Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Executive Education
  • Apply / Log-in
  • Program Finder
  • Blog
  • Subscribe
  • Health & Safety
  • FAQs
Executive Education
Programs for IndividualsPrograms for OrganizationsHBS ExperienceFacultyAdmissionsParticipant Stories
  • Programs for Individuals
    Dropdown
    • Comprehensive Leadership Programs
    • Topic-Focused Programs
    • Regional Programs
    • Virtual Programs
    • Certificate of Management Excellence
    • Corporate Director Certificate
    • Digital Transformation Certificate
  • Programs for Organizations
  • HBS Experience
    Dropdown
    • The Value
    • The Learning Experience
    • The Virtual Experience
    • Alumni Network
    • Admitted? Plan Your Stay
    • Insights
  • Faculty
  • Admissions
    Dropdown
    • Admissions Requirements
    • Admissions Process
    • International Applicants
    • Payment, Cancellation, and Deferral
    • Already Admitted
  • Participant Stories
Executive Education
Harvard Business School Right arrow Executive Education Right arrow Participant Stories Right arrow Thinking Unconventionally at SPNM
... Right arrow Harvard Business School Right arrow Executive Education Right arrow Participant Stories Right arrow Thinking Unconventionally at SPNM

Thinking Unconventionally at SPNM

Find the courage to make tradeoffs in the pursuit of excellence.
Thinking Unconventionally at SPNM
Find the courage to make tradeoffs in the pursuit of excellence.
Featured Program
Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management
Status

Limited Availability

Date

09–15 JUL 2023

Format

In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.

Location

HBS Campus

Become a stronger leader, strategist, and change agent who can build a more sustainable and successful nonprofit organization.
Download Download Brochure
Need Help? Contact Us:
Program Advising team
Email: executive_education@hbs.edu
Program Finder
Featured Program
Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management
Status

Limited Availability

Date

09–15 JUL 2023

Format

In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.

Location

HBS Campus

Become a stronger leader, strategist, and change agent who can build a more sustainable and successful nonprofit organization.
Download Download Brochure
Program Finder

As an alumnus of Stanford and executive director of the Exploratorium in San Francisco, Dennis Bartels had always assumed that East Coast thinking was too conservative. But all of that changed with his experience at HBS, where he learned to reexamine his professional relationships and anticipate new trends in the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) program.

What were your impressions before coming to HBS and how were those impressions changed?

I got my graduate degree at Stanford, so I had the impression that the East Coast would be a little bit more conservative and traditional. I had accepted the notion that the West Coast is more disruptive and more open to provocative ideas. But I was very impressed with the level of unconventional thinking at HBS—and the fact that it's connected to some very good empirical research. The combination of research, experiences, and case studies is designed to overthrow some conventional thinking, and I like that very much.

What do you think of the case study method?

It's a great way to learn. I like the fact that they didn't ask us what we would do in that position, but instead treated the case as an analogy and metaphor for our own circumstances. Each of us examined how similar or not the case was to a particular challenge or problem in our organization and what lessons we could derive from it. If it wasn't similar, it just became interesting content and I stored it in the back of my mind because it could become useful someday. And in some cases, it was dead on, although I might not have previously framed my challenge exactly the same way. By reframing my challenge based on the case, I found that it was possible to discover a breakthrough or a solution that I hadn't thought of.

Did you experience any "aha" moments in the program?

Definitely. One of them had to do with the notion of having the courage to be bad. The program's case studies and research backed up the idea that it's okay to make tradeoffs when pursuing excellence. There are just some things we're not going to be great at, and there's a good reason why we've chosen another area to focus on.

Did you have the opportunity to meet people and build your network?

Absolutely. The amazing number of international participants has been one of the best parts of the program because I think that kind of diverse perspective only leads to aha moments. It makes the whole experience foolproof because we encounter diverse viewpoints that surprise us and make us think.

What would you say are the top takeaways from the program?

One great takeaway is that HBS is really on top of trends that I had not thought about or even imagined. That presents brand-new opportunities and ways of thinking about how we might solve some of our own problems—everything from open data and destabilizing control over our brand, to really fluid strategic situations. Is it smarter to think about mergers and partnerships rather than being proprietary with our brand and our information? So it's invaluable to get a jump on things that are happening in other sectors and may eventually hit our sector.

Also, there's the tension around mission and brand and focus. I was challenged to rethink my relationship with my closest donors and my board in a way that doesn't feel oppositional or stuck. Sometimes they want something I can't deliver, and so it can become difficult to engage deeply with them. The program introduced new ways to go right back at them instead of sheltering and protecting the organization from them.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

I was extremely impressed with the brilliance of the faculty in this program. Every one of them is world class.

Featured Program
Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management
Status

Limited Availability

Date

09–15 JUL 2023

Format

In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.

Location

HBS Campus

Become a stronger leader, strategist, and change agent who can build a more sustainable and successful nonprofit organization.
Download Download Brochure
Need Help? Contact Us:
Program Advising team
Email: executive_education@hbs.edu
Program Finder
Featured Program
Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management
Status

Limited Availability

Date

09–15 JUL 2023

Format

In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.

Location

HBS Campus

Become a stronger leader, strategist, and change agent who can build a more sustainable and successful nonprofit organization.
Download Download Brochure
Program Finder

View Frequently Asked Questions

Subscribe to Our Emails

Back to Top Arrow up

ǁ
Campus Map
Executive Education
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
Contact Us
→Virtual Tour
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College