themangoman wrote:
I have a question for all Wharton folks..
1) What are the kind of roles do technology firms come for in Wharton...for someone who wants to be in product management - manage end to end product lifecycle, map market requirements into product design etc.
2) All schools have leadership programs. If I were to ask a Wharton alumnus/na/current student - what was that one thing that really taught you (practically) or made you realize what real leadership was - what would the reply be.
Thanks in advance!
1. All major firms come: Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Yahoo, GM, GE, etc. If you are interested in entering a particular company, but it does not necessarily recruit at Wharton, chances are there are alums or classmates that can help make a connection.
2. For me personally Wharton Leadership Venture to Patagonia was a defining experience: that week at the end of the Earth gave me enough food for thought and self reflection to regularly revisit and rethink all of it. For the first time in my life was I able to observe and experience a dozen different leadership styles in a span of a week, and compare myself to others, hear a candid feedback of my strengths and weaknesses from some of the most insightful people I have met in life.
The Wharton approach is to put everyone on an equal playing field initially (stones, mud, sweat, wind, beautiful nature and a very heavy backpack), give the same opportunities to everyone that way, so that everything that matters is one's ability to lead. Your past accomplishments and current ambitions mean pretty much nothing--they are left in the other unrelated world--so personalities are stripped bare of much of the usual masquerade, and people are seen as if through a magnifying glass. It is exclusively about people.
This is a very rich experience with a multitude of facets and intricate paths; it is difficult to replicate in a corporate setting, which makes it ever so valuable a business school exercise. It won't make you a better leader immediately, but you will feel its impact with time. I think, the goal of the LVs is to give you a very clear understanding of your leadership style, give you a good chance to test your limits, and get you into the mode of continuous self reflection--powerful, impactful stuff.