Institution: Harvard Business School, USA
Course: Leading Professional Service Firms
Being an Industry Leaders Fund (ILF) recipient has been an amazing experience, a journey that has forced me out of my comfort zone to grow as a leader personally and professionally.
The ILF application process itself was straightforward and enjoyable, requiring deep reflection on where I was in my leadership journey and where I wanted to go. When busy, it is all too easy to avoid self-reflection, however the application process was valuable in itself and the subsequent interview was conducted in a very supportive and relaxed manner.
Selecting an appropriate course proved more challenging than anticipated. Through conversations with Geoff Vogt and industry colleagues, I ultimately settled on the Leading Professional Service Firms course at Harvard Business School (HBS). What a great decision this was.
The lead up to attending the course was intense with considerable pre-reading of numerous case studies and responding to questions on the case. I had previously been involved in studying HBS case studies and was aware of the need to be well prepared prior to attending on the course. Whilst the workload was solid, I quickly found myself absorbed in the case studies provided, which covered a range of topics, all which I found to be highly relevant and relatable. I knew then that the course selection was the right one, and that the HBS case study model suited my learning style.
Arriving on HBS campus on a cold January day, snow falling and squirrels running around was a pinch me moment. From there, mingling with likeminded professionals from across the world, led to one of the most rewarding 7-day experiences I have ever had.
There is a reason HBS is one of the world’s leading business schools. The quality of lecturers just blew me away such was there incredibly engaging, thought provoking and straight-out entertaining presentation style. You couldn’t help but be absorbed and become part of the discussion. Knowing that I could sometimes be one of the quieter ones in large group discussions, the class contribution did challenge me but helped me recognise that my thoughts and ideas were of value.
Evening small group sessions with class members and now friends were an opportunity for discussion, reflection and challenging ideas. These conversations helped open my eyes to different perspectives, broadening and challenging my own thinking.
Key topics through the week that resonated included Operation Transparency, Growth Strategies, Differentiation and Focussed Excellence. Through the lectures and discussions, I realised responding to the case study questions was not about being right or wrong – it was about the thought process, negotiation with others and critical thinking.
The ILF study experience left me with a newfound confidence that I’ve found myself applying in my workplace. It was an opportunity that I am immensely grateful for and as I progress my leadership journey, I will continue to foster the relationships that have been built during the course itself as well as the ILF alumni that I have met along the way.
