Discovering Different Ways to Learn and Engage
To acquire the skills she needed to propel her career trajectory, Hui Cheng Tan completed the first four modules of our Program for Leadership Development (PLD) in January 2020. Looking forward to furthering her learning and achieving HBS alumni status, she was accepted to PLD Module 5, which was scheduled to take place on campus in July 2020. With the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic and resulting safety concerns, however, HBS switched the delivery of Module 5 to a virtual format, which Hui Cheng ultimately decided to attend. Having experienced both the on-campus and virtual deliveries of PLD, she shares her unique perspective with us.
How did the virtual experience differ from being in person?
A big difference was time zone. I live in Australia. The day started at 7:00 p.m. and finished at 3:00 a.m. for me. This meant I would not be able to take advantage of faculty office hours and extended content. I had to balance between doing more versus being non-functional the next day. However, the faculty made extra efforts to connect with me, and I felt truly supported. For example, I sent a message to one faculty member about having to miss her office hours. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a note back from her, and she continued to coach and encourage me throughout the learning process. Another faculty member continued a discussion of a case study with me using Slack and helped supplement my notes with her thoughts. This took added efforts from them, and I really appreciated it.
How was it enhanced?
The HBS Live Online Classroom technology was amazing and worked better than I thought. Engagement with the faculty was still great. Enabling offline discussions on other platforms such as Zoom chat or Slack further enhanced the connections with my classmates. With everyone being remote, we found different ways to engage. For example, I prepared my class discussions on PowerPoint or Excel to help focus the discussion. This approach resonated well with others in the class and quite a few followed.
What did you like the most about the virtual experience?
The virtual experience meant I got to share my learning journey with my family. My children saw me work really hard as I tried to balance work, school, and being mom. I applied my learnings into interactions with them. My family participated in the closing ceremony too. I know my children are now aspiring to attend Harvard.
How would you describe the virtual experience to a colleague who was interested in a virtual program?
The HBS Executive Education virtual experience is an all-in experience that allows you to be fully immersed in the learning experience, connect with the world-class professors and experienced executives in deep personal conversations, and learn from the best in the field—all in the comfort of your own home. The learning experience is deeply personal, and you will take as much as you give. So being courageous in vulnerable conversations with people you have not met is uncomfortable, but the learning will be more than you can imagine. Finally, the virtual experience may mean you are still deep in your day-to-day, so making space to be present is key to the whole journey.