Graduating MBA student Tom Werle on staying awesome (and accepting responsibility)
When I thought about giving a commencement speech, I naturally wondered “what is it you’re
supposed to talk about here?” So I
watched some videos of previous student speakers at various business schools and,
for the most part, they seemed to have a common theme: “Congratulations. You’re awesome. The world is full of endless possibilities for
you. You’re really awesome. Money isn’t everything even though you’re
going to make a ton of it, but seriously it isn’t everything. Change the world. Follow your heart. Stay awesome.” That’s cool I guess, and carries a grain of
truth. I’ve just never had a
conversation with an MBA that left me saying to myself: “Man, that person could really use an ego
boost.” So I’ll save the high-fives for
tonight and try something a little different here.
Graduating Weekend MBA student Rachel Maddox on mothers earning MBAs
First, we should start with an introduction. My name is
Rachel Maddox and 90% of the MBA2s have never met me. You see, I was part of
the Weekend MBA program, a cohort of about 75 students. You never saw my class
because we worked full-time jobs and then locked ourselves in a classroom on
Friday nights and all day Saturday packing in enough classes so that we could
graduate in two years. This was especially painful on football Saturdays, as we
could hear the announcers, the cheers from the stadium, and the music from the
tailgates. I felt compelled that before we leave Ross for our next adventure,
we should at least meet. In fact, I wanted to introduce you to a few other
students in my class, with the hopes to expand your vision of future Ross MBAs.
Graduating MBA student Welson Lee on looking beyond the small world of business school (or even business)
For most of us, the MBA program has
changed our lives. Two or three years
ago, we decided that we needed the best business education, so that we can be the
person we want to be. We invested $150
grand, gave up two years of salary, and left our family and even our country to
come here. We wanted to learn everything
about business (accounting, finance, marketing, strategy, organization,
operation) and we made it, thanks to our great faculty. We wanted to expand our network and meet the
brightest people from across the world, and we made it, with the help of many social events. We wanted to switch our career, and we made
it, with networking and interviews. We
wanted to double or even quadruple our income, and we made it, with pleasure.
Blake Simons, a BBA sophomore, shares the importance of giving back.
I
remember the summer of 2002 like it was yesterday. It was my first summer as a camper at
Tamarack Camps, a Jewish overnight camp located in Ortonville, Michigan. I walked on the green, Tamarack bus timid,
sad, and terrified to be away from my parents for a whole summer. When I returned, however, I walked off that
same green bus with a huge smile on my face.
I had the greatest summer I could possibly imagine. That summer was only the start, though. I would go on and spend seven more summers at
Tamarack as a camper and three summers after that as a staff member. These summers would end up being the most
rewarding and meaningful experiences of my life.
Below you'll find the complete transcript of Ashley's audio reflection:
Eighth grade memories. You were the oldest in middle school
and, for that reason and that reason only, you had the right to walk down the
hallways proud, making sure that everyone else knew it. Your biggest problem
was studying for your science test the next day, and you thought life was so difficult
when really it was so simple.
Curtis Chu, a BBA sophomore, discusses what sharks and Monopoly have and common and how those connections can define a leader.
What do sharks and Monopoly have in common? Well, Monopoly
is a product of Hasbro Gaming, which is headquartered in Rhode Island, and saltwater
fishing is the leading sport in Rhode Island. Monopoly and some sharks both
call Rhode Island home, however this is only one of infinite answers to this
question. There are many patterns that exist between the two. Some people
simply see more than others. The meaning of observing patterns equals connecting
dots, seeing the big picture, understand the relationships that exist between
two separate entities. Successful leaders can find patterns that others cannot
and bring them to a new level, however no individual can be successful alone. It's
not that creative individuals don't matter; it's that connectedness makes us
more creative.
Below you'll find the complete transcript of Ashley's audio reflection:
What
makes a good leader? This is the question that I have wrestled with throughout
this entire Ross Leadership Initiative x process. Respect? Dedication? Courage?
Ambition? Which traits are truly the most indicative of a good leader? However,
after weeks and weeks of reflection on this question, I found that all great
leaders share one trait. Passion. Passion is the catalyst that leads to all
other traits that shape a good leader.
Below you'll find the complete transcript of Ashley's audio reflection:
Being a
good leader is as much about understanding who you are not, as it is about
understanding who you are. By knowing the extent of your capabilities, you can develop
a leadership style that is genuine, yet still empowers others to reach their
full potential.
Nicole Ver Kuilen, a BBA Senior, talks about the ability to harness human emotion and how it is the most important ability a leader can possess.
Some of the most vivid and character defining moments of my life have come through extreme and contradicting emotions. Being diagnosed with cancer: fear yet curiosity. Having my leg amputated: regret yet acceptance. Running my first 10K: inspiration yet opposition. Being accepted into the Ross School of Business: pride yet humility.
