Is a business degree worth it? Maybe if you pair an MBA with architecture

商学的学位有价值吗？或许你将工商管理学硕士和建筑学放在一起，就有了结论。

“Is a business degree worth it?” Most of us would not know the answer to this at 16 or 17 years old when we have to pick a course at university.

“商学的学位有价值吗？”当我们中的大多数人在十六七岁、要去选择一门大学课程的时候，或许都没有关于这个问题的答案。

For Magda Seifert, the answer only came to her many years later. She had already pursued another degree and build a career in another field: architecture.

对于玛格达·塞弗特来说，答案是很多年后才得到的。而那时她已经攻读了另一个学位，并在另一个领域开启了职业生涯：建筑。

Bridging the gap in the architectural community

消弭与建筑社群的隔阂

Where we go, what we do, and who we hang out with — all of this define who we are.

所行之路，所为之事，所交之人，凡此种种，皆塑就我们自身。

The same goes for the actual places we find ourselves in. From our apartments to our streets, these are spaces we spend our entire lives in.

我们栖居的实体空间亦是如此。从居所公寓到市井街巷，这些空间承载了我们的一生。

But have you ever considered just how much this collection of bricks and mortar affect humanity as s whole?

但我们是否审视过，这一砖一瓦砌筑的环境，究竟在多大程度上影响着全人类？

Seifert did. Architecture was all that to her and more.

塞弗特做了，并且对她来说，建筑就是一切，甚至更多。

To Seifert, architecture and culture are tools for social change, influencing how humans interacted with the world and each other. “Studying architecture was a starting point for exploring the connections between disciplines and their impact on practice,” she says.

对塞弗特来说，建筑与文化是实现社会变革的媒介，深刻影响着人类认知世界与人际交往的模式。“建筑研究是探索跨学科关联及其对实践作用机制的切入点。”她这样说道。

Seifert pursued a degree in the field at the University School of Arts of Coimbra (ARCA).

塞弗特于科英布拉大学艺术学院（ARCA）修读建筑领域学位。

At that time, she was mostly drawn to the poetic aspects of the discipline, such as designing concepts or exploring new ideas. She read books, travelled, and loved visiting exhibitions and learning about other cultural contexts.

那时候，她最被建筑学里的诗意内核吸引 —— 比如构思设计概念、探索新锐理念。她博览群书、游历四方，热衷于参观展览，了解多元文化语境。

One thing that stuck out to her was a prominent gap in the architectural community when it came to spaces that provoked critical discussion.

令她格外留意的是，在建筑社群中，针对能够引发重要讨论的空间议题，存在着一道显著的断层。

She carried that curiosity with her even after graduating.

即使在毕业后，她仍然保留着对这件事的好奇心。

While in practice, she expanded her professional scope and co-founded Circo de Ideias, a nonprofit cultural organisation committed to promoting the dissemination and study of architecture.

当付诸实践后，她拓宽了自己的专业范围，并合作创立了Circo de Ideias，这是一个致力于推动建筑文化传播与学术研究的非营利文化机构。

“Our work is focused on promoting architecture through publishing, events, and exhibitions,” says Seifert, who co-founded the company in 2008 alongside her colleagues Pedro Baía, Joana Couceiro, and Gonçalo Azevedo.

“我们的工作核心是通过出版、行业活动与展览推广建筑，” 塞弗特表示。她于 2008 年与Pedro Baía，Joana Couceiro和Gonçalo Azevedo几位同事共同创立了该机构。

“We want to make architecture accessible to both academic and general audiences, and aside from publishing books that bridge research, theoretical discourses, and practice,” she adds. “Circo de Ideias also offers space for open dialogue and collaboration within the architectural community by hosting exhibitions, events, and talks.”

她补充道：“我们希望让建筑同时走近学界与大众受众。除了出版能够衔接学术研究、理论话语与一线实践的书籍之外，Circo de Ideias还通过举办展览、活动与主题讲座，为建筑社群内部的开放对话与协作提供交流场域。”

The reality of being an architect today

如今要成为一位建筑师的所面对的现实是

Circo de Ideias was not Seifert’s only professional venture.

Circo de Ideias并不是塞弗特唯一的冒风险的项目。

She also joined ESAD Idea, the research centre from ESAD College of Art and Design, and is on the executive board of Porto Design Biennale, an event to foster debate and welcome concerns and multiple perspectives on design.

她还加入了 ESAD 艺术设计学院下属的研究中心 ESAD Idea，同时任职于波尔图设计双年展执行委员会；该双年展致力于推动设计领域的深度研讨，接纳各方关切与多元视角。

But holding multiple executive roles wasn’t easy.

但身兼数职并不容易。

As director of Porto Design Biennale, her tasks include overseeing the coordination of the event, articulating the curatorial teams, and coordinating the production of various events such as research activities, exhibitions, conferences, public installations, workshops, graphic materials, and editorial projects.

作为波尔图设计双年展总监，她的职责包括统筹展会的整体协同运作、统筹策展团队的衔接协作，并协调各类活动的落地执行，涵盖研究项目、主题展览、学术会议、公共装置、工作坊、平面视觉物料及编辑出版项目等。

It wasn’t long before Seifert started to struggle in juggling these roles.

没过多久，塞弗特就开始在这些身份中挣扎。

“I was somewhat naive about the actual realities of the profession because I didn’t fully know the complexity of working in an architecture office, dealing with legislation, managing client expectations, and dealing with the extensive time required to complete an architectural project,” she says. “My executive role at Porto Design Biennale was tough considering the scale of the event, managing multidisciplinary teams and the institutional responsibilities.”

“我当初对这个行业的真实运作多少有些懵懂，” 她说道，“因为我并不完全了解在建筑事务所工作的复杂之处 —— 要应对各类法规条例、平衡客户预期，还要承受建筑项目漫长的落地周期。”“考虑到展会的规模体量、跨学科团队的管理工作，以及机构层面的各项职责，我在波尔图设计双年展的执行岗位压力很大。”

She soon realised that she needed a broader understanding of business – particularly the project management side of things.

她很快意识到，她需要对商学有更进一步的了解-特别是项目管理方面的事情。

Determined to learn more, she pursued the International MBA at Porto Business School in Senhora da Hora, Portugal.

决心进一步深造的她，在葡萄牙Senhora da Hora的波尔图商学院攻读了国际工商管理硕士学位。

Is a business degree worth it for non-business majors?

对于非商科专业来说，商学的学位有价值吗？

Having grown up in Portugal for most of her life, the International MBA was exactly what Seifert needed to gain fresh perspectives on her professional ventures. And to her delight, it was a wonderful educational experience.

塞弗特一生中大部分时间都在葡萄牙长大，国际工商管理学学位正是她在职业生涯中获得新视角所需要的。令她高兴的是，这是一次极好的学习经历。

“As someone from an architecture background, I needed to develop skills in managing teams, plan strategically, and make informed financial decisions,” she says. “I wanted to lead projects and organisations more effectively.”

“作为一个有建筑学学习背景的人，我需要培养管理团队、制定战略计划和做出明智的财务决策的技能，”她说。“我想更高效地领导项目和组织。”

What awaited her was a stimulating, collaborative programme.

等待着她的是一个令人振奋的合作项目

By working alongside professors and colleagues from all walks of life, Seifert was exposed to diverse perspectives and business practices, all of which encouraged critical thinking and strategic problem-solving.

通过与来自各行各业的专家和同事同窗共事，塞弗特接触到了不同的观点和商务锻炼，所有这些都鼓励批判性思维和战略性解决问题。

“The MBA helped me get important skills in leadership, finance, and operations, all of which were crucial for my work at ESAD Idea and beyond,” she says.

她说：“工商管理学学习帮助我获得了领导力、财务和运营方面的重要技能，所有这些都对我在ESAD Idea及以后的工作至关重要。

Creative work shines, especially when complemented by business knowledge, and Seifert’s time at Porto Business School is proof of that. Learning to approach problems from a systems-thinking perspective, getting acquainted with different frameworks, and considering the long-term impact and sustainability of creative projects were all useful knowledge.

创造性的工作自有其光彩，而辅以商业知识时更能迸发价值，塞弗特在波尔图商学院的求学经历便是明证。学习以系统思维视角处理问题、熟悉各类管理框架、考量创意项目的长期影响与可持续性，这些都成为了她受用的知识储备。

“A cultural project also needs a balanced business judgement,” Seifert says. “It helps to reinforce the importance of clear communication and vision in guiding processes and projects – from small to big scale.”

“文化项目同样需要均衡的商业判断力，” 塞弗特表示，“这有助于强化清晰沟通与愿景引领在项目全流程中的重要性 —— 无论项目规模大小。”

Such practices come in handy in dealing with business challenges, such as securing funding for cultural projects. Seifert shared that patronage and philanthropy are still not standardised practices among companies in Portugal.

这类实践经验在应对商业挑战时十分实用，比如为文化项目筹措资金。塞弗特提到，在葡萄牙，企业的文化赞助与慈善捐赠仍未形成规范化的运作模式。

So, is a business degree worth it? Seifert would agree.

那么，攻读商学学位是值得的吗？塞弗特对此表示同意。

In fact, she strongly recommends those interested in taking on leadership roles to pursue an international MBA, just like the one at Porto Business School.

事实上，她强烈建议那些有兴趣担任领导角色的人攻读国际工商管理硕士学位，就像波尔图商学院的工商管理硕士学位一样。

“The programme stands out for its exceptional content, experienced faculty teachers, and the incredible network of colleagues that it brings together every year,” she says. “It provided a strong base in management, combining practical, hands-on learning with real-world case studies.”

“该项目的突出优势在于顶尖的课程内容、经验丰富的师资团队，以及每年汇聚起来的优质同窗人脉网络，” 她表示，“课程将实用的实操学习与真实商业案例相结合，为管理能力打下了扎实的基础。”

What’s next for the MBA graduate?

工商管理学硕士毕业生的下一步是什么？

Seifert’s time at Porto Business School proved beneficial for her creative work. After completing her MBA in 2024, she has returned to her ventures, hoping to carry out big plans.

波尔图商学院的求学经历，对塞弗特的创意工作助益良多。2024 年 MBA 毕业后，她重新投身自己的各项事业，着手推进更宏大的规划。

“For Circo de Ideias, we are looking to expand our publishing reach and continue some of the collections we started, like Houses with a Name, Architecture Lessons, Space Fictions – Booklets on Architecture and Cinema, among other publications,” she says. “We will be the publisher of the team who will represent Portugal at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025.”

“对 Circo de Ideias而言，我们计划拓展出版版图，延续我们已推出的部分丛书系列，比如《有名之屋》《建筑课》《空间虚构：建筑与电影札记》等出版物，” 她说道，“我们将出任 2025 年威尼斯建筑双年展葡萄牙参展团队的官方出版机构。”

They are planning a series of events leading up to the next Porto Design Biennale that will take place in October 2025 as well. “For the Biennale, I am excited about the theme, which will make an actual shift to involving and interacting with local communities,” she says. “Our upcoming work will continue to focus on promoting design culture as an action and not only a discipline.”

同时，他们也在为 2025 年 10 月举办的下一届波尔图设计双年展策划一系列预热活动。“本届双年展的主题让我十分期待，它将真正转向与在地社群的深度参与和互动，” 她表示，“我们接下来的工作会继续聚焦于推广设计文化 —— 它不止是一门学科，更是一种行动实践。”

So, no matter how often you ask Seifert – is a business degree worth it? She’d happily say yes.

所以，不管你问塞弗特多少次——商学学位值得吗？她很乐意答应。

“I hope to inspire others, particularly women, to pursue their goals and not be discouraged by systemic biases,” she says. “My advice would be to trust in your vision, stay focused, and find a network of people who support you. Resilience and perseverance are key, and always be open to learning.”

“我希望能激励更多人，尤其是女性，勇敢追寻自己的目标，不要因系统性偏见而气馁，” 她说道，“我的建议是，相信自己的愿景，保持专注，找到支持你的同伴网络。韧性与坚持是关键，同时要永远保持学习的心态。”