What matters to me…that didn’t before

By Janice Li

The most important thing that I learned from my two years at the GSB is to be myself. Sounds simple, right? As cliché as it may sound, to me, being authentic is the most powerful attribute that a leader can possess. I came to the business school hoping to build skills and connections that will enable me to change people, change organizations and change the world. After two years, I realize that it all boils down to being “real”.

So what does being authentic mean? At the beginning of my first year, it seemed that I was in a race to impress everyone around me and it was such a consuming experience. My image of a Stanford MBA was a bright, energetic, confident and giving individual. I felt great pressure to be that person even though I struggled to achieve that image of perfection. Sometimes it felt overwhelming. For example, even though I did not feel like speaking in class, or did not feel I had a comment really worth sharing, I would force myself to raise my hand. I was afraid others would see me as incompetent if I remained silent; in short, I allowed others to dictate my sense of self worth and confidence.

I was blessed to be able to listen to many great leaders here at the GSB—definitely one of business school’s best perks. I was in tears when Lynne Twist (founding executive of the Hunger Project) shared her experience with poverty and children in Africa, and I was in awe when I listened to Richard Fairbanks’ touching story about Capital One and his father. I was inspired by all these leaders and realized that the common thread among them was their commitment to being themselves—to pursuing their passions, to maintaining their integrity, to being authentic. They’re not just confident; they’re secure about who they are.

Thanks to the intimate conversations I have had with many of you, my classmates and friends, I realize that I need to believe in myself; that I am at heart a special person. Only I have the power to influence how I feel about myself. Many of my fears of how others saw me were based on erroneous stories that I had made up in my mind. (Now, I do not even feel awkward ordering Diet Coke in those wild GSB parties!). I believe the best leaders are those who understand themselves and love themselves, and those who allow their confidence in who they are to shine through—it is this type of authenticity that others respond to. This is one of the most valuable lessons that I learned in business school and something that I will take with me as I strive to lead in the future.

Janice Li, recent graduate of Stanford Graduate School of Business.