Despite having over thirty years of experience within the information technology industry across various roles and organizations, José Maria de la Torre understood there was a lot for him to learn. Although based in Madrid, he was looking for an opportunity that would offer a more international perspective and diversity of knowledge. Before he knew it, he was quickly on his way to earning his Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE) at MIT Sloan Executive Education.
“I started taking a course because there’s always an opportunity to improve. At that time in my career, I was looking for innovative ways to brush up on my leadership and management skills. Plus, a lot of the things that it takes to be a good leader are things that can help you be a good person in general. So, whatever you learn can be applied professionally and personally and societally.”
When José started his learning journey travel restrictions were still in place, but the live online format provided him with a window to the world and new connections to global peers. Although he valued the live online experience, he was eager to travel to campus and network in person. José made it a priority to take courses on campus whenever possible. “I loved the flexibility of having both formats available. I was surprised by how great the live online experience was, but I also loved being onsite to talk to people face-to-face and walk around campus. I mean, come on! MIT is one of the top institutions! My university bachelor’s degree was in physics, my Master’s was in computer science. MIT was always one of my aspirations.”
Putting the pieces together
José initially thought he’d take just a couple of courses, but he soon realized each course was part of a larger puzzle and he wanted to reveal the full picture. “You maybe start with a leadership focused course, then move to strategy, but then you see how innovation fits in… You’re jumping around all this great instruction. At the end, what you’re getting is vast knowledge about how everything is linked together – technology, operations, strategy, innovation, management. Everything is integrated.”
While he may not have intended to pursue an ACE initially, once the decision was made, he approached the journey with a meticulous plan. Each course selected had a very intentional reason behind it to create the most relevant and personalized curriculum.
Outside of the comfort zone
“With my IT background, there were courses that were obvious fits such as Building Organizational Resilience: A System Approach to Mitigating Risk and Uncertainty, and Cybersecurity Leadership for Non-Technical Executives. Everyone is talking about these topics in my industry.”
Building Organizational Resilience was especially timely given the global upheaval of COVID. “It was about being prepared for the unexpected. It could be a new disruptive technology like AI, it could be a flood, a supply chain issue, a cybersecurity breach, a pandemic... The key is finding how to prepare to get the best result and manage things better so that when these unexpected events happen, you can still succeed.”
"At the end, what you’re getting is vast knowledge about how everything is linked together – technology, operations, strategy, innovation, management. Everything is integrated."
However, there were also courses that surprised José and helped him consider new ways to approach problems, both professionally and personally. Neuroscience for Business helped José consider how mental health and various “brain hacks” can help you make better decisions and thus be a better leader. Unlocking the Power of Perspectives: Problem Solving with Clarity, Creativity, and Collaboration was another memorable learning opportunity. “A jazz band played on site to help demonstrate how differently people can interpret things, but can still work together. It was such a unique tool to help understand different perspectives and how to approach new iideas.”
Strategies for Sustainable Business inspired José to think about managing an organization with a focus on sustainability, while still making a profit. “I was constantly reflecting on how you can make an impact, not just in your company, not just for yourself, but in your society and community. A lot of the courses dealt with how leadership has an impact on society, so that became a central theme in the courses I selected.”
Pause for self-reflection
“Reflection is a big part of building my leadership style; it helps me easily adapt lessons learned.” The various courses José completed on the way to earning his ACE certainly gave him new ideas and best practices to consider. He’s taking the opportunity of his current professional transition to reexamine past successes and failures through the lens of his newly acquired frameworks and apply them to his renewed “project of life”.
“At the end of the ACE experience I feel I’m stronger and I have better ideas of how to, not just find ways to make an impact in an organization, like profit, but how to also do things that can benefit society. These two things can work together. It’s also helped with influence in my advisory roles. I have a wider experience and perspective. I can really help make a difference and make improvements.”
Advice to others
With over 90 courses to choose from, making a decision can be daunting. “Don’t hesitate, just do it!” José advises. “You’ll gain strong benefits no matter where you start.” However, he admits that if you can make a plan, it’s even more beneficial. “Really take a look at what you’re looking to accomplish. What are your goals and what course do you think will fit your need and meet your objectives? You can’t cover everything in one course, or even one certificate, but you can get a head start.”
After experimenting with courses that weren’t necessarily related to his industry, he also advises to go in with an open mind. “You might think ‘Oh, I don’t need this’ or ‘I’ve heard this before’ but trust me, it’s not going to be the same thing. Mix it up! Different faculty have different perspectives. If you listen and reflect, you can gain a lot more knowledge.” He also highly recommends taking at least one in-person course to experience the innovative energy on campus.
What’s next?
Following ACE, José realizes there is no one path to follow and is exploring new opportunities and a new career chapter. “I’m thinking about positive influence. How can I make a greater impact? I’m seeking out opportunities where I can think differently since I have a much broader background now. I believe the knowledge gained has made me stronger as an executive, as an advisor, and as board member. I have a comprehensive understanding, which fuels the ways I may influence too.”
Learn more about Executive Certificates.
Contributed by Elaine Santoyo Goldman