Last month, I attended CSIS’ annual Alumni Summit – an energetic convening that helped me reflect on my own introduction, acceptance, and year in the Center’s Executive Program.
Values and principles have always guided my life.
In early November 2016 I met an Executive Program alumna for coffee – never having heard of this program before. This meeting led to an introduction, and ultimately provided the push to apply to the Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy. I had just moved back to Philadelphia, and while values and principles have always guided my life, I had jumped right into the workforce; I needed to redefine my values and to start making decisions that prioritized them.
Just before the deadline, I remember arriving early at my friend’s “First Annual Friendsgiving” and slipping in her office to finish and submit my application. I forgot about my application for a few weeks, until the annual company holiday party. This party was a pretty big deal to me – especially considering it was my first with the organization – but it was memorable for another reason: at the party, I received the email notifying me that I’d been accepted into the 2017 class of the Executive Program.
The executive program continually reaffirms that the importance in creating values and following them for your life and your work. I learned about entrepreneurs who allowed their values to guide them while starting and scaling a business, and throughout the program, I met so many who stood firmly in their personal values, but also- what is right, just, and fair. It has been an inspiring reminder for myself to do better, to be a better person and to speak up – because your voice matters.