Developing the Skills to Connect—and to Lead

Why did you decide to attend PLD and the optional Module 5?

PLD was a great fit for me. I was attracted to the emphasis on leadership and personal development, which isn't typically offered in traditional executive MBA programs from other institutions. Taking Module 5 was part of my plan from the beginning. It builds on the foundational skills and the framework of strategic change that we learned in PLD. During Modules 1-4, you kick off a process that has momentum of its own. In Module 5 you extend your ability as a leader to drive that process and effect critical change in your organization.

How did your PLD peers enhance the learning experience?

When I started PLD, I was surprised by how close I became to my living group. Through classroom discussions, study sessions, and the experience of living together, we built such strong bonds that it was hard to imagine leaving.

In Module 5, I was also surprised that we could form bonds so quickly with a new group of people, in a new environment, with a much shorter time horizon. It became clear to me that in PLD we had learned the valuable skill of becoming connected to others. We could very quickly get down to the deeper issues that matter in becoming stronger and more effective leaders.

What was a highlight of the curriculum for you?

As an operations person, I found the congruence model to be extremely valuable. It provided a framework for everything I've learned in PLD. The most impactful part of the program, however, was authentic leadership development. After absorbing the authentic leadership framework and foundational skills, you are prepared to think more deeply about how you are going to move the effort of change and leadership forward both personally and professionally.

How would you describe the value of PLD?

PLD helps you develop the most important skills needed to lead growth within an organization, and provides you with these skills in the context of your current work challenges. By the time you've finished with PLD, you're in a much better position to plug the gaps and really make a difference to your business.

Like anything in life, you're going to get as much out of this experience as you put into it. You need to give yourself over to the process and have faith that the program will take you somewhere, even if at first you're not quite sure where. I felt we'd come full circle at the end of Module 4, but Module 5 provided a clearer lens to that perspective.