Bei (Eric) Liu is the Chief Digital Transformation Officer at Maharishi International University. Tasked with leading the institution's multi-year digital transformation, he began looking online for different courses and resources to enhance and optimize the strategic initiative. When the CEO from a partner organization shared how much she had benefited from an executive education program at Harvard Business School, he chose the Leading in the Digital Era program.
What did you gain from the Leading in the Digital Era experience?
The program helped me to redefine my approach and reprioritize certain items of my strategic plan. There's a lot of misunderstanding about digital transformation, and people’s mind often goes straight to purchasing newer and better software and equipment. However, it's not just about software or technology—it's about cultural transformation, innovation in business process or business model for a new digital era, and how to harness and leverage the power of technology to achieve the mission. Without the right culture, mindset, and other factors set in place, technologies won't deliver the expected outcome.
I found this program to be not only inspiring, but also reassuring. From the experiences and cases shared by the executives, now I have a broader view and more insights on the key areas to put more focus in each phase. Moreover, it is reassuring to see the strategic roadmap I developed for my organization is in alignment and hitting the sweet spot.
How would you describe the program?
The program was fabulous. The faculty definitely plays a key role. Professor Linda Hill and her teaching team really know how to unfold a case—they lead a self-discovery journey. They challenge you to break through the walls of your mind to think deeper and broader. And beyond that, your peers are leaders from around the world and across industries, which adds on another layer of insights and expertise.
As we examined every topic and every case, I was able to hear perspectives loaded with practical experiences from different backgrounds, positions, and countries. That helped me to take a high level view of the organization and where it stands in and beyond the standard business value chain. The program is intense, but it's also exciting and inspiring.
Did the collaborative nature of the living group experience surprise you?
I knew we were going to have group discussions and a lot of hands-on experience in our living groups. But this kind of executive suite environment still surprised me. You're put into a well-designed dynamic and diverse living group—a total immersion experience where you build connections and take the conversation beyond the classroom to the next level. You can bring the topics or ideas back to your living group and dive deeper with others, relate them back to your own work, and share challenges and sometimes potential solutions.
Could you talk a little bit about the case studies and application labs?
The case study method that unfolds at Harvard Business School is truly unique. The faculty doesn't tell you what is right or wrong, but lead you on an exploration. You explore and decide what may be right or wrong as a business simulation, discuss with peers, apply and see how it might impact, then review for better future actions. You're able to bring yourself into the scenario and put yourself in the CEO or manager's shoes in each case while the faculty challenge you to see your blind spot in the analysis and decision-making process.
The labs are where the rubber hits the road with regard to data-informed business decisions. The theories become practical—whether it's a leadership or an organizational management challenge. Labs drive you to think about how you might apply this to your own situation. "Is that really what I'm having a challenge with, or is there something that I'm missing?" Sometimes you have to step back and wonder if you are asking the right questions or using the data correctly, as you will learn, sometimes questions matter more than the data.
What's one thing that has surprised you about this experience?
The program is full of surprises—from the living experiences to the way we collaborated to how the faculty are leading the discussion to challenge us. And I really enjoyed my peers and the different perspectives I gained from them, whether they're coming from IT, banking, event management, or retail.
What are you most excited to implement?
I will definitely be resetting my expectation on the digital transformation timeline and evaluating what we need to tackle first, how to get the culture and foundation right for a change, and what's at stake in each step. As we have seen in the organizations from the cases, it takes much more time than most people would expect to see the results, and it takes dedicated work and patience to set a culture by the leadership. Without a culture and organizational structure that embrace change and support the digital transformation, nothing will go properly—so that's one thing I'll take back to my leadership team.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering this program?
Come prepared. Bring all the challenges that you're facing. Think through the journey that led you to today and what you want to achieve tomorrow. It's an intense program, so clear your agenda as much as possible. You don't want to distract yourself because there's so much here to unpack, and the more attention you allocate to this, the more you will be able to take away. It's the process of sharpening the axe before walking back into the woods.
Beyond the case studies and faculty, networking is invaluable. Bring an open mind. Your peers will offer good insights and experiences that might just help to ease or address your challenges. Beyond that, you might find business opportunities that you can collaborate and start with your peers. Whatever challenge you bring, the group will help you grow stronger.