Seeing the Big Picture

Was it hard to take the time to attend GMP?

GMP balances great learning with the need to be with your family and at your job. I've always put my family first, and they were very supportive about my attending GMP. Everyone at my company was very supportive as well.

A lot of material was crammed into those seven weeks you are on campus, but it was a very efficient way to learn. Getting away from the office enables you to totally immerse yourself in learning. I don't think you have many opportunities in life to disengage from where you are, stop your work, pause your family life, and focus completely on your overall development. I'm very thankful that I have had the opportunity to do that.

Did GMP meet your needs?

GMP is a phenomenal, once-in-a-lifetime learning experience. The quality of the faculty is second to none—I have never experienced that kind of teaching. The case study method is a great way to learn. I spent time getting to know people from so many different cultures and nationalities. I can’t think of another place where you could get that kind of experience in a matter of seven weeks.

GMP gave me time to reflect on myself and think about who I am, what I want to do, how I can add more value to the company I'm with, where I'd like to see myself in the future, and how I can keep improving my skills and performance. That time to really focus on myself was just invaluable.

Which aspects of the learning experience stand out?

More than anything, I enjoyed the cultural diversity of my classmates. I enjoyed learning about the experiences of people like myself who faced different challenges. We all had roughly the same amount of experience, but we came from different functional areas, different industries, and different cultures. Being able to interact on a daily basis with people from 42 different countries showed me how similar we are and provided exposure to a wide range of perspectives.

I saw that my world, to date, had been very narrowly focused on my industry. Seeing what people in other industries have done provides a much broader perspective on how you might be able to solve problems in your own company.

What was the interaction with your living group members like?

The living groups were extremely diverse groups of people. My group of eight included executives from Australia, Singapore, Ireland, and Mexico, for example, with backgrounds in areas like banking, private equity, and oil and gas—it was a really dramatic mix.

We were a very opinionated group. No one felt shy or held back, but we were also very respectful of one another. It was a very safe environment in which to ask questions or test ideas. We had a lot of open and honest discussions. I have never been in a place where so many people so openly sought feedback and freely gave it. We could all learn from one another. It was great to work with these people and to get to know them personally.

What was the case method like?

The case study method, which was new to me, is very effective. When I prepared for a case, I would read every word, take notes along the way, and then look at the questions and make sure I could answer them.

You first discuss the case with your living group, then you discuss it in the larger classroom with the professor. At first, you think there's a right answer—that you'll find out what happened. But the value is in discussing what you might have done differently, and more important, what others might have done differently. It was eye-opening to see how very different our approaches could be.

I was able to step back and look at things from a company-wide perspective—whether it was finance, leadership, or innovation. The case method gave me the ability to extract the important details from a discussion or a presentation. But even more important, I internalized the need to keep my mind on the big picture—to be able to step back and make sure I really understand the context.

How did you prepare for the program?

We had to complete the first part of the program, Module 1, before coming to campus. When I received the materials, I dove right in. Module 1 consisted of tutorials on finance and accounting, with tests to validate that you had reached a certain level of proficiency. I didn't have a lot of experience with accounting or finance, so I was a bit nervous about it. I spent several late nights at the office going through the slides, and I felt a huge sense of relief when I passed the tests.

In addition to that material, we were given more than 50 case studies we would be using during Module 2, the first on-campus module. I tried to read all the cases and work through the questions so that I would be as prepared as I could be when I arrived on campus. I managed to get through most of them. I had about two months to do all that, and my company supported my taking the time I needed.

What were your impressions when you first arrived on campus?

Coming to campus for the first time was exciting, but also a bit anxiety-producing because I had no idea what to expect. We immediately got into a routine. The days were very, very full—studying early in the morning, going through the different cases, gathering for classroom sessions, spending time getting to know people, going out to dinner, playing sports or going to the gym, studying late at night, going to bed, and getting up and doing it again. I was always engaged and looking forward to the next class. The days just flew by, but I never felt that I wanted the day to be over.

In a typical work environment, people aren't necessarily open to different points of view. However, at GMP, we were very open. People felt free to express their point of view, even if it was directly opposite to someone else's. Because of the group's diversity, we heard a wide range of viewpoints that we might not have heard in our own organizations.

How did the faculty contribute to the learning experience?

The professors were unbelievable—it was the best instruction I have ever had. There are a lot of knowledgeable people out there, but what makes this faculty different is their passion for teaching. I was shocked at how down-to-earth, funny, and personable the faculty was. They are real people with a lot of experience—and a true desire to help executives learn. They were there to answer questions and to guide your thought process. They would point out flaws in what you were thinking or push you to fully explain your thinking. Through that process, you started to understand more deeply why you have the ideas you do. Whether you’re right or wrong, it's important to be able to explore that.

When I reached out to the faculty outside the classroom, I found them to be very open. We were able to talk about particular challenges or questions I had about my own organization. I gained real insight from those discussions. While I have missed the day-to-day interactions with these professors since the program ended, I hope to continue to reach out to them in the future.

Did any particular faculty members stand out for you?

One faculty member who stood out for me was Mihir Desai, who taught finance. I've always been very interested in finance but never had formal training, so it’s always been a bit daunting. In an 80-minute session, he could take the most complicated subject and boil it down in a way that gave you a good understanding of the fundamentals before you left the room. You wanted to follow him after class and continue to ask questions because he just explains everything so well and there’s so much to learn.

What key lessons did you take away from GMP?

Some of the most important things I learned were about innovation—the need to continually innovate and to think more broadly about innovation, and to recognize that innovation can occur in some very non-traditional ways. As I consider how these insights might apply to my industry, I will be able to drive discussions within the organization about the value of innovation.

I also appreciate the way the program broadened my perspective. I've learned how to look at the corporation from a high level and to understand balance sheets and income statements—to really get a feel for the health of the organization and the challenges and opportunities we face.

GMP was just a launching point. The true execution started when I got back to work. Many people have been curious about what I learned and what I will do differently. I have a lot of opportunity to share the learning with others. I’ll be able to apply my learning to my next assignment, and it will serve me well throughout my career.

How did the program change you personally?

Before coming to HBS, I talked with several people from my company who had gone through GMP. They said things like, "This is a transformational experience" or "This is life-changing." It sounded pretty fantastic and maybe a little hard to believe at first. But after spending only a week at HBS, I understood that the program actually could make a difference in my career and my life. I will be a different person—not only at the office but also at home. This program has changed who I am fundamentally, and I am very thankful for having had this opportunity.

The program has prepared me for the next phase of my life and career by highlighting the need to listen more, to consider different viewpoints, and to be able to reach out and ask new types of questions. I realize now that there are many, many different ways to look at different issues and situations. The program taught me that if I want to come up with the best solution, I should put more effort into seeking out opinions that are different from mine.

The diversity of perspectives at GMP enhanced the experience, and I now have many different resources to tap into moving forward. I'll be able to keep in touch with a lot of people—faculty and students—and utilize those relationships to help me evolve as a person and as an employee for the rest of my life. Being so busy with work and family, I probably had not made one real new friend over the previous six or seven years. With the experiences I had at HBS, I made true friendships that will last well beyond the program.

What would you say to an executive considering GMP?

GMP has tremendous value. The phenomenal faculty can explain tough subjects in a way that enables you to understand the material and easily and quickly apply it to your work. In addition, it provides you with a network of people you can reach out to when you have questions or want to get input on an issue you're facing. It's a completely transformational experience—you will come back a different person.