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MBA Voices
MBA Voices
The HBS African American Student Union (AASU) strives to be an extended family for its members from the moment they decide to attend HBS, through the transition to second year, and beyond graduation. Here we profile two AASU members who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) about their experiences before and during the MBA program. [...]
In April, I was honored to join over 70 Black leaders from a variety of industries who signed a letter that supported our democratic values and the fundamental right to vote, in response to Georgia’s bill that sought to restrict voting access. One other name on the list stood out to me: Dr. James Cash.
Dr. Cash had been a mentor to me a long time ago, though I didn’t fully realize the impact he was making on me at the time. Seeing his name made me reflect on how our experiences and identities shape the possibilities we imagine for ourselves, and how Dr. Cash and Harvard Business School helped me become the person I am today. [...]
Growing up as a Black male from South Los Angeles, I was raised in a vibrant community surrounded by a diverse group of individuals who gave me guidance and taught me core values –such as curiosity, community, and persistence. My childhood experiences and the values that were instilled in me from being brought up in South LA are the foundation of my being, and I am proud to call South Central home. Yet, it was not often that I interacted with entrepreneurs or individuals who climbed up the ranks in the corporate world. Advanced degree holders were not always visible, and I thought that admission to a school like Harvard was a pursuit far above my head, something I had seen on television but not so much in my neighborhood. [...]
We grew up with the foundation of a single mom, my grandparents, child support, and food stamps. In middle school, I transitioned to living in San Antonio with my dad who is Panamanian and who was married to my stepmom. Two more siblings came along and I found myself in a two-parent, relatively stable middle-class household. I learned a lot in my childhood, and something that I will always be grateful for was the opportunity to understand and live through a wide variety of circumstances. It built my empathy towards others and instilled in me a sense of gratitude for the small things in life. [...]
Typing this now I wish I was back with the people I only spent a week with, but who now feel like family. Everyone was unique in their own way, incredibly hard-working, and passionate about discovering their purpose and leaving a lasting mark on the world. Despite my wishes, I know everyone left SVMP feeling confident, empowered, and prepared to transform their respective disciplines and environment through dynamic and ambitious leadership. [...]
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The views and opinions expressed in the MBA Voices blog are those of the authors.
Any political views shared by students are their own; HBS does not endorse a
particular party or candidate.