Growing into a New Role

How did you hear about Harvard Business School (HBS) Executive Education?

I researched programs on my own and then talked to a colleague who had attended an HBS program. He spoke very highly about it and said that if I wanted to invest the time, I shouldn't look anywhere else.

Why did you select the SELPI program?

After over 20 years, I was at a point in my career where I needed to broaden my perspective. At the same time, my leadership team wanted me to explore options for enhancing my leadership abilities, given my career trajectory.

I was looking for two things in a program: a leadership coach and the case study method. Because Harvard is known for its case study method, I was drawn to this program, and my leadership team was very supportive.

How have you seen your leadership perspective change over the course of this program?

We've examined a variety of topics and situations, studying approximately 80 case studies. One thing I've recognized is that everything is situational. It's never black or white. Through the classes, you start to notice how you're tuned to think. The people sitting with you have very different perspectives, which helps broaden your own way of viewing things. It's very enriching and very meaningful.

How did the regional focus influence your learning experience?

The program is so relevant. I could not point to anything that wasn't applicable for me in this whole module, and I think I speak for most of my cohort when I say that. There wasn't a time where I said, "Okay, this is not of interest to me." It's a well thought-out program.

While the program is regionally focused, it remains quite global in nature. Some of the case studies looked at the unique market and characteristics of India, while at the same time, they also provided a global perspective that has universal applicability. It's a good mix, contextualized for a group like ours.

What was one thing you learned that you’re excited to bring back to your company?

In the first module, we looked at customer value proposition. It's a fundamental concept, but there are some things that we tend to forget on a day-to-day basis. It's important to examine what drives value for your customers and prioritize that.

What excites you about the business world today?

India is a very exciting place right now, and it's starting to fit into and become much more material in the world economy. Things are moving quickly here. Attending a program tailored to the Indian economy and Indian businesses couldn't have come at a better time for me.

How has SELPI influenced your career trajectory?

The program already helped me advance my career and added tremendous value to me personally. I was selected to attend this program was because I believe I was on a trajectory for growth in my company. In fact, halfway through the program I got promoted. I went from being the CFO to becoming the country manager for the group. That's drastically changed the way I look at things, as well as the expectations of my position.

SELPI has helped me gain a much broader perspective that will not only help me advance my career but also justify the opportunities that I've been given. With all this change, I'm taking away the ability to encapsulate diverse points and use them to make critical, informed, and intelligent decisions in the best possible way. It's been an amazing experience.

Do you plan to stay in touch with any of the other program participants?

They're an amazing group of people. We come from different spheres of life as well as different industries, but we all share the desire to learn and explore our capabilities. With that common purpose, we hit it off from the first module. My living group is really, really strong. We met several times between modules and have already planned a reunion.