Journey Through Case Studies

The journey of being a case study taught at the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program at the Babson College by Prof Jack McCarthy

When Jack first discussed the case with me, I was skeptical, but also excited. I was not sure whether I would like to have my life documented and discussed. Although I have been very interested in reflections in different ways, it has also been a private affair. Likewise, as much as I have enjoyed feedback sessions, to have a class ponder upon the case and then ask me questions seemed a bit uneasy at first, but it was a great opportunity to embark on the reflective journey so I did take it up.

First, it was a class appearance in February 2020 when Jack asked me to sit at the back and then introduce me as a surprise. It was fun. You had young minds who are just thinking what else they can think about this person or ask this person. Apart from someone who had been in Nepal or known about Nepal, the country was unrelated to their lives and so were the organizations, but it seemed they connected with the journey. This made me ponder how leadership perhaps is a journey and it does not matter what field or subject one specializes in. It is interesting for a leader to see how the process of arrival on a destination unravels and how then they embark on another journey. The journey can be recorded, journalized, and reflected upon and that is exactly what happened.

I managed another virtual interaction in October 2020 with the class - it was another class with another set of lenses that looked at journeys. Yes, we missed the physical interaction to intricately watch how one moves one’s hands or the light in the face when one sips coffee or the clear smile on one’s face. Then after I did my newsletter for 2020, I had Jack again nudging me to move towards Case B – to reflect on what happened during the pandemic. For this, he produced a fantastic case from my holiday newsletter! He has the great ability to transform statements that will make relevance in understanding the journey for the students and ask all the questions that make the protagonist reflect. For me, this has been one of the greatest joys of being able to be a part of this experience- i.e. to be gently pushed to reflect without the heavy lifting of forcing one to reflect. That helps one to keep control of the pace of one’s reflection and at the same time take the latitude to decide on how deep one needs to go in. Therefore, the first learning has been that the joyous reflection gently pushed upon is so wonderful that you want more, so may be ready for C case.

The second learning from this journey has been how it is more important to engage with young minds and see your life through those young minds. The young minds have more relevance today than ever as contrary to knowledge control through experience a hundred years ago. It is now the interface of technology with knowledge where the world of the internet, social media and other virtual platforms have changed the way we understand the world. It is so important to stay relevant and your relevance depends on how one can be able to engage with such young minds. It is getting outside the comfort zone and pushing oneself into the realm of a certain unknown. This makes one take a perspective that is open and not biased. 

I have really enjoyed being part of the journey and the third big learning is that Jack not by intention but by his working style becomes your sounding board, somewhat a coach who is asking you many questions in preparation for the journey that makes you reflect. When one looks at the case he has prepared, so many questions begin to surface. When he shares the powerpoint presentation, it makes me wonder about so many other things and I would not have written this if he had not asked us to write this. Therefore, the big bonus in this journey, never intended at the beginning, is that you get a great friend-mentor who is watching your life closely and asking you questions that you have found difficult to ask yourself. You can only feel grateful to him and the journey.