The Philosopher’s Corner

This Month’s Philosopher: Amy O'C. Fitzpatrick, WG’93  
To learn more about Amy, click here.

 

LIFE LESSON

If I knew then what I know now, I would have...
invested more time learning to negotiate. During Wharton, I read Getting to Yes and participated in a few “mock” negotiations, which I truly enjoyed. In hindsight, I would have invested more time learning this important professional and life skill, applied it earlier in my career, and with a stronger voice.

If I knew then what I know now, I would NOT have...
spent an outsized amount of energy focused on what I did not know, but rather, I would have owned earlier what I did know. As an MBA/MSW, my career focus and prior educational background were out of the norm. Upon entering Wharton and the consulting field post-graduation, I had a steep learning curve. I placed great pressure on myself to learn and master as much as I could – which served me well. I spent less time bringing my unique lens forward in the early years. I understand now that each individual brings unique perspectives, talents, and knowledge, and truly great companies and teams are born when those differences are lifted up, early and often!

FAVORITE QUOTES

  1. “Daring leaders who live into their values are never silent about hard things.”
    ~ Brene Brown
  2. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
    ~ Winston Churchill
  3. “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”
    ~ Henry David Thoreau

RECOMMENDED READING 

  1. Work Rules! (Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead by Laszlo Buck
  2. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
  3. Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
  4. Untamed by Glennon Doyle


Contact Amy at: [email protected]