Students Travel to Washington, D.C. for High-Profile Meetings

During the first week of their Spring Break in early March, 11 Yale School of Management students engaged in the 1st Annual Washington, D.C. Study Trip. In keeping with Yale SOM’s mission, the primary focus was to meet with high-level decision makers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Conceived and led by Marty DiMarzio '05, the week-long excursion included over 20 meetings, three school-based gatherings, and several tours.

Student participants included a mix of first and second years. While the group had varying career interests in public, private, and nonprofit sectors, all had an interest in observing leadership transcending across sectors and the dynamics of complex organizations. Many of the meetings included leaders who had successfully transitioned, planned and unplanned, between sectors at different or multiple stages in their careers.

The group secured some very high-profile meetings, including a name very familiar to many Yale SOM alumni – then SEC Chairman and founding Dean of Yale SOM, Bill Donaldson. From private meetings at the White House with Presidential Chief of Staff Andy Card and at FBI headquarters with Director Robert Mueller, to a tour of the West Wing and a personal viewing of "Face the Nation," the trip’s connections far surpassed expectations. The group also met with international leaders, including Pakistani Ambassador Jehangir Karamat and European Union Ambassador John Bruton.
 
Meetings with current legislators included Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT), Congressman Jerry Weller (IL), Legislative Director for Senator Daniel Akaka (HI) Melissa Hampe '02, Washington DC Mayor Anthony Williams YC ’79, a constituent breakfast with Senators Dick Durbin (IL) and Barack Obama (IL), and professional Campaign Manager Joe Trippi. Other members of the current administration and appointees were Counsel to the President Dan Bartlett, OMB Deputy Director Clay Johnson YC ’68, Chief of Staff to Vice President Cheney Lewis Libby YC ’75, and IRS Commissioner Mark Everson YC ’76.

Private sector meetings with Bank of America Community Development SVP Maryann Dillon '87, Discovery Communications Business Development EVP Ray Cooper '85, Gallup CEO Jim Clifton, and Development Alternatives Inc. CEO Tony Barclay blended with public sector meetings with Red Cross SVP Steve Denne '86 and United Way CEO Brian Gallagher. To say that the caliber and quality of the speaker list for the trip was of the highest order would be an immense understatement. Additionally, as the ground has now been broken, plans are already being processed for the 2nd Annual Washington, D.C. Study Trip in March of 2006.