.... 10 Insights I Took from Harvard
In 2017, at 42, I joined 174 leaders from 49 countries at Harvard, Boston – and it changed how I lead forever.
For weeks, I stepped away from being a mother, a wife, and a global executive.
I became a student again.
At Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Programme (AMP), titles didn’t matter. We were split into 18 living groups. No corner offices. No hierarchies. Just debate, curiosity, and connection.
The pace was relentless:
- 40 case studies.
- 6 days a week.
- Endless coaching, feedback, and reflection.
It stretched me beyond anything I had ever faced. And yet, in stripping me back, it reshaped me.
10 Global Insights That Still Shape Me
1. Lead with Purpose
Leadership isn’t about control or authority. It’s about legacy – building organisations that outlast you.
2. Global Lens, Local Relevance
The Starbucks case proved that belonging drives loyalty. Leading across borders demands both a global mindset and local agility.
3. Geopolitics Shapes Business
From Brazil to Dubai, we studied how politics, culture, and economics collide. Leaders must be geopolitical strategists — anticipating risk before it hits.
4. Learn, Unlearn, Relearn
After 12 years of part-time study until my MBA, AMP was my first full-time immersion. It forced me to unlearn fast, absorb diverse views, and adapt under pressure.
5. Connection is Power
In my group of 9, stripped of status, we built trust, vulnerability, and resilience. That group became my global advisory board for life.
6. Reinvention is Survival
Nike reminded us: even the strongest brands must disrupt themselves or fade. Leaders must balance heritage with transformation.
7. Innovation is an Ecosystem
Samsung showed that R&D is not enough. Innovation needs partnerships, agility, and experimentation.
8. Structure Drives Scale
Coca-Cola demonstrated that clarity fuels growth. Separating brand-building from bottling unlocked global execution.
9. Sustainability is Strategy
Lush Cosmetics proved that sustainability is no longer optional. It strengthens trust, brands, and resilience.
10. Transformation is Inner & Outer
AMP didn’t just sharpen my leadership skills. It reshaped me – my awareness, resilience, and global perspective.
Looking Back From Today
When I sat in those classrooms in 2017, AI was a side note. Today, it’s rewriting leadership.
In just 8 years, the world has shifted:
- COVID-19 exposed supply chain fragility.
- Geopolitical conflicts tested resilience.
- Thomas Cook – a 178-year-old giant – collapsed overnight.
- AI is disrupting every industry.
- Sustainability has moved from “nice-to-have” to “non-negotiable”.
- Hybrid work permanently reshaped organisations.
AMP didn’t give me the answers.
It gave me the confidence, frameworks, and global perspective to lead through uncertainty.
The Power of the AMP Network
The greatest gift of AMP isn’t in the classroom.
It’s in the people.
Over time, I’ve watched classmates:
- Step into CEO roles.
- Launch start-ups.
- Lead philanthropy.
- Relocate across continents.
- Retire, reinvent, and restart.
We’ve had reunions on nearly every continent.
We’ve visited each other’s homes.
We’ve celebrated milestones and supported through crises.
That’s the legacy of AMP: a global circle of leaders who push, challenge, and inspire each other – for life.
A Journey Beyond Titles
Looking back now, I see just how transformational the Harvard AMP was for me at 42.
It gave me perspective on purpose.
It reinforced the power of people.
It built resilience for uncertainty.
But it also revealed a truth I could not ignore: out of 175 participants, only 17 were women.
Representation matters. Not just at Harvard. Not just in leadership programs. But in every boardroom and every C-suite. Because leadership is richer, stronger, and more innovative when diverse voices are at the table
Leaving Harvard, I was no longer just an executive.
I became a more reflective leader.
A more conscious global citizen.
And a more connected human being.
The insights were powerful.
The network was priceless.
But the transformation that changed everything.
And today, as I continue to lead across 27 countries, I hold onto one truth from that time:
Leadership is not about titles, but about purpose, people, and perspective.
That is the lesson I carry with me into every decision, every challenge, and every boardroom I step into.
Linda Reddy