Volume 1, Issue 3: Collectively, Respectfully

Collectively, Respectfully

The strength of the human spirit is indestructible. In these times, we face the war on terrorism, war between Democrats and Republicans, and internal wars involving gender, race, and class. Heck, even within the MBA arena, the war between schools and the ranking systems is now underway.

Hmmm... music is always a good substitute for words.

Selecting Inner City Blues. Blowing the dust off the vinyl. Marvin Gaye's song "Makes Me Wanna Holla" infiltrates the room.

This ain't livin', This ain't livin' No, no baby, this ain't livin'

Somehow this spirit of warfare has filtered into my own life, making me want to disarm my usual laid-back demeanor and don the boxing gloves against a few people who insist on giving me a hard time. Anyone else feeling fiesty lately? Or is it just me?

makes me wanna holla the way they do my life

Enough wallowing. The optimist in me beckons to interact with the Staff on the April/May 2004 edition.

There is a distinctive panache to this issue. It winds softly around two themes: idealistic change and collective unity.

Collective Unity For our feature, we are pleased to have Ms. Terrie Williams, best selling author of The Personal Touch, in an exclusive interview with The NetWork magazine. It is okay to dream, but dreams can only be pursued- and subsequently captured- by having allies. Just think about the greater impact we can make in society as a collective, instead of as individuals. Special thanks to Angela for taking initiative on this one.

In our Diversity section, visionaries have created the Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona to eradicate cultural prejiduces across the globe to build up The Human Race. The likes of Clinton and Gorbachev will be part of this movement.

The outcome of the show The Apprentice seems to have stirred up some controversy. Marquis writes with deep introspection in our Graffiti section. Imagine what would've happened if Omarosa decided to be a teamplayer. Perhaps Kwame would've won and made Harvard Business School and MBAs around the country high-five eachother in victory. But you know how life likes to take interesting turns... sometimes the loser at first glance winds up being the real winner down the road. In all humor, someone posted a site in our forum where you can literally smack Omarosa . I must admit, she did not represent for us African American women who are trying to promote positivity.

Idealistic Change The direction to add "Change" to this issue came to me by way of prospectives matriculating to their chosen schools, leaving old ways and thought processes behind to navigate new frontiers. Danielle Tomassini, one of our writers, was expressing to me her joy in moving into a new condo, and I thought she should share it with the world in the Lifestyle section. Good take-aways from her experience.

There has been a current trend of business schools hiring new Deans (USC's Gupta and Columbia's Hubbard come to mind off the cuff). Hmmm... perhaps we're on the brink of a new age in business education? Before we make that call publicly, we'll have to see if the new Deans can bring it like Dipak Jain has ever since he took the reigns at Kellogg.

On a personal note...you all know that I am a Blockbuster junkie. In between GMAT study, I rented Lost in Translation a few weeks ago, and urge you to check it out. Sofia Coppola, the writer and producer of the Oscar-winning movie, is such a deep, complex talent. The approach to this movie and its underlying message is quite subliminal. Bill Murray (who doesn't love Bill?) and Scarlett Johansson delivered fine performances as we witness their journey in Japan. After they get over the initial culture shock, they learn to appreciate their space in time at the moment.

In closing, I want to thank those so dear to me in my circle... my friends have never lost faith in me and embrace me unconditionally.

Hmmm... let's keep the positive vibe going and select some 80s party music to close the latest issue of The NetWork.

We're gonna rock down to
E-lec-tric Avenue
...and then we'll take it higher!


Eddy Grant says it best.

As his song ends, and another one begins on this 80s CD, I dance in my bedroom to "Walk Like an Egyptian" and my spirit is renewed.

Isn't it time to unclench our fists?
Let us go forward collectively, respectfully.

K.D.

Special thanks to Columbia University for recently holding a Fireside Chat on Mbadiversity.com


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