A few Fridays ago, many of my fellow classmates and I had the distinct privilege of participating in a roundtable discussion with Michele Burns. Michele, as she insisted we address her, earned her BBA and Master of Accountancy from Terry and is chairman and CEO of Mercer LLC, a global leader for consulting, outsourcing, and investments.
Michele spoke in the morning to a group of Terry students, both undergrad and graduate, as part of the Terry Leadership Speaker Series. My classmate and fellow GWBA (Graduate Women’s Business Association) officer, Elise North, GWBA President, were lucky enough to be included in a lunch for Michele where we got a chance to talk closely with her and two very impressive undergraduate students at Terry.
But perhaps the best part of the day was our GWBA roundtable. In an intimate group of 25 female MBA students, Michele fielded questions ranging from the proverbial glass-ceiling to the importance of her experience at the Terry College, answering each question with the straightforwardness and candor for which she is known. She imparted to us her belief in servant leadership and the importance of bringing out the best in others. According to Michele when asked for a formula for success, “First you have to show up. You must engage actively, work hard, and be a lifetime learner.”
When discussing the topic of work/life balance Michele had this to say, “There are always tradeoffs involved. You can’t be perfect to everyone all the time. Sometimes, someone is going to be disappointed with your choice, but that is your decision to make.”
The Terry College brings a number of equally impressive speakers to the program during the year, but this meeting was a rare chance to talk personally with a proven leader and discuss challenges that face women in particular. The members of the GWBA are so grateful to her and everyone who helped make this event possible.
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