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In Our Words
"I was early in the process of coming out as I applied to MBA programs. I feared that business school meant a return to
the closet, a setback in my personal development. The support that I received from both straight and gay friends at the GSB,
however, was overwhelming. The GSB community has helped me become more confident and comfortable, and has been a
safe environment in which to explore being out in my professional life. These two years have been transformative, both
personally and professionally. Of the elite business
schools, I believe that Stanford has the best
atmosphere for gay and lesbian students." "I feel totally comfortable being out at Stanford. Like
any place, the GSB is not perfect. There's room for improvement--
no doubt. Having spent five years in San Francisco immediately
prior to b-school, I probably got spoiled. So, when I arrived at
the GSB and told people that I'm gay, I had to remind myself that not
everyone is from San Francisco. Not everyone has had the
opportunity to count "out" gays and lesbians among their friends.
For many of my classmates, knowing me and hearing me talk openly about
being gay was a new experience. But it's been a thrill to do my
part to foster understanding. At
Stanford, we teach one another. And to do that, we are called to
bring our unique perspectives to the GSB experience. Being gay is
unique perspective. Each time I speak up, each time I speak
honestly, I change minds. That's
great stuff." "As an urban gay man from New York City, I wasn't completely sure what to expect when I departed for suburban Palo Alto to
complete my JD/MBA at Stanford. But any reservations I had about leaving the Big Apple soon disappeared after meeting my
classmates - never before have I met such an incredibly talented, accomplished, and fun group of people in one place! At
Stanford, diversity in all its forms is not only accepted, it's a vital part of the university. I have learned as much from
the diverse backgrounds of my peers as I have from my classes. Diversity at Stanford is not only viewed in such forms as race, gender,
culture, nationality, and sexual orientation, but also in terms of work experience. My law training as part of getting the joint
JD/MBA has allowed me to enrich classroom discussions and group projects with a better understanding of how the law works. In turn,
students with banking or consulting experience have helped me strengthen my knowledge of quantitative issues that are crucial to
understanding business strategy. In this way, we all bring our strengths to the GSB and share them with our classmates, who will use
these tools in their future careers as leaders of organizations. When I return to NYC after graduation, I will look forward to
continuing a close relationship with both my classmates and the GSB through the school's close-knit alumni community. But I sure will
miss the great weather!" "The GSB was a fantastic experience in so many ways for me, but
thankfully also for my partner. I was quite nervous moving my partner
across the country for two years. I made the
conscious decision that my relationship was going to be stronger leaving
the GSB than it was coming in…and I’m thrilled to report that it
definitely is! So many great things happened in my two years at Stanford
and it was wonderful to get to share them together."
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