It is crazy how time flies. As I write this, I have just completed my second week of my first semester of the full-time MBA Program at UW-Madison specializing in Strategic Human Resource Management. It feels like so much time has passed since I ended my role as a retail supervisor and assumed the title of MBA student. Many people have told me this time passes quickly, and I am already finding that to be true. In just these few weeks, I have already uncovered new aspects of myself. I find myself to be persistent, tough, responsible, and committed. I am excited to see how much more I will develop as a person and change while being here.
Orientation set the tone for the UW-Madison MBA experience: exciting, collaborative, engaging, and team-oriented. The first day of our orientation was almost like a family reunion. I was overwhelmed with eagerness to connect with the people I had already established connections with from On, Wisconsin Weekend (an event that introduces incoming students to the Wisconsin School of Business) and the Forté MBA Leadership Conference (a conference for women leaders and allies that I attended during the summer before starting the program). While at the Forté Conference, I received news of an unexpected family emergency. My then-roommate, and now classmate, Leah Wong, supported me during this time (along with all my peers at the Forté Conference). Even though our experience as roommates at the conference was cut short, I believe we will always have a connection because of it. Reconnecting with Leah and others during orientation was what I hoped for and more. If I were to give a theme to the first day of orientation, it would be connection, and as a student specializing in Human Resource Management, there is nothing more valuable than connection. I value opportunities to build meaningful relationships, foster collaboration, and learn from the diverse perspectives of my peers.
During day two of orientation, we met with our core team, diving into our Gallup Clifton Strengths Top 5 report. During this session, we increased our awareness and knowledge of our individual talents and how they will contribute to our team. I enjoyed collaborating with my team to discover each other’s strengths and how we will be positioned to excel when we work together. My top 5 strengths – harmony, responsibility, discipline, consistency, and relator – made sense to me. As an MBA student and future Human Resources professional, I am confident these strengths will guide how I connect with people, create positive workplace experiences, and accomplish projects. This day emphasized collaboration and highlighted the importance of building trust and fostering meaningful relationships from the very beginning. The third day of orientation was Center Day, admittedly my favorite. I was fortunate to spend the entire day connecting and learning alongside my peers in the Strategic Human Resources specialization. Our Center Director Tanya and Assistant Director Mahina provided us with invaluable opportunities to learn about our Center, connect, share insights, and build stronger relationships. We had the privilege of enjoying lunch with the Management and Human Resources Department faculty. I introduced myself to two of my professors this semester, Barry Gerhart and Nancy Geenen. I talked with Barry about my previous school and work experience as a retail professional, sharing how my experiences will be beneficial in a future Human Resources role. I talked with Nancy about the book she authored, specifically discussing a few of our personal workplace experiences. I also talked with her about teaching our Leading and Working in Teams class. (Side note: after attending two class session so far, I already appreciate her teaching style and approach.) Although walking into this room at lunch first felt a bit intimidating, sharing a meal and casual conversation made me realize that at the end of the day, we’re all just people beyond our roles and titles. Personally, I believe this is an important reminder for anyone working in Human Resources. We are all people. We are all navigating life together. We all have our own experiences. We are all here to learn from each other.
The final days of orientation consisted of more learning about the program, professional headshot appointments, and an interview workshop.
Looking back at that week, although it was probably one of the busiest weeks of my life, it helped prepare me for the coursework and rigor to come. I learned how important it is to step out of my comfort zone and fully engage in new opportunities. Orientation week pushed me to look inward and grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I discovered just how valuable preparation and intentional learning can be, lessons that feel especially relevant to anyone in Human Resources, where growth and development are continuous. Beyond that, I learned the importance of building connections early. This was important in my prior role and will be even more important in my future roles. The relationships I’ve started forming that week, along with those I made previously, already feel like a strong support system I can rely on throughout the program. It was an energizing and successful week, and I’m excited to see what the future weeks will bring!