I received my MBA in 1986 from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and started my career as a high-yield analyst on October 19, 1989. In fact, there was a photo of me in Time magazine walking to work— the day the stock market crashed!
After becoming sober in 2018, I embarked on a new chapter: a career in wellness. I’m a recovery coach, health coach, mindfulness meditation practitioner, sound bath healer, and breath work facilitator
When I read in the Kellogg alumni magazine about their Global Women’s Summit, I said to myself –Why not? I wasn’t sure how much I would get out of the summit as I would be amongst corporate financiers and venture capitalists. What could I glean from the summit, or how would I be able to impact my fellow alumni as well?
Well, it was a life-changing event. Not just for my business, but there were many life lessons as well!
Visiting the campus of Northwestern on the shores of Lake Michigan awash in fall colors, I was swept away by its beauty. Having visited many college campuses during my five children’s college journeys, I still regard Northwestern as stunning. And the 2017 new home of the Kellogg School was new-world— I wish it were like that when I was there! When I arrived in 1984, computers were main frame in the basement of a lecture hall!
The two day summit, included several key note speakers, breakout sessions, book signings, and a cocktail dinner reception— all the speakers were either affiliated with Kellogg or Northwestern University. Even the closing speaker –Oprah Winfrey—albeit she spoke virtually from her home in Maui—taught a class at Kellogg in the early 2000’s!
Here are just a few of the prestigious speakers:
- Francesca Cornelli, Dean of the Kellogg School of Management
- Julie Castro Abrams, CEO and Chair of How Women Lead
- Tara McNally, EVP, Head of Content and Executive Producer Harpo Productions and OWN
- Roshni Nadar, Chairperson, HCL Tech
- Jenny Just, Co-founder and managing partner at PEAK6 Investments L
- Stephanie Gallo, Chief Marketing Officer at Gallo
- Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX
Below are some quotes from the summit that really resonated with me:
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that’s changing quickly, the only strat4egy that is guaranteed to fail, is not taking risks” Mark Zuckenberg
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw away the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade wings in your sails. Explore, discover, dream.” Mark Twain
“We fear that we will regret asking, but in the long term, it is our failure to ask that will regret” Panel Participant
“Your legacy is not one thing, it’s every life you touch.” Maya Angelou
What was my business accomplishment at the Summit?
I listened to the keynote speaker, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson HCL Tech, a former MBA student at Kellogg running one of the largest corporations in the world in her early 40’s. There was time for a few questions….It was my turn, I didn’t ask what most contributes to your bottom line, or how to motivate your employees—- I asked, “As a holistic healer who helps people deal with anxiety and stress, what do you offer your employees to support their mental health?”
In her keynote speech, Oprah said that being underestimated is a superpower.
I knew I had two superpowers already—empathy and recovery— but now I add “being underestimated.”
The summit was powerful. I was able to connect with alumni, renowned business leaders across many industries.
The biggest lessons I took away from the Summit
- Failure is a great teacher—do it repeatedly.
- We must take risks to succeed.
- We are in danger of overthinking and underdoing.
- Never leave without an ask.
- No is not an end, it’s a request for new information.
- Intention will become your outcome.
Although I may not have been a typical “business” participant (in the corporate sense), I was able to connect with people, make contacts, and realize that I have much to give and can make an impact!
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