3. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
I wish I had realized how many of my classmates were from
advantageous personal backgrounds. Trying to measure my success
against theirs was a comparison in which many of them had already
received a significant head start by virtue of the favorable
circumstances they were born into. I would have been more satisfied
with my choices both at HBS and immediately after HBS had realized
this earlier.
4. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
HBS was an grandly self-indulgent experience at times, and it truly was
a privilege to spend a lot of time thinking about yourself and
contemplating big questions like what you want out of work and life.
However, going back to work has been a reminder that the world does
not revolve around me. I wish I had framed my work experience less as
"what I want/need/deserve for my life and career" and more as "how
can I serve/help/contribute."
Graduating HBS has been much like graduating undergrad--you might
feel like you accomplished something big, but in the real working world,
you're just starting, and often, at the bottom of the post-MBA ladder.
5. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
Many of my section mates are "struggling" post HBS - I'm purposely
using this term in the broadest sense. I've come to realize that
struggling is a common denominator among those who are working on
difficult issues to make a difference. One thing I wish I had known
before graduating from HBS is that it's OKAY to struggle!
6. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
Don't stress too much about finding the perfect job. Take it easy.
Whatever happens happens. It really is true that the job turnover rate
among our peers is insanely high. My classmates have a ton of horror
stories as well as success stories. The thing they mostly have in common
is that you have little to no control over the outcome. So don't get too
caught up or emotionally invested.
7. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
Question relationships and priorities around you. What people are
worth investing in that I'm currently spending enough time with? What
relationships perhaps need to be deemphasized or stop altogether?
Post-HBS is a good time to do a check up on who is in your life and
how you relate to those people.
8. Which parts of your MBA experience have proved most helpful in your career
and personal life? Which were least helpful?
The most helpful aspect of HBS so far has been the classes about dealing with
people. Being effective in any organization (even as a startup founder raising money!)
is all about influencing people to evolve their perspective, adjust their positions,
change their behavior. With or without a big title, it's been clear that "getting shit
done" is a function of your ability to "let other people have your way."
I also really appreciate living in a city (San Francisco) with a huge network of my
classmates and older alumni. Make sure to stay in touch the people from your Class
that you know and make friends with those you don't--you're all in this together! I'd
recommend reaching out to alumni in your industry--they can be super helpful in
making connections for you and providing advice and support.
The least helpful part has been to readjust my budget to normal life--start cutting out
those expensive dinners and trips now! :)
.
9. Which parts of your MBA experience have proved most helpful in
your career and personal life? Which were least helpful?
Even though I went back to the same industry as I was in before HBS,
I've noticed that my job has evolved to much more of a relationship
management role. I learned a lot about managing relationships during
my MBA. This includes all the lifelong friends I've made, disagreeing
with teammates, making logical arguments to support what I think is
right and learning to have difficult conversations... All of these
experiences have paid dividends in my personal and professional life..
10. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
Despite what your two years at HBS might lead you to believe, the real
world doesn’t hand out 1’s just for talking…..and talking a lot. Long
term success depends on having something substantive to say, and for
that you might actually have to learn something from the people around
you. At least for the first 6 months, try to listen more and talk less. You
might be surprised to discover how smart everyone else is.
11. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
Don't worry so much about how great your job or company seems to
be or how well you feel you're doing after a few months, or even a year
in. Impossible as it may be, try not to compare yourself against your
friends. I've spoken to so many incredibly successful alumni that only
found their calling 5 or 10 years after graduating. The road is long and
windy, so stay focused on helping others with passion and humility
rather than advancing your own ambitions or passions. If you help
others succeed, your success will surely follow.
12. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
Keep your resume fresh and keep networking and low-key interviewing.
ESPECIALLY if you are going to work at a start-up or a high growth
company. A year is a long time and many things can change--the dream
job can turn into a political nightmare, or the working dynamic can be
hampered by people beyond your immediate boss(es). Always, always be
refining Plan B. You may need it sooner than you think.
13. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
Enjoy the time at school! It flies by and real life is just around the
corner. Nothing is forever, so don't put so much pressure on yourself
to "get it right" at school or immediately after school. (i.e. first job out
of HBS).
15. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
Don't be afraid to experiment in your career. At some point - now, after
your 2-3 years in consulting - you will have to choose a path amongst
many, many possible career paths. Truth be told, it's highly unlikely that
you'll have done your analysis just right, spoken to just the right people,
and gotten in with the perfect job at the right time this first go. Be
willing to experiment in your career and try new things, because that's
the only real way you'll find out what feels right. And the risk is
probably much less than you think.
16. Which parts of your MBA experience have proved most helpful in
your career and personal life? Which were least helpful?
It taught me to embrace not winning every time and to see such an
outcome as progress towards a larger goal. I have failed many times
personally and professionally since HBS. My classmates have failed and
some of you may. But also, I have succeeded in many ways that I never
expected and trust me you will too.
17. Which parts of your MBA experience have proved most helpful in
your career and personal life? Which were least helpful?
Most helpful for my personal life was Clay Christensen's talk (and HBR
article) on how to measure your life. Remember that the things that give
real satisfaction in life are hard to measure, and instead we are biased to
pay attention to things that are more quantifiable and tangible, including
salary and job titles. In my career, the most important advice I got was
from Prof. Eisenmann who encouraged us to find our tribe - other
people with common interests and purpose that can inspire and elicit
great work from us. The least helpful - I honestly can't think of a
course that was a complete waste of time. Even courses that have no
relevance for my job today, have still at some point helped me with
insight that was useful.
18. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
Find something you are deeply interested and passionate about, a
problem in the world you want to solve. Become an expert in the
industry/issue, hold out for the dream job, and if you don't get it either
keep trying or start your own organization to solve it. Don't settle for
something that appears good on paper now, or gives you a title that you
find distinguished. Neither lasts, and all my friends who took a job
because they thought it would look good, have all transitioned away.
Life is too short, and you'll soon recognize this. On the contrary, 100%
(really, 100%) of my friends and colleagues from grad school who took
the time to think about what inspires them most and networked in that
field have found amazing jobs.
The happiest and most fulfilled people I know are those who are doing
something professionally that inspires them, and make time to also have
a loving family life at home. Everything else is short term thinking.
Stay long term focused.
19. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
Make sure you live a deliberate and not a passive life : You've hopefully
over the past two years gotten a strong sense of what topics and
problems excite you and what feels important to spend your time on.
Hold on tight to these guiding principles, because once you're released
into the real-world, all sorts of social pressures, norms, personal
insecurities, and job-market realities can ultimately push you away from
the career path that you wanted when you left HBS.
21. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
Don't worry much - if at all - about your title or level of seniority or
pay. Worry about learning. Worry about being respected, valued and
liked. Worry about finding a great teacher and mentor. Be humble.
You'll be amazed where that approach can take you in terms of title,
level of seniority and pay 10 years down the road.
22. Which parts of your MBA experience have proved most helpful in
your career and personal life? Which were least helpful?
My HBS friends (and not the broader network or my entire class or my
whole section...my best friends) have been the very most helpful aspect
of my MBA experience professionally and personally; they advise me;
they connect me with great people and great opportunities; they ground
me; they live my ups and downs with me (and I with them); they teach
me; they expand my thinking and my experiences. I truly treasure them
and cannot thank HBS enough for bringing us together.
23. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
Travel, spend time with your friends, connect with your family. Likely
very few of you have kids yet; when they come (if they come), they are
wonderful and change your life in many great ways...but when
combined with work, they also limit the amount of time you have for
travel, friends and even extended family. So don't be work, work, work
all the time right after HBS assuming you'll have time for the "rest of
life" later.
25. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
You CANNOT do it all...to place expectations on yourself that you will
be a great business person/employee, spouse/partner, parent--all at the
same time is unrealistic. Be forgiving with yourself; do the best you can.
26. Which parts of your MBA experience have proved most helpful in
your career and personal life? Which were least helpful?
The friends. They help you professionally and personally. They are the
enduring parts of HBS and by far, the most important. Perhaps oddly, I
think the friendships become stronger the more years have passed since
our days together on campus.
27. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
Demonstrate diligence, curiosity, and work ethic to current and
prospective employers; we want engaged employees who care about the
work they do and the people with whom they work. It's harder and
harder to find those people these days. Oh, and be nice. It matters more
than you think.
28. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
In terms of priorities as you're choosing a job, you should first pick a
place where you will be happy to live. Next, find some very smart
people whose company you enjoy to work with. The next priority is the
specific industry. The final (last) input to your job decision is the
money. If you're in a place you love, with bright interesting people, and
the industry is interesting to you, the money is less important.
30. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
Take the time to build relationships slowly and invest in them - rather
than seeing how many business cards you can collect. And especially if
there is no present business opportunity. People want to do business
with friends.
31. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
Graduating from HBS will provide an initial stepping stone, but it will
take hard work and perseverance to succeed. Don't rest on your laurels.
Go out there and make a difference.
32. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
Index funds baby! Set up an automatic investment plan, dollar cost
average an amount every month, and forget about the market. Even
small amounts make a big difference later on. Use your time advantage.
Don’t wait for that $1 million bonus to start investing. You will be
surprised how much you have 20 years later, despite bull and bear
markets.
33. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
I hit the screen. Yep...did not graduate, I don't advertise it, but it did
happen and my life is better for the experience. Because of the
circumstances that arose from hitting the screen, I developed a
relationship with fear, failure and focus
Although hitting the screen made it difficult to sell my self in a
traditional sense, I found that the community of business doers versus
the community of business posers is stocked full of individuals with
varying degrees of incompletion in one manner or another with respect
to certain life endeavors.
I NEVER gave up....even when others gave up on me.
My advice is to leave it all on the field. Make long term moves.
34. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
Don't feel entitled. Be humble, be focused. Work hard, make a
difference. Do what you love. I am returning for my 20th reunion this
year and looking back I wish I had spent more time doing what I really
loved. Don't neglect your family. There are times your career will take
priority, but always find time for your significant other and your kids.
36. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
I did not know how long careers are and how much time you have to
find your way to a variety of satisfying roles and jobs. IF you stay
flexible and alert and willing to take some risks, you can have fresh
starts.
37. Which parts of your MBA experience have proved most helpful in
your career and personal life?
The friendships and connections I made at HBS were very helpful in
my career and greatly enriched my personal life. I would encourage all
of you to work hard to foster and maintain your relationships once you
leave HBS. Jobs and family life will put significant demands on your
time but don’t let “life” get in the way of staying in touch with your
section mates.
38. Which parts of your MBA experience have proved most helpful in your career
and personal life? Which were least helpful?
• Learning how to do small talk—I was comfortable giving presentations of my
work and having deeper discussions, but small talk was all new to me. So many
parties at HBS, where everyone is looking over your shoulder so you’d better be
interesting!
• The network—this especially mattered when I was working in my three startups. It
is less meaningful when you are working in a well-resourced enterprise.
• Bulletin column—I am section secretary. It has been a great excuse to stay in
touch with my section.
• I was the only person in my graduating class to join a startup and there was not
much preparation for the ambiguity or speed of that choice.
• The first two reunions are kind of sucky—people are too busy worrying about
their status and relative success to be real. Thankfully, that shifts in subsequent
reunions.
39. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
If you aspire to starting a company, keep your personal burn low. Live well within
your means and save as much money as you can. This is harder than it sounds in the
face of the first five years out of school when most of your classmates will take on
expensive life choices.
Also, I did not stay in touch with many professors and I wish I did. When I started
my company I could have used a bit of help from them for fundraising or networking.
If you are going to pursue I-banking or consulting set a strict five year limit on your
tenure or you may never get out. That is unless you do not want to. But why would
you want to spend your career on the sidelines watching the real business people take
action and build value?
If you start a company, make sure the first twenty-five employees look like the college
educated population where you live: on all factors: age, gender, race, sexual
orientation. You will have a 31% higher return on invested capital if you have a
diverse founding team. If you wait to crack that problem later you probably never will
and you will hurt your company and investors.
41. What do you wish you had known when you graduated HBS?
The one thing I wished I had realized at the time of graduation is that a
career is a marathon and not a sprint. No decision is irreversible and
that if you find yourself on a path that no longer feels right, just make a
course correction and get back to doing what makes you happy. Every
career will have some bumps in the road, some at the beginning some
later on. But in the long run you will learn from your missteps and be a
better person for it.
42. Which parts of your MBA experience have proved most helpful in
your career and personal life?
The rigors of the case methodology, the ability to work under pressure
and the courage to question established truths.
43. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
You are an incredibly privileged group with an outstanding education.
Put it to good use whether in public service, community service,
consulting, investment banking et al. You have much to offer and much
will be expected.
While you will not start at the top of the organization, your only ceiling
will be the ceiling you put on yourself. Don’t be fearful but hopeful.
Best of luck.
44. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
• Don't just do well...also do good.
• Most people have 4 or 5 careers inside them but sadly only pursue
one. Don't be afraid to reinvent yourself.
• It is true, you meet the same people going down that you met going
up, so be nice to everyone because you may come across them again.
• Re: Questionable Behavior. Don't do anything that would take more
than 30 seconds to explain to your grandmother
45. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
My advice to graduating students would be to follow your passion and
pursue whatever career path excites you. Don’t get hung up worrying
about the offers your fellow students are receiving or feeling you have
to go into whatever field is hot right now. Don’t just look at the comp
package, but consider the personal side of the equation, too. And
remember that as you move up in any organization/venture it will be
the chemistry between you and your peers/bosses that will determine
how happy and satisfied you are at your firm.
46. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
The most important decision you will make is who you marry.
Diligence heavily!
47. What advice would you give graduating students this year?
• Focus on the job you are in and doing a great job in it. It will get you noticed and
opportunities will come your way, especially early in your career.
• Be a team player.
• Always have a solutions focus.
• Realize that you will be most fulfilled and most successful in those roles that are at
the intersection of what you are really good at and what you are passionate about. Find jobs
that are in that intersection and you will thrive.
• Passion is a force multiplier and it’s contagious. It is also hard to fake. When I am
looking to hire people that is something that I look for.
• Bridge your gaps so that you are constantly expanding your skill set and capabilities.
• Build relationships; your network will be key to your career development. The
likelihood that any one of you will stay at one employer your entire career is remote and your
network will be a key source of future opportunities.
• Listen more. Lead with questions.
• Don’t confuse the power of the position with the power of the individual.
• You paid a lot of money for an HBS education, protect that investment by building a
network within the broader HBS alumni community. You will meet interesting and influential
people whom you can learn from. Who knows what doors those connections will open for you.
