By Tuck Executive Education
02 May 2024
Today’s leaders are operating in an increasingly complex business environment that requires an enterprise-wide mindset and the ability to develop strategy, innovate, and lead change across global organizations. Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business understands this imperative. The Tuck Advanced Management Program at Dartmouth (AMP), Tuck Executive Education’s signature program for senior leaders, is a catalyst for executives who seek to expand their strategic horizons.
The program provides participants with the frameworks and practical experiences they need to identify and resolve the most challenging problems their organizations face—in the Tuck School’s unparalleled learning environment. We spoke with three recent Tuck AMP alumni to learn more about their career journeys and how AMP transformed them.
“AMP forced me to think about my leadership skills in a different way. I learned to think outside of the box more, to come up with solutions and strategies to disrupt the status quo, and not be afraid to share those big ideas with the other leaders in my organization,” says Caryn Knill, regional vice president of workplace solutions at Suddath.
The Tuck AMP is not just an educational experience—it’s a pivotal career milestone that has empowered these leaders to reimagine their roles and redefine their industries. As we explore their insights, we invite you to consider how the AMP could mark a turning point in your own leadership journey.
Mark your calendars: the next session of AMP will take place from July 14–26, 2024 in beautiful Hanover, NH—a uniquely immersive location that offers participants the time and space to reflect on their leadership and organizational goals.
Discover Part I of this series.
Discover Part II of this series.
Caryn Knill AMP’23
Regional Vice President of Workplace Solutions, Suddath
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
“This experience completely changed my life and career. It gave me so much more confidence in my ability and instincts as a leader. The amount of growth that I saw in myself in just two short weeks was incredible, and those around me noticed as well.”
ON THE TUCK EXPERIENCE
I went into the Tuck program unsure what to expect. I assumed attendees would be high level executives with more experience and insight than I was going to bring to the table. I thought, What if I’m in over my head? What if I can’t provide any value?
My fears were put to rest immediately. While many attendees had extensive experience and impressive backgrounds, every single one of the 35 people in my cohort were amazing. Their willingness to share, ask for and offer advice, and support each other during the two-week program was so refreshing. It made me realize that each and every one of us brought something different and important to the group. It gave me so much more confidence in my ability and instincts as a leader.
MY MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN (MAP)
Over the course of the program, I became more aware of the root cause of the challenges outlined in my original MAP, which enabled me to focus on productive avenues of addressing those challenges in a more meaningful way. I have been able to implement not only professional changes within my organization, but personal changes as well, all of which have improved my ability to be an effective senior leader.
HOW AMP IMPACTED MY LEADERSHIP STYLE
AMP forced me to think about my leadership skills in a different way. I learned to think outside of the box more, to come up with solutions and strategies to disrupt the status quo, and not be afraid to share those big ideas with the other leaders in my organization.
MY ADVICE FOR SENIOR LEADERS
This experience completely changed my life and career. The amount of growth that I saw in myself in just two short weeks was incredible, and those around me noticed as well. This program will not only give you the confidence to excel in your role, but also the tools to bring back to share with others, creating a better team and organization.
Hien Nguyen Trong AMP’23
Vice Chairman of BOD, Gelex
Hometown: Vinh City, Vietnam
“At AMP, I was equipped with valuable frameworks, tools, and experiences that are still helping me tackle the challenges that come my way—in both my professional and personal lives.”
ON THE TUCK EXPERIENCE
I had an amazing time at Tuck because of its unique learning environment and excellent faculty, and because of the outstanding and like-minded peers I met there. I was equipped with valuable frameworks, tools, and experiences from the program that are still helping me tackle the challenges that come my way—in both my professional and personal lives.
The faculty, particularly VG Govindarajan and Pino Audia, had the biggest impact on me. The theories and practical experiences I gained from their sessions on the Three-Box Solution and on Change, Leadership, and Influence, helped me and my firm resolve some very challenging problems as soon as I returned to work. I don’t know that I would have known how to fix them without attending the program.
MY MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN (MAP)
Before attending AMP, I didn’t know how to define, refine, and prioritize my challenges. After two weeks, I became more confident in my ability to use the tools I’d been given to resolve the challenges and promote my strategic innovations.
My MAP surrounded building a strong corporate culture around shared values and beliefs, and I have been able to implement part of it, and the rest is on track to succeed. Shortly after returning to work, I was able to conduct a day-long workshop for 60 of Gelex’s senior executives, teaching them some of what I’d learned at AMP and ensuring we are all on the same page around leadership, change management, innovation, and communication.
HOW AMP IMPACTED MY LEADERSHIP STYLE
First and foremost, AMP helped me change myself before I could be responsible for changing others and the company. It taught me that personal change, and the science of psychology and organizational behavior, is imperative if I want to lead people and our company. Only after I improved myself was I able to understand that true change needed a big-picture vision, with detail-oriented implementation. Mastering that has helped me become a more effective and impactful leader.
MY ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE SENIOR LEADERS
AMP was the most powerful, meaningful, and valuable program I have ever participated in, over the course of my whole life. I hope you can take advantage of it as well.
Jon Stanton AMP’23
Managing Director, Rialto Capital
Hometown: Miami, FL
“AMP is one of life’s unique explorations, and it is best embraced with an open mind. The content was transformative, and connecting with Tuck as individuals outside of class, creating true networks throughout the world was powerful.”
ON THE TUCK EXPERIENCE
I enjoyed the program’s realness: the wisdom of Tuck’s professors and my fellow leaders from every continent. Collaborating with my peers on cases, games, and improvisations helped us all generate innovation through sharing our diverse experiences. For me, while the peacefulness of the Upper Valley resonated, it was the people who made the biggest impact. We grew together, unified, and still want to help each other through complex obstacles. The program was only the beginning of our journey together.
MY MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN (MAP)
The logic behind my MAP rewired itself just one day into the program. Being able to zoom out and slow down the pace of my planning really enhanced my perception of my challenges. My implementation has been iterative and requires testing, but my progress now has new context and I’m happy with where I am.
HOW AMP IMPACTED MY LEADERSHIP STYLE
Understanding leadership is a lifelong process, but certain themes were evident in this humble, though highly experienced, group. Each person taught and learned, and I realized that leadership is rooted in genuine acts of empowerment, vulnerability, and empathy. We all had a vision to unite in our enjoyment of the journey, knowing that the end is just a point in time.
MY ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE SENIOR LEADERS
AMP is one of life’s unique explorations, and it is best embraced with an open mind. As noise oscillates around leaders, their perspective can be distorted, and venturing out from tradition is often a voyage inward, as AMP was. The content was transformative, and connecting with Tuck as individuals outside of class, creating true networks throughout the world was powerful.
Learn more about the Advanced Management Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
