Class of 2011: A Snippet
By Jon Lewis JGSM '11
Issue date: 9/9/09 Section: Johnson News
We also had to roll up our sleeves and get down with Foundations of Leadership. We met Josie Esquival and learned about her red polished interview sessions on The Street. For me, a club promoting pop singer looking to enter I-Banking, I was particularly interested in what my peers had to say about Josie's stance. I asked, "should Josie have worn black nail polish instead of red nail polish?" Velicia Sutton of Washington, DC suggested that Josie should go with "The French Manicure-its classic," and a few thought that black nails might be a bit Goth. Yet the overwhelming response was a resounding "Hell No." My peers explained that Josie got to those interview rooms by being herself and that she should not conform or change for others. Very, very awesome.
Before we knew it, core classes had begun and reading assignments had replaced boozing. Not so awesome. I took the opportunity to build on my recent reading of Marketing Myopia to ask this question, what is the business of The Johnson School? Samuel Lee of Hong Kong and Marlon Nichols of NYC said that Johnson is in the business of "producing leaders." Jeff Leslie of NYC thinks that Johnson is in the "societal improvement" business, while Linas Krischunas of Washington, DC pointed out that Johnson is in the "enlightenment" industry. Don't worry Dean Thomas, only two days into the core and we've already got your back.
J.O.E. was certainly a highlight of the two-week marathon, and before the sun set, I, feeling particularly awesome, asked folks to tell me how long it would be before Johnson toppled HBS on the Business Week rankings. The responses I received taught me that 2011 has ambition, pride, and common sense, for while some said HBS would be going down in a matter of years, others shared that they were not interested in rankings; rather, in quality of education and quality of people. In this regard, Johnson is clearly in a class of its own.
Finally, I asked 2011 to grade our awesomeness on a scale of one to ten. I heard eleven. I heard infinity, I heard infinity and beyond, and I heard 2011. And, in my gut, and in my heart, I saw the truth. This is truly an awesome bunch. We are truly an awesome bunch. And I am one truly lucky guy.
Before we knew it, core classes had begun and reading assignments had replaced boozing. Not so awesome. I took the opportunity to build on my recent reading of Marketing Myopia to ask this question, what is the business of The Johnson School? Samuel Lee of Hong Kong and Marlon Nichols of NYC said that Johnson is in the business of "producing leaders." Jeff Leslie of NYC thinks that Johnson is in the "societal improvement" business, while Linas Krischunas of Washington, DC pointed out that Johnson is in the "enlightenment" industry. Don't worry Dean Thomas, only two days into the core and we've already got your back.
J.O.E. was certainly a highlight of the two-week marathon, and before the sun set, I, feeling particularly awesome, asked folks to tell me how long it would be before Johnson toppled HBS on the Business Week rankings. The responses I received taught me that 2011 has ambition, pride, and common sense, for while some said HBS would be going down in a matter of years, others shared that they were not interested in rankings; rather, in quality of education and quality of people. In this regard, Johnson is clearly in a class of its own.
Finally, I asked 2011 to grade our awesomeness on a scale of one to ten. I heard eleven. I heard infinity, I heard infinity and beyond, and I heard 2011. And, in my gut, and in my heart, I saw the truth. This is truly an awesome bunch. We are truly an awesome bunch. And I am one truly lucky guy.
Be the first to comment on this story