Stanford GSB Voices—Students
One-of-a kind opportunity at Stanford
"The first-year Leadership Lab experience at Stanford is a one-of-a kind opportunity where I challenged myself to try new leadership styles in a supportive atmosphere.
But Stanford doesn't just teach leadership; it provides a training program that encourages hands-on learning.
After months of practicing, I was prepared for the Executive Challenge and I was able to role-play in front of the former CEO and Chairman of PepsiCo. One of the best compliments I received was after the Challenge, when he said I did an impressive job and that he would like to talk with me if I was interested in leaving my company. I left the Executive Challenge with a confidence I didn’t know I had in me.
During spring, I trained to be an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow and received very powerful and motivating training from a professional leadership development coach.
I told him that I wanted to be more comfortable leading through conflict. I once heard the quote, "If everyone is agreeing, someone is not thinking."
My coach helped me see that in the most important and critical business decisions, conflict will undoubtedly occur. He wanted to make sure I was prepared to be present and active in the conversation.
To have an ally in my leadership development was instrumental to my self-awareness and personal growth during my first year at Stanford."
Danielle Peltier, MBA 2010
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Pre-MBA: General Mills, Marketing Associate
Stanford GSB Voices—Faculty
Stanford GSB Voices
What will YOU talk about?
Our students come with a desire and willingness to add their knowledge and experience to yours.
For the last few years, students of each class have hosted a series of informal lectures or "talks" to share their lives and aspirations with others in a very personal way.
The "Talk '09" series by students from the Class of 2009 included:
Tales From The Heart: Exploring my dreams of making a difference in medical care.
Country Boy To Corporate Gypsy: My journey from Ireland to Iran, and most places in between.
Lean on Me: The power of role models and the strength which stems from admitting weakness.
We hope that one day you too will share your stories with Stanford classmates.
Stanford GSB Voices—Alumni
"Having been a Stanford undergrad, my plan was to go somewhere other than Stanford for my MBA. Yet, the more schools I visited, the more Stanford made sense for me. As I talked with alumni and current students, I found myself thinking that they would be great peers to study with. Stanford's smaller community meant I'd be able to get to know my class and the professors. I was also excited by Stanford's strong international ties, and its location in Silicon Valley.
The two years at the GSB challenged me academically and socially. It is such a supportive community, I always had a friend who was ready to listen to my worries or tutor me in a subject I didn't understand.
Being part Native American, I have been actively involved with the Stanford Native community. I also hope to use my MBA to further Native issues and help out the tribes along the Northwest Coast with whom I spend time each summer."
Spencer Smith, MBA 2009
Roseburg, Oregon
Senior Manager of Client Services, BlueKai