Often, Arora was the oldest student in class, which he thought was great. “I really enjoyed being in the company of students who were much younger,” he said. Many had grown up doing online research, and he learned from their comfort and ease with technology. “They were very patient and very kind,” he said. “I’m always eager to learn from anyone who knows more than me, at any age. Anyone who knows more than me is my teacher.” That attitude made Arora especially valuable in class, said Martinette, the marketing professor. Arora showed genuine interest in other students’ perspectives, and he listened more than he spoke. “He was always respectful of other people’s positions and curious to know how they arrived at their conclusions,”
Martinette said. “When he had something to say or a question to ask, it added value to the discussion.” Martinette was not surprised that Arora won the 2013 Outstanding Master of Business Administration Student Award. “As a student, he was curious, he was professional, he was intelligent, and he was humble,” Martinette said. The MBA, Arora said, gave him the tools to stay ahead of change, and to contribute constructively. He’s grateful to Mary Washington Healthcare for giving him the opportunity. And at 54, he is still looking for new things to learn and new ways to make a difference. “I want to continue to deliver and be productive for a very, very long time,” Arora said. “There are so many things I want to do still.” d
``They were very patient and very kind. I´m always eager to learn from anyone who knows more than me, at any age. Anyone who knows more than me is my teacher.´´ - Balvant Arora
An accomplished surgeon, Arora said he learned from his fellow students in the MBA program. Near left, he and other degree candidates chat as they await the 2013 UMW commencement ceremony.
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