Brian Donne, CEO of Express Vending a leading supplier of premium quality refreshment services for people at work. He came to the Owner/President Management (OPM) program to better his professional point of view.
The first session of OPM stands out clearly in Brian Donne's mind.
"We had to draw our life story—pointing from where we were born to where we are now to how we got to Harvard," explains Donne. "People from all walks of life and different parts of the world had to explain their journey. There were tears and there were smiles. I told people personal things about myself that I've never even told my best friend. It broke down this huge barrier."
From that point forward, participants were open to "a whole range of experiences and knowledge," he says. The case study method, in particular, helped Donne gain a new perspective on how to solve problems as a CEO. He realized that "the problems we face in business aren't new; other people have faced them before," he says. "In OPM, you learn how to look at things differently and react to situations differently."
The program has changed Donne as a person and as a professional. "I believe I'm a better boss and a better CEO," he says. "And I think I'm a better friend, better person, better husband, and better dad."
Although his last unit of OPM has come to an end, Donne plans to keep in close contact with his program peers in the years to come. "You can reach out and find people who will understand you, understand your problem, and give you some sensible advice," he says. "That's really important because, as an entrepreneur, there are not many people that you can speak to who get it."
Reflecting on his experience, Donne quotes Henry Ford: "'Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success.' To me, that is what OPM has been."
