September 8, 2009 Class

What did I learn today? If nothing else, I now have burned in my brain that it is "the integration of business and technology that drives innovation".

Honestly, prior to this first class, I had no idea what the purpose of this course was and this is what clarified it for me. It also served to pique my interest. So there it is, my interest is piqued.

I think it is interesting to start the class with the question "what makes me special?" It seems like such an innocent question, but it can be difficult to answer. On a personal level, I feel special because I am the mother of two wonderful 19 month old girls and I have managed to be pregnant with them, give birth, and raise them all while in school getting my MBA. I feel special because I am balancing a lot and I think I am doing it successfully. But I have help from my husband, our parents, our siblings, and our friends. So am I really special when I'm not doing it 100% by myself?

On a professional level, this question can be even more difficult to answer. What I think makes me special might be a common attribute in the places I wish to work. And I find it difficult to sell myself when I believe that I am at the beginning of my career and still have much to learn, particularly because I am a career-switcher. What makes me special in one industry might not be useful in another. So I'm glad we started with that question. It's gotten me thinking about how I can add value once I graduate--a good thing to be thinking about now that it is recruiting season.