So, we are back to school in a new year – 2010 – and more and more it is the topic of conversation that we are graduating soon, really soon. It’s true, the time left for some of us at Goizueta is dwindling, but I am no less busy than before. Of course its a result of my extracurricular choices, and of course I have a lot on my plate. But these extracurricular choices have really been some of the best learning experiences of my life.
Getting involved in leadership roles is expected at a school with the agenda to “build Principled Leaders for Global Enterprise”. We have leadership courses and we read cases, but this year I have learned leadership in practice. Remember GMSC, that course I wrote about last year? Well this year I am the Managing Director of the course, and basically make sure things work out and we that we maintain the course. I lead a team of 6 directors and have a faculty adviser to help guide us through the process. This role has really challenged me in interesting ways, while also allowing me to practice some of the leadership methodology I have learned. I have been able to develop best practices, which I really think I can use in real life.
What’s more, having to prioritize between leadership roles, similar to other endeavors in life, has been particularly interesting. I have been in leadership roles before, and I have had to juggle responsibilities, but leading and managing alpha – male and female, super smart, assertive MBAs has been one of the best learning experiences of my life thus far. So the point of this message, that piling roles on to our plates may seem scary, but there are only 2 years in B-school….some may choose to load up on classes and others may choose extracurricular – either way, there is some good, and real leadership to be learned for us all.
And it’s not all intense, having to choose which wines to serve at a wine dinner, and which days of the semester to visit the High Museum of Art are also some of the demands of these roles. Not at all bad skills to capitalize on for the future!
Read the full article: Leadership for Life