In this ongoing series for Stanford Business magazine, we ask Stanford GSB alumni to reflect on a major life change and what they learned from it.
School Stories & News Opensearch
April 28, 2026
Written
Pivot: Taking a Break Without Quitting the Race
After a career pause, Neha Ruch, MBA ’14, set out to give modern motherhood a much-needed rebrand.
May 02, 2025
Written
Hard Lesson: Trust Your Gut and Take the Shot
How coach Kate Paye, JD/MBA ’03, made the career pivot that would bring her back to Stanford.
October 02, 2024
Written
Hard Lesson: A Journey Story Takes an Unexpected Plot Twist
Losing an election taught Brian C. Johnson, MBA/JD ’04, how to rewrite the tale he’d been telling himself.
April 23, 2024
Written
Hard Lesson: A Friend’s Insight Changed My Life
An overdue diagnosis helped Ronan McGovern, MS ’96, understand himself — and his purpose.
October 13, 2023
Written
Hard Lesson: Learning to Embrace Personal Growth
After trying to help the world’s most vulnerable babies, Jane Chen, MBA ’08, needed to heal her own wounds.
April 18, 2023
Written
Hard Lesson: Breaking the Silence Surrounding Mental Health
Andy Dunn, MBA ’07, opens up about the moment that nearly derailed his life.
September 28, 2022
Written
Hard Lesson: Don’t Apologize for Saying Sorry
Dominique Mielle, MBA ’98, recalls how a hasty email led to an “Oscar-worthy” act of contrition.
March 31, 2022
Written
Hard Lesson: When a Smart Conversation Is the Wrong Conversation
Andy Laats, MBA ’97, recalls Nixon’s dilemma: How to grow without bailing on its core partners
April 02, 2021
Written
Hard Lesson: In Sports, the Clientele Cares About One Thing… Winning
Joe Lacob, MBA ’83, looks back on the night he got booed into silence by his customers.
December 02, 2020
Video
Hard Lesson: COVID-19, the Wedding Crasher
In early 2020, Molly Kang, MBA ’15, was poised to upend the wedding industry with a direct-to-consumer bridal dress company. Then came social distancing.
July 31, 2020
Written
Hard Lesson: How to Land Safely When a Firm Won’t Fly
Amanda North, MBA ’82, looks back on the painful experience of shutting down a business that had once been her dream.
January 10, 2020
Written
Hard Lesson: When Co-Investors Disagree
A legendary hotelier looks back at one of his biggest failures — and what he learned from it.
