Reflecting on enterprise leadership with Executive MBA alumni

We had the pleasure to welcome two of our alumni, Mary Schug-Barnhardt (MBA ’20) and Mark White (MBA ’01), back to campus recently for the Broad EMBA Enterprise Leadership Academy’s C-Suite Speaker Series. It was awesome, not only because we have such terrific alumni (we do!) but because it reinforced so many of the key messages and underlying values of our Executive MBA — and in doing so, it reminded me of why we do what we do.

Schug-Barnhardt and White both expressed that today’s leaders need an inquisitive growth mindset, to take initiative, to work with and through others and to add value in a way that’s consistent with the organization’s values. This is precisely the way we think about developing leaders. Enterprise leadership takes people who collaboratively lead, influence and deliver ethical and sustained results. As a program, and as Broad Spartans, that’s what we do.

The conversation I facilitated with these executives and our students was inspiring and energizing, as it reminded me of the “why” of our program and the impact we have through our alumni.

As one recent alum noted, “The Broad EMBA Enterprise Leadership Academy was a really good opportunity for me to digest and document all the key takeaways from the program. I was able to see what I could apply to my current role and future by taking full advantage of everything the program has to offer.”

Some days, it’s easy to get bogged down in details or frustrated with a tactic that doesn’t go as planned, and in doing so we run the risk of missing our broader impact. Personally, I’m grateful to have a role that allows me to work with so many amazing people: our students, alumni, faculty and staff. And I’m grateful that literally every day, I see another one of our alumni taking on a new challenge, a new role, a new recognition, a new way to make an impact.

Fall is a good time to step back and reflect on your why and on what you can do to take initiative and add value. Don’t wait for someone to ask you to step in; rather, step up. Use your resources, your values and your personal vision to make your world incrementally better. Then bring someone along with you. That’s enterprise leadership in action.