Maria Lambert

Home | My Profile

• Attending a concert with 30 of my classmates
• Hiking the Dish with some of my girlfriends
• Getting back several rolls of film from my travels this summer
• Being inspired by Father Doyle in Leadership Perspectives class
• Dancing at the Diwali party

• Getting to know my classmates on my China and Israel GERs.
• Taking a d.school course called Design Garage - we got to basically start a company over the course of six months. Our team, Project Amplify, was working on a cloud-based platform that would make it easier for DJs and amateur music listeners to come together and create great music. The project didn't ultimately move forward, but I learned a lot from the experience.
• Realizing that I have an identity outside of being a consultant. I've really enjoyed exploring my more artistic side and have spent a considerable amount of my free time at the GSB related to artistic endeavors - photography, music, art. It's something I know I'll want to include as a part of my career long term.

• Managing Growing Enterprises with Professor Grousbeck - we learn practical tips on how to run new companies from GSB alums. It's a must-take class at the GSB.
• I've enjoyed getting to know people better by hosting dinners and going on hikes. One of my favorite places to go hiking is Russian Ridge - just 30 minutes from campus and you get incredible views of the Bay, the ocean, and Stanford.
• My favorite experience so far has been Treasure Island Music Festival. I went last year and got to help organize this year. We had at least 50 people attend, and caught a full day of music.
• Leadership Perspectives class is really encouraging me to take stock in who I am and who I want to be as a leader. The speakers are fantastic, and I love that we can discuss in a small group (our Values in Management - VIM group).

Today's  biggest accomplishment: Getting a group of 30 people together for the Bridge School Benefit Concert
Today's biggest challenge: Trying to leave in a timely fashion from a very fun brunch to make it to Bridge School
Most fun: Laying on the lawn listening to Beck, discussing what type of animal we would all be if we were an animal

Today's biggest accomplishment: Having Father Boyle be such a success at Leadership Perspectives. Our leadership team put a lot of work into bringing together a great, diverse set of speakers and it's so gratifying to see it paying off.
Today's biggest challenge: Trying to get MGE paper finished
Most fun: Watching highlights from the GSB Show and getting excited for next year's production

Today's biggest accomplishment: Contributing to the GSBeats blog
Today's biggest challenge: CrossFit workout
Most fun: Lunch with friend and Talk12

Today's biggest accomplishment: Finishing the CrossFit work out - it was a tough one.
Today's biggest challenge: Initiating a difficult conversation with a friend. I'm generally a really direct person, but I have a hard time sharing my feelings when I think it might negatively affect a relationship. I'm working on being more open and honest.
Most fun: Definitely dancing with about 80 of my classmates at the Diwali party until 3 AM.

10:00 AM Woke up, showered.

10:45 AM Rushing around trying to print concert ticket and find sunscreen.

11:00 AM (late) Drove to Thunderdome to pick up blankets for concert I left there night before. Ran into Elliot at the door. He was also going to Aja's brunch, so I gave him a ride.

11:15 AM Starbucks run to bring coffee to brunch.

11:30 AM-12:45 PM Brunch at Aja's with 15 other GSBers. Beautiful day. As always, a beautiful spread!

Brunch feast including cheesey scrambled eggs, grilled peppers, fruit salad, and fresh yogurt.

Aja was kind enough to make snack packs for those headed straight to Bridge School Concert.

12:45-2:00 PM Attempt to get to and get inside Bridge School Benefit Concert at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View.

2:30-9:30 PM At Bridge School Benefit Concert. Gradually accommodated 30+ MBA2s in essentially a 3x8 foot space. Heard lots of great acts: Foo Fighters, Norah Jones, Beck, Eddie Vedder, Santana, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Mumford and Sons, Tony Bennett.

At the Bridge School Benefit Concert I had both cameras out (digital and film).

Acile Sleiman used Brock Lee to keep everyone together. Brock Lee has become the GSBeats mascot. He is taped to a yard stick so we can hold him up and easily find one another. Brock has a budding social media presence.

View from the GSB crowd's spot on the lawn.

Classmates Amanda Lubin and Ari Friedland.

Lying down on the lawn, our view of drink vendors at the concert.

Classmate Ryan Pripstein.

View of the concert crowd.

10:15 PM Dinner at PF Changs with Eli, Acile, Mohammed, Courtney, Emily, Pripstein and Cullen. Eli almost doesn't get served because of his peanut allergy.

11:15 PM Drop Acile and Mohammed off at EV, take Courtney back to the Compound.

12:30 AM Talk with roommate about start-ups and boys.

8:45 AM Woke up, showered. Checked email, responded to Mark about Leadership Perspectives question regarding tonight's speaker, Father Boyle.

9:30 AM Jumped into my car. Running late. Tried to make a room reservation while at stop lights during my 20 minute commute. Failure.

9:50AM Ran into long lines at Coupa. Made MARRS reservation on laptop for 12 PM call while standing in line. Realized I was going to be late and had classmate a few spots ahead of me buy my coffee.

10:00 AM Made it to MGE with no time to spare. Guest speaker was John Stanton.

Getting ready for MGE class to start.

11:50 AM Got settled in room for call with Bill Campbell, Chairman of Intuit's Board. Checked that dial in was working.

12:00-12:15 PM Spoke with Bill Campbell about Nov 8th visit to Leadership Perspectives class. Made sure he had all logistical info and was prepared for class. I'm on the leadership team for Leadership Perspectives and we help organize speakers.

12:15-12:45 PM Checked emails and wrote a blog post for GSBeats, the GSB's unofficial music group.

Reviewing a roll of film I just received back. The company that develops my film scans it and posts it online. Unfortunately, the rotation feature is hard to use, so I found it easier to turn my computer sideways to view.

12:45-1:15 PM Got lunch at Arbuckle, sat at table with friends all furiously working and crunching away before class. Read case for upcoming class.

1:15-3:00 PM Formation of New Ventures. Discussion was on ICON Aircraft and its founder Kirk Hawkins was the guest.

Chatting with Avra Winograd-Hutner after Formation of New Ventures class.

3:30 PM Coffee chat with Maria Sodini. Talked about moving to New York and going back to consulting after school (we have both already signed offers).

4:30 PM Met with Allison Stern, roommate and project partner for MGE midterm at Bass. Worked on midterm. We waited until the last day to do the midterm (pretty typical for both of us).

I'm outlining our priorities for a labor union conversation we need to have with our employees, part of the role play MGE midterm.

6:15 PM Ran and grabbed gift for Leadership Perspectives speaker from CLDR.

6:30 PM Leadership Perspectives class. Father Greg Boyle is our speaker - really inspiring and moving talk on leadership.

Father Boyle with two of his homeboys, David and Onna, from the nonprofit he founded 25 years ago to keep youth out of gangs. At the right are Mark McLaughlin and Jax Ferguson.

8:00 PM GSB Show info session. Watched clips from last year's show. I'm leading design (set and costumes) and helping with videography.

GSB Show Producers Ted Lim (left) and Woody Hartman (right) discuss how MBA1s can get involved in the GSB Show (MBA Lounge).

9:00 PM GSB Leadership team meeting.

9:30 PM Met back with MGE partner to finish midterm.

10:30 PM Talked with roommate about problem with another friend.

11:00 PM Went to FOAM at Hofbrau Haus.

Kevin Diestel showing off his authentic German clothing at the Oktoberfest FOAM.

Roseanne Wincek and Cullen Rose at FOAM.

10:30 AM Woke up

10:30-11:00 AM Ran errands, including getting coffee at Peet's for my french press.

11:00-12:00 Noon Dr's appointment in Palo Alto, photographed some flowers on the way.

12:15-1:15 PM Had lunch with Monica Lewis at Lyfe in downtown Palo Alto. Lyfe is one of my new favorite restaurants - healthy, fast, and fresh.

1:15-2:00 PM Had coffee chat with a friend.

2:00 -3:00 PM My friend Anneke Jong's meeting got canceled so we did work together in the courtyard.

David Rohrsheim and Anneke Jong hanging out in Town Square of the Knight Management Center.

I help run the GSB's unofficial music group GSBeats so I caught up by updating our website concert listing, and researching new music. I found a few songs I liked and posted them on the blog. I try to contribute to our blog and our twitter 3 to 4 times a week.

4:00-5:00PM I do CrossFit Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with a group of GSB students.

There are usually about seven of us in any given class. It's been a great way to stay in shape and I love the camaraderie. Today we practiced dead lifts, then had a really intense workout including ring dips, dead lifts, and pull ups.

5:00-5:30 PM Headed home.

5:30-6:30 PM Showered and got ready.

6:30 PM Homework, answered emails, called my mom in Pennsylvania to chat. My parents are remodeling the kitchen - I can't wait to see it at Thanksgiving.

Saw my friend and former co-worker Yuting Lien soliciting sign ups for Movember, a campaign to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues by having guys grow mustaches during the month of November.

8:30 PM Drove to GSB for TALK.

9:00 PM Talk. Adam Nelson is a classmate from my China GER trip last year. Today he gave his talk. It was hilarious and I'm really happy that he shared with us.

Caught this candid shot of Adam Nelson earlier in the day.

10:00 PM My friend Anneke and I headed over to Schwab for a E@T club (Epicureans at the GSB) mixer. E@t club brings together people who like to eat and people who like to cook. I like doing both, so it's an ideal club for me.

Mike Reilly is preparing crostini with pears, blue cheese, and brie.

7:30 AM Woke up. Hanging out in my room getting work done.

8:00-9:00 AM CrossFit class. We did 90 pushups and 45 power cleans. It was really exhausting.

Practicing power cleans with Shannon Peloquin (left) and Sabah Oney (right).

Shannon Peloquin doing pushups at Amity CrossFit.

9:00- 9:45 AM Ran errands - doing a quick drive by espresso in Redwood City. Filled up gas tank.

While running errands, found these funny pumpkin cakes.

10:00 AM Ate breakfast, made coffee, checked email.

11:00 AM Made granola. I've recently been making granola a lot since it turns out better than what I buy in the store.

12:00-1:00 PM Grabbed a to-go salad in Arbuckle and went to the India GER pre-trip meeting. I'm going to India Dec 26 to Jan 6. This is one of our required meetings to learn about the history and culture of India.

Professor Baba Shiv explains Indian Culture in preparation for our India GER this December/January.

1:00-2:00 PM Had a serious chat with a friend. Wasn't looking forward to it, but trying to put what I'm learning in classes like MGE in practice.

2:00-3:00 PM Bought tickets for winter break travel. Headed to Argentina for 10 days to visit relatives, then a week in Pennsylvania with my family, then my GER in India Dec 26 to Jan 6.

3:45 PM Hiked the Dish with Gwen Van de Pas, Lindsey Scrase, Allison Stern, and Tiffany Card. Nice chance to catch up with everyone

5:30 PM Went to LPF hosted by the PMP. Watched Sara Ittelson getting 'dunked' in a dunk tank.

Tom Hayes throws an apparently interesting throw at the dunk tank.

6:00-7:00 PM Drove to San Francisco.

7:00 PM Met up with a friend from high school I hadn't seen in 10 years. We found out we were both in the bay area through Instagram (she posted a picture of Treasure Island music festival a week ago). We ate at a Senegalese restaurant in the Mission called Bissap Baobob.

9:00 PM After dinner my friend and I met up with some of her friends from work (she works at an advertising agency on the creative side) in a bar in the mission. It was really fun and great to reconnect.

11:30-12:30 AM Drove back to Palo Alto 12:30 - I arrived back in Palo Alto and headed straight to the Diwali party at Casablanca. Everyone was having an amazing time - loved seeing all of my Indian friends dressed up for the holiday. Made me very excited for the upcoming GER trip.

Celebrating Diwali at Casablanca, with Jax Ferguson, Perla Amsili, Sid Gupta, Gwen Van de Pas, Andrew Lockhart, and Betsy Bradford.

ˆ Back to Top

Glossary

Copyright © Stanford Graduate School of Business

The content on this page reflects the experiences and opinions of some students and does not necessarily reflect the values and opinions of the Stanford Graduate School of Business