How A Class Of French MBA Students Taught Me More Than I Taught Them!

I was recently hired to teach a group of students how to create and present a business plan. This was a 9 hour assignment over 3 Monday's and I agreed to do this because I saw an amazing opportunity to meet 40 millennials from France who were selected to come to the U.S. for  a 3 month master program. Really, when else would I have such an opportunity to interact with these intelligent young women and men at a professional level for 9 hours?

My only goal as I tackled this assignment was to have fun and share ideas. As my nerves got the best of me the weekend prior to the first class, all I thought about was how I was going to make the subject of "business plans" exciting, informative and fun! Okay, so the first joke is on me. Unless I performed a stand-up comedy set for nine hours, all I could envision was 40 people staring at me with blank bored faces. I mean, really, business plans are exciting or fun??

These students flew from France the weekend I was fretting over how to have fun in class. They had a full schedule of classes like mine with at least 4 other instructors. They were tired, excited, and my class on Monday was their very first interaction with this program.  Hence, the second joke on me!

I instinctively knew these 40 individuals were smarter than me and I accepted that realization fully and gratefully because I thought, "well, if I don't teach them anything, certainly I will learn from them". I mean, hey, what a great opportunity, right?

After I introduced myself, I felt compelled to share the significance of the date, which was 4/20. Why? Because these students would later venture from their hotels or apartments and "awareness" was paramount to their safety, fun, and diet, or so I thought. For those that don't understand 420, google it.  This day is huge in San Francisco and while I didn't want to know whether they were going to partake in the festivities, this was a lesson better said than unsaid. This became our icebreaker and I wished them well after class.

The second thing I felt compelled to share was the fact I knew they were very intelligent adults and I would treat them as such. This way, if they didn't learn anything from me, it was because they already possessed the knowledge about business plans they needed for the class. Now, the joke is on them.

Seriously though, I had them break up into 5 groups, then create and present business plans. I was right, they are very intelligent and had some great ideas. As I sat with each group, I was able to bring awareness to some some strategies or risks they may not have thought about. I was able to ask them compelling
questions investors would most likely ask. But more importantly, I was able to connect with them and answer their curious questions. I had the opportunity and honor to interact with 40 men and women from France, many of whom were experiencing Americans in the states for the first time. So, who's the joke on now?

Donna Slater