Opening Your Mind to Diverse Perspectives

How did you hear about this program and why did you decide to apply?

The majority of my career was at General Electric (GE), where I had access to a comprehensive leadership-development and training program. But I left GE nearly three years ago to join Jet, a startup that didn't yet have an executive learning and development program. Jet was then acquired by Walmart, and my leader, Becky Schmitt, nominated me for this program. I was eager to attend because the program seemed like an excellent opportunity to step outside my work space and concentrate on my own professional development. In the past, I have found that these development opportunities have helped me to think about how to transfer new knowledge to my peers and grow my HR team.

What are some of your biggest takeaways from the program?

One of the best takeaways was the opportunity to network with other senior HR leaders who are facing similar challenges but in different industries and different countries. At the end of the day, people are people, and we face similar challenges. This program reaffirmed the value of a strong network. I really enjoyed meeting the people and being able to work with the HBS faculty who created the cases. I've done case studies before, but it was fascinating to have conversations with the people who researched and wrote them. The case study methodology is such a great learning tool. As a result of this program, I’ve started to think about how I can use the case study methodology with my own team and train the leaders in our organization.

How do you feel about the overall format of the learning experience?

The faculty challenged us to think about how to apply the insights to our day-to-day jobs, and there were times throughout the program when we would reflect on how the people or the situation in a case study compared with our own companies. It was a really good balance of practical application and business theory. There were tangible solutions that I could apply in my company, and also the opportunity to let my mind wander and approach problems without constraints.

Did you benefit from being here on campus and away from your job?

Personally, I loved it. As a participant in this environment, there's really no choice except to be all in, because there is no time for work-related emails and no opportunity to be distracted. Everyone around me was fully immersed in the experience, so I knew that I had to be as well. The program is structured in a way that requires participants to be fully present to get the most from it, and I fully welcomed that.

How would other executives benefit from attending this program?

I think the greatest value lies in expanding your network and being exposed to different ways of achieving an objective. Pulling yourself out of your day-to-day job and totally immersing yourself with a bunch of people you don't know exposes you to diversity of thought and innovation. You can't really put a price tag on innovation. Any opportunity to get out of your comfort zone–to push yourself toward new ideas and new thinking and a new perspective–is amazing. And it doesn’t stop once you leave the Harvard campus. I now feel connected with the people I met, and I still talk to some of them to exchange best practices and use as sounding boards. The learning and the relationships continue far beyond the on-campus experience. To me, that's invaluable.

What would you say to someone who is considering the program?

If you're going to attend, then fully commit. This program involves long days and long nights, so it's not for the faint of heart. But the reward far outweighs the hard work you have to put in. So, get lots of sleep beforehand, gear up for an intense and worthwhile experience, and be prepared to make memories that will serve you for your lifetime.