Five years later: Reflections from my MBA reunion
A strategist, operator and innovator, Alyssa Johnson ’19 MBA, is passionate about solving complex problems to promote social change in her role as a climate resilience solutions manager for global insurance firm Munich Re. She recently returned to the Kellogg Global Hub in Evanston, Illinois, to attend Reunion Weekend with other alumni from the Class of 2019, and shares her favorite takeaways here.
Never before have I felt so mentally transported to a different time than stepping into The Hub as I returned to my MBA alma mater, Kellogg School of Management, this past weekend for the first time since graduation in 2019. I was instantly flooded with such positive memories of the experiences I had and relationships I made there. It was an energizing era and one I am eternally grateful for. Five years seems like both a flash and an eternity at the same time – short in the scheme of my adulthood and almost 15-year career with Munich Re, but long in the sense of how different life looks now, two kids later. There is no better prompt for reflection than reconnecting with former peers. Back to normal life this week, here are a few learnings and reminders I took away from my trip down memory lane:
The tale of the Chinese farmer
I used to think that if I planned enough, I could maximally control outcomes, which assumed I knew which outcomes were best to begin with. In reality, I’ve experienced twists and turns I couldn’t have expected, many of which ended up being blessings in disguise or set me on alternate, but equally rewarding, paths. At school, my peers and I put so much intentionality into our experience and ambition, with many reaching for the “perfect” job or plan only to find later it wasn’t what it was cracked up to be or that priorities and interests evolved. I’m getting better now at learning not to judge an unexpected outcome at face value, realizing that it’s rarely clear what non-linear path I’ve redirected to. I think of the quote often attributed to John Lennon: “Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.”
Investment in skills and philosophies
Kellogg’s purpose statement is, “to educate, equip, and inspire brave leaders who build strong organizations and wisely leverage the power of markets to create lasting value.” I can’t help but focus on the phrase “brave leader.” I have realized that hard skill development is important, but most useful when complemented by a thoughtful personal leadership philosophy. One’s approach to leadership is something many people rarely take the time to pause and contemplate. Business school did allow for the space and resources to think about this at length. It’s also where I developed my own purpose statement and spent time thoroughly exploring my strengths and values, in a way that has allowed me to navigate with clarity and confidence.
The power of networks
Through my experience at Kellogg, I learned to appreciate both strong and weak ties. While I spent this past weekend predominantly reconnecting with some of my closer friends and I love the depth of conversation we can get into about life, our personal and professional growth, and overall satisfaction, I’ve had many, many conversations with weaker ties through the alumnae or current student network over the past five years, and these have greatly magnified the “inside scoop” I have access to at other companies and in other industries. Friends are amazing, but a contact who is willing to pick up the phone or share some wisdom isn’t to be overlooked either. I’m glad I have a network that spans the full spectrum of closeness.
Savor what Is fleeting
During my time in the One-Year MBA Program, the fleeting nature of the experience made me highly aware at all times throughout the year of how fast it would pass. With that, I was able to marvel at the beauty of the campus, the magnetism of an awesome project group, the brilliant insight of an interesting class, a good restaurant I know I’d be soon moving away from . . . Real life rarely comes with such defined seasons and it can be a lot harder to appreciate what you’re going to miss when you can’t pinpoint when the phase you’re in is going to pass. My revisit to campus is a keen reminder to take in all experiences, even the mundane ones, as if you won’t have them indefinitely, because it’s most probable you won’t. Be proactive in savoring the things you know you’ll reminisce about one day.
Looking back, I realize I’ll likely never again be surrounded by such a concentrated group of brilliant, ambitious, self- and professional-development-seeking people in an extremely similar phase of life. As colorful as that community was, it wasn’t at all like real life. Yet, it was my real life for a very short period. I’m not sure what work and life will bring in the next five years, but I do know that Kellogg proved to be a pivotal stop in my continuous learning journey. I am optimistic that the energy reignited this weekend will continue to fuel my curiosity and drive through to next reunion in 2029 and beyond. How nice it was to be back!
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