to
have other people, such as clients or bosses, that you are
going to have to interact with on a daily basis. Having
experience to handle all different types of personalities, will

6. *Pictured here-
a group of very
different
personalities
that consistently
get together
once a month to
problem solve
(aka- some of
my gaming
friends and
myself)

7. 2. You Get To Meet and
Network with People
When you play games at gaming conventions
like I do, you get to interact with not only different
types of people, but people from different parts of
the world.
I personally have meet people from Germany,
Belgium, China, etc because I took a couple
days off to go to a convention and play a few
games. I still consider these people my friends
even though we only ever talk over Facebook
and see each other once a year.
I have also met all different people with different
occupations, such as lawyers, doctors,

8. 2. You Get To Meet and
Network with People
(Cont.)In business, having a network of different types of
people is a great asset, especially an international
network, because having connections allows you to
have more options with problem solving and creating
opportunities to develop the type of business an
organization needs to survive.
Networking is sometimes one of the hardest skills to
acquire when you are either new to business or are
just plain scared to interact with people. By having a
common goal or a common task that everyone at the
table needs to do, it breaks the ice a bit easier.
Once you are able to build more confidence in
networking, building the business side of your

9. *Pictured here-Disney princess playing Dungeons and Dragons- Artist credit unknown
but found at this site- http://imgur.com/gallery/MZwow

10. 3. Problem Solving!
No matter what game you are playing in no matter what
setting, whether it be videos games, table-top games or a
game of hide-and-seek, the object of the game is to tackle
a problem within a certain set of rules almost always on the
spot.
In business, problems will always arise. Every time these
problems arise, you always have to act within a set of
rules or restrictions, being the law of a country, or the some
personal set of ethics, or even the limitations put on you by
your client.
To be able to problem solve efficiently, takes practice, and
what better way to practice than a game, where the only
risk is losing a game rather than your job.
Also, different games require different types of problem
solving skills. Some games require you to work against
other players in a strategy you must come up with yourself.
Others require you work with your fellow players to defeat
the game, and still more others require you to gain more
information before you can climatically resolve the game.

11. *Pictured here- My friends and I playing a game called Bang!

12. In Summary
Board gaming allows you to learn how to
Handle with different personalities
Allows you to create and learn how to create a
wider network
Most importantly, teaches you how to problem
solve.
These are all skills that I will be able to transfer
from my hobby into my business career with IE’s
help, thanks to IE’s diverse students and unique
curriculum.

13. *Pictured here- Me, running a game of Dungeons and Dragons, where my players have
to take down that dragon without killing it.
Thank You!