by
Jenn Ash, UNC Kenan-Flagler Forté Fellow, 2012
What
would you do if you had hundreds of the brightest minds in the country together
in one place for 48 hours? Think beyond building a longer contact list - to
building ideas into action. You are a leader, a goal setter, a movement
launcher. Bring your whole self to the Forté
MBA Women’s Leadership Conference and leave with more of what others have to
offer. Here are seven ways to launch your MBA experience to a higher level at
the Forté Conference.
Tell
your story. In this distinguished group of women, we share common qualities of
intellect and leadership, so what makes you different? Your experiences thus
far have unusual moments, game changing decisions and interesting details.
Share your best highlights, not just your hometown and career function. The more you share, the more others can
connect with you.
Seek
out diversity. We learn most from others who are not like us. It’s comfortable
to group with who you know. Step out of
your comfort zone for a few minutes and reach out to a friendly face who can
bring you new perspective.
Know
your goals. If you aspire to work in finance, think about the milestones that
will help you get to that final result. These might include: insider knowledge
of company culture, deadlines for required applications or possible team
assignment options. Recruiters can help you with more than just qualifying for
the interview.
Introduce
others. In a mixed crowd, this puts everyone at ease and makes others grateful
to you. It is also great practice for active listening and helps build
connections for others. For example “Hi Katie, I’m Jenn and this is Tiffany.
She worked in Energy because she has a passion for sustainability”.
Capture
action items. As you absorb the great content from speakers and attendees,
write down not what you hear but what you want to do about it. You’ll leave
with a greater purpose and more than a notebook of great quotes.
Follow
Up. This is the differentiator between those you aspire and those who succeed. Organize
yourself to keep track of details and make time to build a
connection after the event. Connect on LinkedIn, send them a relevant article
or provide some value to the others you meet. Nice to meet you emails are easy
to write and forget.
Engage.
Like many things, you get out of it what you put into it. Listen carefully,
pose a question during Q & A and ask others’ opinions afterward. The more
you participate, the more value you will get on the time you’ve invested.
During your MBA, the most valuable thing you have is your time, so push
yourself to engage, lean in and reap the benefits.
These
strategies will heighten your experience at the Forté MBA Women’s Conference.
As you
embark on your first or second year of your MBA program, keep in mind the MBA
bigger picture: the chance to learn more about yourself and others while
growing your skills and expertise to serve the world. This perspective sounds
like a lofty notion, but can keep you centered on the goal as the days fly
by. It’s a chance - an opportunity - that
you can seize each and every day. Go get ‘em.
Jenn
Ash is the Editor of AvenueGray.com, a blog about blending work and
life. As a Content Marketing Strategist, she advises entrepreneurs on growing
their business with dynamic marketing. To access her free creative marketing
resources, visit www.jennash.com/forte. She was a Forté Fellow at UNC
Kenan-Flagler and currently lives in Charleston, SC.
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