For Women Aspiring to Lead...Take a Second Look at Public Service [Huffington Post] Hult Blog

We need more women in the higher echelons of public service. This last election cycle in the U.S. was historic in that women for the first time now represent 20% of the U.S. Senate. There was also a record number of women running for public office and I hope we will continue to see more and more women in the political sphere as well as the higher levels of public service at the federal, state and local levels. And while there have been significant gains for women in public office and in the public sector, there remain too few women at the top leadership levels of public service across the board. Many MBAs report their difficulty post-graduation with securing positions in the private sector that truly challenge them as well as provide opportunities for real leadership experience. Some of this is due in part to the current job climate and lack of leadership opportunities at the mid-career levels. For others, they are held back by the career choices theyve made early on which has limited their opportunities for advancement and growth. This is particularly true for those in technical careers who feel boxed in and have a difficult time developing then re-branding and re-positioning their leadership skill sets at work. And it is important for all of us to recognize that leadership requires a very different skill set and mindset than those we gained in graduate school or our career experiences thus far. The skill sets that brought us to one point in our career arent necessarily the ones that will put us on a path towards leadership. What many MBAs are not made aware of is that work ing in the public sector, at any point in your career, offers a unique experience to develop and test key leadership skills which for many helps fast track their path not only to leadership but to finding their true passion and purpose at work. For women who aspire to lead, take a second look at the public sector. The Three Ps of Public Service Power, Persuasion and Politics Working in the public sector provides a unique path to leadership because at its core it begins with developing and leveraging what I call the Three Ps of Public Service: Power, Persuasion and Politics. Three areas which are also essential for successful leadership in any sector. In the public sector, relationships are paramount and if you want to survive and thrive you must constantly negotiate, persuade and balance challenging relationships of oftentimes equal and competing value. Women traditionally shy away from the three Ps and loathe talking about them in public forums. Even in the classroom, and particularly when I teach or facilitate executive womens sessions overseas, women hate talking about power, persuasion and politics. Some of this is cultural, some of this ingrained as many of us are socialized from an early age to leave the three Ps to men. The irony here is that women have innate strengths and abilities in these areas whether they want to admit to it or not. There is also the opportunity in the public sector to gain valuable global experience and cross-cultural skill sets. For me, working at the U.S. Department of State allowed for my experience on the ground with cultures in every region of the world as well as an understanding of and appreciation for geopolitical risk and complex political environments. Additionally, I worked on numerous public-private partnerships where I was building tri-sector leadership experience, bringing governments, non-profits and companies together on a variety of issues and efforts. Global skill sets, a global mindset and working effectively across cultures which come from experience, not osmosis are essential to effective leadership and are increasingly marketable skillsets that too few post-grads possess. Scheduling Lateral Career Moves Re-Thinking the Leadership Ladder This summer, Anne-Marie Slaughter, in her now famous essay for The Atlantic Why Women Still Cant Have it All, sparked numerous conversations and debates about womens role in the workplace. One of the more striking themes was the notion that women should chart their own career paths, in essence get the idea of a ladder out of your mindset, and focus instead on pursuing your passion and when necessary schedule a lateral career move or downshift if necessary to expand your horizons. And while encouraging women to pursue working in the public sector, she has been candid about the demands of government service and the unforgiving work environments that exist in many public service positions. Therefore, if you do plan on making a lateral move to the public sector, do it early on in your career. There is a saying in the government that You can always go to the private sector but for few, unless you receive a high level appointment like Slaughter the reverse is much harder. I came into the government straight out of graduate school through a program called the Presidential Management Fellowship a two-year fast track program in the federal government incorporating two rotations into different disciplines and agencies so you can find the right fit for you. The program was exceptional and I cannot recommend it enough for second year graduate students. For those several years out of graduate school who are thinking about making a transition to public service there are several excellent executive education seminars and programs like the USC Center on Public Diplomacy Summer Institute where I teach a component on Corporate Diplomacy. In this unique, two-week intensive, you learn not only about public diplomacy efforts in the government, but also engage directly and network with other attendees many of which work for governments around the world. Public diplomacy is but one area of government service where the skill sets and experiences gained have numerous p arallels and applicability in the private sector. or the Womens Leadership course I developed and taught this summer at the Hult MBA School in Dubai we discussed lateral career transitions and re-thinking what leadership means for the individual. Incorporating elements of the McKinsey Center Leadership Project, we looked at practical ways one can continue their career progression while exploring leadership opportunities beyond the c-suite in their communities, as entrepreneurs, and yes, in the public sector. Stop Focusing on What Your Supposed to Do And Start Doing What Youre Meant to Do The government could use more MBAs. Given resource limitations and budget constrictions, governments at every level are being asked to do more with less. And if the last election cycle was any indication, we are going to need an army of civil servants equipped with strategic tools who know how to problem solve, manage change effectively and provide some much needed clarity. And while it is true in many cases that the government pays less, expects more and on numerous occasions can be an extremely frustrating, demanding environment, somewhere along the way, I found space to truly identify and develop what I was most passionate about. And this, I realized, was an unexpected gift that has served me throughout my career. Finding your passion and purpose is messy and so many of us we spend our lives doing what we think were supposed to do, rather than finding out what were meant to do. Public service, I found, allowed me an opportunity to use the tools and skills I gained in graduate school. It also allowed me the space to challenge myself in numerous different ways, find and define my true passions in life, and then provided opportunities for my advancement beyond anything I could have foreseen. Which left me with a tremendous amount of satisfaction, a mindset geared towards service and skillsets that I knew I could take anywhere and succeed. Its worth taking a second look Read the full Huffington Post article by Professor Cari Guittard, Professor of International Negotiations and Womens Leadership Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog 4 steps to becoming a more influential woman: Focus areas for female leaders. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .