At the GSB, we define diversity in the broadest possible terms. Instead of limiting our focus to gender, nationality, ethnicity, industry experience, etc., Deans Bob Joss and Derrick Bolton encourage us--and you--to think of diversity as the breadth of perspectives you contribute.
One of the diversity initiatives I oversee is our annual "Many Voices: Perspectives on Diversity" conference which took place a couple of weeks ago.
The idea behind Many Voices is to give prospective students who believe that they will make a unique contribution to the diversity of the class a chance to visit, and to see for themselves that the GSB community is indeed made up of people who have many distinct and unique voices.
We had a great turnout with over 130 prospective students spending the day at the GSB, learning about student life, the admissions process, coursework, and life after the GSB.
The day started early in the morning, with a light breakfast and check-in. After welcoming the group, we had a rousing discussion about some of the things that make the Stanford MBA Program unique and also to demystify the admissions process.
Both first- and second-year students joined us for panel discussions about their experiences at the GSB. Dean Bob Joss spoke about the future of management education and introduced our keynote speaker, Elizabeth Davila, MBA '77.
Liz spoke of coming to the GSB as a young mother whose previous professional experience had been as a high school chemistry teacher in Ecuador, and shared her experience working in the medical devices industry after leaving the GSB.
One of the highlights of the Many Voices conference is to let participants experience the academic rigor at the GSB and to meet some of our renowned faculty. Divided into small study groups, prospective students discussed how to compensate the Director of Development at Australia's Circus Oz, McAfee's partnering options back in the early 1990s, and 7-Eleven's expansion in Japan.
The conference was rounded out by a presentation from the Career Management Center on how they help students find their true passions, and a panel of alumni who shared lively and often hilarious stories about their times as GSB students.
If you're interested in participating in our next "Many Voices: Perspectives on Diversity" conference, please follow these instructions.
Best wishes,
Eric Abrams
Director of Diversity Initiatives