Benjamin Quadros, CEO of Brazil-based tech company BRQ, enrolled in his first program at Harvard Business School (HBS) Executive Education in 2008—and he hasn't looked back since. To date, Quadros has completed seven programs at HBS and now feels "more confident to lead the company and inspire our employees," he says. In this interview, Quadros describes his experience in the most recent program he attended, Reimagining Strategy.
I had three reasons for attending. One was the quality of the faculty team, as I had already seen Professor Cynthia Montgomery teach in the Owner/President Management program. Two, I wanted to learn new strategies for the digital world. Three, I wanted to return to the on-campus environment at HBS.
It's amazing how good the on-campus environment is and how well it's designed for the learning process. And it seems to get better every time I return to campus, with new buildings and better facilities. There's a great place to study around every corner. My favorite spots are the Baker Library and the gym at Shad Hall.
The program taught me that timing, creativity, and collective intelligence are more important than ever for creating an effective strategy. I also gained new strategic tools and frameworks that I’m already using in my company.
The first program I completed at HBS was Owner/President Management, and it was a life-changing experience. The other HBS Executive Education programs I completed—Disruptive Innovation, Aligning Strategy and Sales, Leading Professional Service Firms, Making Corporate Boards More Effective, and Achieving Breakthrough Service—were also great and taught me how to maintain a student mindset. To quote Einstein, "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know." Besides that, the HBS network is fantastic and I've made enduring friends. In fact, a few of us started the HBS Alumni Angels of Brazil, and today we have more than 100 members.
Understand the case method, study the cases in advance, take time to tour the HBS facilities, share ideas, be open to friends, and relax and enjoy. You will gain so many insights for your business!
