In the Program for Leadership Development (PLD) at Harvard Business School (HBS), Elba Torres Ornelas learned not only about important leadership concepts and skills, but also about her unique capacity to leverage those ideas in her own life.
I did a great deal of research on different schools to find a program that I felt could change my life, both professionally and personally. Attending HBS was always a dream of mine, and when I discovered the Program for Leadership Development (PLD), I was immediately interested in the quality of people, professors, and level of knowledge that it offered.
While I didn't know what to expect, looking back I can see that PLD changed my life. I chose HBS because of its reputation for quality educational content as well as the professors, but I also benefited by collaborating with colleagues—people who are very successful leaders and amazing human beings. Another unexpected benefit was the self-discovery experience. I learned a lot about myself, and I'm grateful for the insights I gained.
I loved the facilities at HBS, and I've had a great experience every time I return. Everything is so well organized that it sets the standard for me now. I now measure my work against the "HBS way of doing things," and that has been valuable.
The opportunity to be on campus and meeting people from different parts of the world who work in different industries and who were at different levels of career maturity was as interesting as it was engaging. We all had so much to share.
The biggest changes are in the way I perceive opportunities and in the size and quality of my network. I understand now that I don’t have to have all the answers regarding a particular role. I just need to be able to ask the right questions.
My network is now larger and filled with people who can advise me on many issues. I've built relationships not just with my PLD colleagues, but also with their friends and colleagues as well as the people I’ve met through the HBS alumni community. The quality and quantity of people that you get to know is amazing.
PLD is worth it. You have to invest in yourself. If you don't believe that you’re worth it, no one else will either. PLD is an immensely rewarding experience. You will gain knowledge and skills, you will get to know remarkable people from different parts of the world, and perhaps most importantly, you will learn a lot about yourself—and that will change your life.
