Educational background: Bates College, Economics
Current or most recent position: Fidelity Investments, Vice President, Customer Experience
Through the many case studies I worked on at MIT Sloan, I had the chance to tackle management challenges in a variety of industries and environments — everything from a low-tech manufacturing plant with a hostile workforce to a multi-national service provider on the verge of bankruptcy. In addition to exposing me to many things I otherwise might not have been, each was a lesson in the value of approaching a situation from multiple points of view. Often, I would think I had “the” answer, but my classmates and professors consistently challenged me to see how one might come to different conclusions. While recognizing that there is rarely one way to solve a problem was helpful, learning how to look at the same problem from several perspectives has been invaluable.
One of the best aspects of my MIT Sloan experience is that it did not end when I received my diploma. I am lucky to have a strong network of female friends from MIT Sloan who truly are there in good times and in bad. We counsel, console, cheer on, challenge, and congratulate each other on everything from work and family matters to wine and food pairings. Those of us who live close by gather on a fairly regular basis. Although our get-togethers are not quite as rowdy as the weekly C-functions we enjoyed as Sloanies, they are just as much fun and the conversations are equally interesting — but the food is probably better! It's been especially nice to expand the network to include spouses, kids, and others. In fact, I met my husband through an MIT Sloan classmate and bought my house from another!
© 2013 MIT SLOAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT