Welcome to the Sloan Class of 2002
David Spencer, Sloan
Issue date: 10/29/01 Section: Features
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From nearly every corner of the globe, the Sloan class of 2002 converged on campus at the end of August.
Once assembled, we found we number 48, with only 20 from the U.S. Because the average Sloan age is 37, our breadth of experience is considerable and intriguing. Our classmates include an air conditioning plant manager from Slovakia, a flotilla commander from the Singapore navy, a petroleum executive from South Africa, a chief surgical resident here at the Stanford Medical Center, a space electronics chief at an Air Force research lab in New Mexico, four Brazilian banking executives and a member of the New Zealand Treasury.
The Sloan program, founded in 1957, is a one-year program for mid-career executives. Most Sloan Fellows are sponsored by the organizations they work for and expect to return to their positions after graduation from Stanford. We spend the fall quarter studying as a unit separate from the rest of the GSB. In the later quarters we take electives along with them.
Spending the fall quarter together as an academic group opens up the opportunity for us to share career and life experiences, but it isolates us from the rest of the GSB community. It seems as if ever since late August, we have been buried in Room S462 (our classroom) only occasionally coming up for air and a glimpse of our beautiful Stanford surroundings. We don't get to mingle with the MBAs as much as we would like. This year, we are making more of an effort to bridge the gap by hosting an LPF and planning other social events.
A unique part of the Sloan experience is the events that will bond us during the next nine months. In addition to our academic curriculum and on-campus activities, we have four local and international trips planned. On October 17, Intel’s CEO Craig Barrett hosted us at his company, after which we toured Cisco Systems. In November, we will journey to Seattle to call on Boeing, Microsoft and Kenworth Trucks. Spring break takes us to Washington, D.C. and New York City for political and business appointments. And the day after commencement, we embark on the “big enchilada” - a three-week Asian sojourn through Japan, China, and India.
Once assembled, we found we number 48, with only 20 from the U.S. Because the average Sloan age is 37, our breadth of experience is considerable and intriguing. Our classmates include an air conditioning plant manager from Slovakia, a flotilla commander from the Singapore navy, a petroleum executive from South Africa, a chief surgical resident here at the Stanford Medical Center, a space electronics chief at an Air Force research lab in New Mexico, four Brazilian banking executives and a member of the New Zealand Treasury.
The Sloan program, founded in 1957, is a one-year program for mid-career executives. Most Sloan Fellows are sponsored by the organizations they work for and expect to return to their positions after graduation from Stanford. We spend the fall quarter studying as a unit separate from the rest of the GSB. In the later quarters we take electives along with them.
Spending the fall quarter together as an academic group opens up the opportunity for us to share career and life experiences, but it isolates us from the rest of the GSB community. It seems as if ever since late August, we have been buried in Room S462 (our classroom) only occasionally coming up for air and a glimpse of our beautiful Stanford surroundings. We don't get to mingle with the MBAs as much as we would like. This year, we are making more of an effort to bridge the gap by hosting an LPF and planning other social events.
A unique part of the Sloan experience is the events that will bond us during the next nine months. In addition to our academic curriculum and on-campus activities, we have four local and international trips planned. On October 17, Intel’s CEO Craig Barrett hosted us at his company, after which we toured Cisco Systems. In November, we will journey to Seattle to call on Boeing, Microsoft and Kenworth Trucks. Spring break takes us to Washington, D.C. and New York City for political and business appointments. And the day after commencement, we embark on the “big enchilada” - a three-week Asian sojourn through Japan, China, and India.