Samia and the City

AXP Networking

Tonight I went to an AXP Women's Networking Event at the Gleacher Center Midway Club (a ritzy members club at our downtown GSB location). I met current Executive MBA women who are here from our Singapore and London campuses for their executive elective classes. Then during dinner I sat next to the Associate Dean of Students, Ann Harvilla, and talked to her about the transitional period I'm in. I told her how I sometimes feel lost, and quite underprepared, while trying to find this new career that I'm supposed to be really excited about. She told me something really interesting. When she interviewed at the GSB for her position (in which she is highly regarded), the faculty were doubtful of her ability to get the job done, since she did not have an education in business. She said that she just pushed what she did know: how to connect students with what they needed to succeed. In the end, she really just needed to know people, not derivatives math. Jack Welch once said something very similar to Dean Snyder during an interview. Dean Snyder had asked JW what he thought business schools needed to be teaching. JW said that students should be learning about hiring, firing, and motivating; these skills are just as important as the analytical fundamentals. MBAs are important because they give you a notch on your belt. As you see how you fit in with your peers, you gain confidence. And leadership is all about confidence. In the end, it boiled down to knowing people, and knowing yourself. I can do that.

posted by Samia @ 5:38 PM