“You look tired.”
I’ve heard this almost every day since starting our classes, and it’s only the beginning. And I am! But in this season, it’s normal. I’m a wife and a mom to two young children – I’ve shlepped my whole family (including the dog) halfway around the world to pursue my MBA at IMD.

It’s not for the faint of heart, but this sort of delusion and resilience is what’s required to change the world. It’s why I’m here.
It’s why we’re all here.
This year, I want to share my notes and experiences on the MBA journey as a mom. It’s a perspective I sought repeatedly during the years leading up to our launch, and I want to ensure that other ambitious women have access to the realities, the possibilities, and the triumphs that I have as a mother here.
Already, I feel I’ve lucked out with my batch of classmates. They are inquisitive, empathetic, and supportive in a way that I couldn’t have imagined – dog-sitting during our moves around the city, offers of babysitting to make sure I can still connect with my partner, engaging my wily four-year-old in conversation, holding my daughter, pushing the stroller, befriending my partner, the list goes on.

My children are part of my why. This year is an opportunity to shape how they view and experience the world. I hope they see that love and encouragement in a working, equitable family partnership includes a willingness to make difficult decisions – that we take turns leading and supporting each other’s dreams. (And it’s really hard!) They will gain a global family village – and vulnerability and asking for help is part of what strengthens that community. They will see that professional progress shouldn’t be limited by your gender, your family role, or any other factor. As our Assistant Dean and Director of the Career Development Center Christian Dummett often reminds us, “Nothing is impossible, there are only challenges.”

Last week, we had a jam-packed week of career exploration across consulting, healthcare, tech, finance, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship. For me, this early exploration is hugely valuable and vitally important. Because I filter everything through the lens of family, I’m able to explore and quickly refine what doesn’t sound feasible or attractive. Instead of feeling discouraged when I mentally take something off the table, that sort of prioritization helps clarify the path forward. Even more powerfully, I was able to see a place for myself within a sector that I’d previously doubted and, in that, felt my passions rise to the top.

The days are long, the transitions have been hard, and yes, I’m tired. But I’m also energized and invigorated by all we have in store. And I still get to come home to my daughter screaming her head off, “MAMAAAAAAAAA!,” and racing to tackle me at the door. And this is only the beginning.