My life lessons from my Harvard & Boston visit!

This year, which also happens to be my 50th year on the planet, I have the immense honor of being nominated for a yearlong leadership program which our organization runs in partnership with world renowned Harvard University, and I am ever grateful to my employer Ooredoo for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity! The program includes an immersion at the Harvard campus in Boston, needless to say, all participants eagerly look forward to that experience and I had that moment of truth a few weeks back. Apart from the humongous leadership and professional learning that comes from such programs when you are exposed to some of the best in the world, I also picked up many lessons for myself that apply so much in our lives. Here I share a gist of those personal learnings rather than the professional ones as I narrate my experiences:

1.?????? There is always something to learn, no, the fact is there is always so much to learn:

Whatever has been your experience, your expertise and your qualifications, when you go thru’ such high caliber programs, you feel humbled – there is so much more that you haven’t known, experienced or learned. Its aptly put by Henry Ford “Anyone who stops learning is old, at twenty or at eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young”. It’s a lifelong process, more so in todays business environment which is hyper dynamic – digital is past, now we have AI ??and tomorrow who knows what! And that’s why I can confidently call myself young!

?2.?????? In-person is always more valuable than online:

I am still an old school if that be the criteria. I had always believed that if you have the choice or the opportunity, do it face to face – may it be a meeting, a project and especially a learning program. There is always more connection, empathy, teamwork, involvement, absorption that way and hence better productivity. All of this was corroborated at Harvard, that one moment when the professor walks in, starts to talk, you are left awestruck. The way he delivers the learning out of a case study, the way he engages, the way he communicates – you can never experience that in an online session. That entire session is almost written in my memory! (Yes, there will be circumstances, genuine situations where it will not be feasible or practical, and covid times taught us the place of “online” in our lives).

??3.?????? Again: In person is always more valuable than online:

In another context, when you meet a group of wonderful people who are your colleagues from many countries, functions etc., there is a different connection meeting face to face, leading to lifelong associations. I am not sure that would happen if we were to run a program only online.

?4.?????? Seeing is inspiring:

We have all heard about Harvard. The quality learning it imparts, how some of the tallest corporate leaders come from this institution etc. But being there in Boston, in person and walking around the campus was another experience, it was awesome and inspiring. Those vibes of intellect you can only feel once you are strolling amidst the centuries old buildings on the campus. Seeing is believing, that’s why it is said that if you have the picture of success there in front of you, its always easier to plan and execute towards achieving that success.

??5.?????? There are nice people all around and kindness is everywhere:

Before my travels, in a couple of WhatsApp groups I proudly announced my plans to travel to Boston. Two people responded – one a class fellow from my school I had last met or interacted in 1989 and one engineering batchmate of mine whom I would have last met in 1995! Both of them came to see me, both from places that were about 45 miles away from where I was. They took me around for half a day each, took me out for lunch and were visibly extremely happy to see me! I had not even guessed that I would get this reception after decades from old friends. No business, nothing expected in return, no other motive, just pure play affection! We may never meet again (who knows!). My lessons – there are so many nice people all around us, we just need to make that effort to connect.

?6.?????? Perception is not reality, experience is:

Perspectives over perceptions, empathy over opinions – some of these things get stuck in your mind when you experience something that is against your perception. My previous sojourn into the US had been day road trips to Burlington in Vermont and Plattsburg in New York State driving from Montreal. As a family, we all have never been to any big city in the US as we had certain presumptions that were not based on experiences. So much so, when we explored university options for my elder daughter, we didn’t consider US. My visit to Boston, walking miles on the streets over the days of my stay, the vibes of the place changed all of that in the first one or two days itself. On the last day of my stay, I went to Quincy market to buy a Harvard hoodie for my younger daughter as a gift – presented to her so as to inspire her to go for Harvard! In business parlance we say “be in the market and not in ppts”.

In summary,?“I am still learning, I am still growing and I am still changing – that’s why I am still YOUNG”. (Partly from something I saw on Insta and partly my own ??)

I hope you enjoyed reading this, I am sharing links to my previous articles in case you missed them! Hope to share my thoughts more often! And yes, views expressed are personal only.

(1)??? Great customer experience will make you the maharaja (Great King). Have a customer delight factory in your organization! | LinkedIn

(2)??? (1) 15 Life lessons for my 19 year old daughter starting her university | LinkedIn

(3)??? (1) The Red Light Syndrome and more! | LinkedIn

(4)??? Leadership lessons in the new normal from an “Apple watch” | LinkedIn

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