What I Learned at Georgia Tech

From 1982 to 1986, I studied electrical engineering at Georgia Tech. This experience was a dream come true for me!

I grew up on a farm in central Georgia. Moving to Atlanta was a major change in my life. Though I treasure every learning from those special farm days, the learnings at Tech were simply massive.

Over the years, I have often been asked to share the greatest lessons from those years in Atlanta. As I reflect on them now, please understand that I will be the first to say that I have not been a very good exhibitor of these learnings. I certainly always aspire to change that. 

My comments below do not center on the incredible array of learnings in my field of study. Indeed, the schools at Tech are some of the most recognized in the world. For this note, I share far more personal aspects of my experiences there.

1. When I arrived, I was surrounded by true geniuses. I was not one. To counter, I studied sixteen to twenty hours a day for four years. I learned that hard work is a great equalizer! I have depended on this key learning throughout my professional journey. Though I have worked very hard over the last three decades, nothing comes close to the degree of difficulty of my days there. 

2. From Day One, we were presented with far more information and requirements than we could handle. I learned how to assess the complete and seemingly impossible total situation and to select the most important drivers and to focus on them. I loved this lesson because of its impact in every role that I have ever had in the years since. 

3. Many no partial credit classes with just two or three tests during the quarter taught me the value of accuracy and attention to detail. There was simply no room for error. This attention makes a huge difference in life as well.

4. I learned to really love and appreciate the beauty of numbers and how numbers, analyzed in very creative ways, can help one make very good decisions. The numbers will also lead you to learnings that are not intuitive. The learnings surrounding this key engineering lesson transferred easily to business. 

5. Though true humility was taught well on the farm, it was reinforced in Atlanta. The more I learned, the more I realized how little I really knew. Very difficult tests had a way of also humbling me as well!

6. With each success that came, each Dean’s List, my confidence grew. But, it was not a prideful type. It was centered on “I can really do this!” 

7. I was blessed by having some of the most talented and diverse professors in the world. Though we rotated classes back then every nine weeks, I can remember every professor to this day and a life lesson that I learned from each - so many! 

When I served on the advisory board of one of the engineering schools and went back to provide guest lectures in the school of electrical engineering for over a decade, I got to spend time with the faculty in a different way, learning even more ways to appreciate their talents, genius and caring!

8. I can remember the feeling of being a senior and beginning to really understand what it meant to be a Ramblin Wreck. That point of transition will always be very special to me. To this day, I am truly honored to be a part of the Tech experience. 

9. I can remember the rich array of traditions, most of which are still in place today - except drownproofing! Quite the challenge! These traditions have linked us all over the years. With a son who also graduated from Tech, the traditions became even more special. Traditions shape an institution. They mean so much at The Institute! 

10. My Mom was one of the earliest women at Tech in the fifties. Though very gifted, she did not finish her dream in Aerospace. She returned home to the farm and led a special life that impacted so many. I will NEVER forget the day of my graduation when I looked toward her with my diploma in hand. The moment closed a chapter for both of us. Tech provided that special moment. 

11. My wife of over thirty years and I dated throughout my years at Tech. She was at another school. I will never forget her being so patient with the long hours of study for four years. Her support meant everything to me, especially when the challenges seemed overwhelming. In those pre-internet and “high cost, long distance call” days, we wrote long letters to each other every single day. I loved going to my small po box at Tech and seeing a note from her awaiting me Monday through Friday. These were foundational days in our lifelong journey. Special times!

Some have asked, if you had to sum up your learnings from Tech in a couple of sentences, what would you say? 

The answer is always as follows:

I learned a ton about ME- how hard I could push myself, what my core beliefs looked like when under fire, that the answers were always in my mind and that often, I just needed to get my own self doubt out of the way, that I was capable of overcoming impossible odds. 

I am forever indebted to Georgia Tech. I love walking the campus to this day. I love going to so many events there. I especially love encountering other graduates all over the world and the feeling of that special bond between us. So neat! 

So, I will depart this little note with the same two words that I have shared when leaving every engagement with a fellow Tech graduate over the years - 

GO JACKETS!