Embrace New Ways of Viewing Yourself

What is your current job/where are you working?

I currently work as a Manager of Strategic Initiatives at Solar Energy Trade Shows where I've had many opportunities for professional growth. My proudest accomplishment was in 2015 when I got to work with Vice President Joe Biden and his staff to give a keynote address at our largest conference of 15,000 people.

Why did you decide to sign up for Developing Yourself as a Leader—Virtual?

I signed up for Developing Yourself as a Leader—Virtual because I saw an opportunity to learn and grow personally and professionally. I was attracted to this program due to the case study method and the live class, which differed from the CORe program. I was excited to learn from several different Harvard professors in a short time frame and to also hear from peers that spanned across many career types.

What was your favorite part of the program?

My favorite part of the program was participating in the live unfolding of a story. From the first case study on Erik Peterson and his easy-to-relate-with career dilemma, to Dwyane Wade's incredible spotlight career, down to the design thinking of IDEO, and finally the introspective look at our own careers, I gained insight on myself with each case study and have implemented thoughts I had during class into my everyday life months later.

What did you like most about learning via the HBS Live Online Classroom?

Sitting in a live online class was unlike anything I've experienced before, even in an in-person class atmosphere. The professors were incredibly energized and engaging throughout class, and the students were active in participating and sharing their experiences. It was humbling to learn from so many intelligent professors and peers from across the globe. The quality of the class was heightened by the class members and the global aspect of the platform. Seeing peers log in and participate in class in the middle of the night taught me more about dedication and commitment to learning than anything else.

How are you applying what you've learned in the program?

Since the program, I have seen things in new ways. When I think about the situation Erik Peterson was in, and how it's not an uncommon situation, I realize how important it is for me to be proactive and communicate rather than try to solve everything on my own. But I also learned that failure is not the end of the road. Erik Peterson proved that even though he was fired, it was for the best, and he went on to an environment better suited for his success. Failure was also present with Jean-Claude Biver's life story, but taking risks is essential to learning and finding success. The case study I've found to be the most beneficial was IDEO. Practicing design thinking - and the concepts of convergent and divergent thinking - has helped me brainstorm long-term and short-term career goals and planning. I was so inspired by the company that I signed up for IDEO's design thinking course because I can apply those concepts to my job responsibilities.

Any advice for people who are considering the Developing Yourself as a Leader—Virtual program?

I can't say enough about the energy and motivation I gained from taking this course. I felt a renewed commitment to my life-long pursuits and left each class with introspective thoughts and ideas for my future. The online live platform itself was an exciting experience that I recommend everyone participates in due to the unique learning nature it offers, even compared to the CORe platform (which was equally impressive, but in a different way).

As I prepared for class by reading the case studies, coming up with my own thoughts and questions, as well as following the advice given from Harvard on how to approach preparing for a case study, it allowed me to feel prepared and ready to discuss the material if I was cold called!