By Topic - Administration - Community Memories - Institutional Memory

HBS Leaders on HBS | Alumni on Leadership | Community Memories

Community Memories

A collection of poignant, humorous stories and reminiscences on the HBS experience from our community members, including alumni, staff, and MBA students.

1-8 of 8 listed alphabetically by storyteller's last name

CLASS OF2009

Stephanie Balois Story VIDEO: RT: 06:34

Story regarding her bonding with classmates during her Pre-MBA Program, the power of the HBS learning model, her admiration of alumni dedication, and her plan to convey her passion for the School to the next generation of students. She formed fast and lasting friendships in the course of her Pre-MBA. The Priscilla Ball was one of the most exciting events of her HBS years to date. As an international student far from home, she feels that her section members are a second family. During the Leading in Business and Beyond Global Summit, she attended a session on the future of the MBA Program and was taken aback by the passionate concern of the alumni which she intends to emulate for succeeding classes of students.

STAFF

Noah Cain Story VIDEO: 05:00

Story regarding the dynamic collaboration of students and MBA Student Services to improve the HBS experience. As a staff member close in age to the student population, his ideas are as highly valued as his more senior colleagues in a team-oriented work environment. All the hard work pays off at the momentous occasions from registration to graduation and through his personal connections with students along the journey.

CLASS OF2002

Gautam Deviah Story VIDEO: 8 minutes

Story regarding his experience attending HBS in the 2000s, the privilege and the obligations of an HBS education, and the professional and private values instilled by HBS that have made him a better person .

CLASS OF1978

Fred Dolan Story VIDEO: RT: 05:15

Story regarding how HBS initially rejected him but how he persisted in his efforts to persuade the School to reconsider and his eventual triumph. In response to the School's decision, he played a joke on the School by submitting a rejection letter of his rejection letter. Associate Dean Dean Currie at first seemed to enjoy his wit and countered with his own rejection. After his acceptance to Boston University, he visited HBS and spoke with Assistant Dean James Foley who restated the School's position. Just before the opening of the term, HBS found a slot for him.

CLASS OF1982

Grandon Gill Story VIDEO: 10.5 minutes

Story regarding his experience attending HBS in the 1980s, colored by his previous experience, working on a naval nuclear submarine. He explains how HBS changed his name. His unlikely road to being chosen a Baker Scholar is told, in terms of his interest in just having fun and taking pleasure in disagreeing with any statement given in class. As a professor, he believes that Harvard should not keep its secrets but become an educational "evangelist" to other colleges.

CLASS OF2008

Edward Keith Story VIDEO: RT: 02:43

Story regarding how the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina happened when he, who is from New Orleans, started the MBA years of his joint JD/MBA Degree program. Dean Kim Clark let him know at once that the School would provide any assistance he needed. This personal concern touched him deeply, and he knew HBS was the right place for him to achieve his goals of helping others.

CLASS OF2003

Andrea Mitchell Kimmel Story VIDEO: RT: 09:17

Story regarding how the tragedy of September 11th impacted on her and her classmates and how the School provided support and counseling services for students. She met her future husband, Robert Kimmel, at HBS, and they regretted not heeding Professor Joe Lassiter's career advice to prioritize their first job by where they wanted to live. She returned to HBS to co-chair her 5th reunion and to work in admissions.