Leading for the Long Term at EMBA Global Network Week

This summer, between my first and second year in Yale SOM’s MBA for Executives program, I had the privilege of participating in Global Network Week (GNW) in Madrid, Spain. There, I attended a weeklong course called Holistic Leadership: From Purpose to Impact. In 2017, I opened a restaurant franchise business that changes lives for my employees and the urban community we serve through a focus on quality food, hospitality, and servant leadership. Now, I’ve launched another venture, a luxury menswear brand called Urbane & Gallant. I came to SOM to learn how to scale my vision as a second-time entrepreneur.

Despite our strong entrepreneurial culture in the U.S., there isn’t much conversation amongst founders on how to stay mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy as we pursue our goals. I navigated it on my own and developed important rhythms to prevent burnout, so I was very excited to see that IE Business School was devoting resources to researching and teaching this particular aspect of leadership.

Our first session kicked off with an unusual question for a business setting: “How are you feeling?” From there, we discussed whether or not we feel we’re “thriving.” That fundamental question led to many others throughout the week: Why are we in business? What are our values? What is our purpose?

I got into business because I believe this field has the power to dictate culture and bring about human flourishing. At Urbane & Gallant, my vision is to inspire men to make their mark through impactful clothing. We manufacture suits with regenerative wool, dress shirts made by survivors of human trafficking, eco-cashmere sweaters, and loungewear made from overproduced fabric heading for landfills. But in order to make a positive mark on the world, it’s also essential that leaders care for our own bodies, minds, and souls. In Madrid, we talked about the science behind sleep, nutrition, and physical capacity.

This program in Madrid prepared me for the second leg of my GNW experience: Paris Men’s Fashion Week. Urbane & Gallant hosted a two-day showroom presentation introducing ourselves to the city. Our goal was to provide a refreshing experience for the 50 magazine writers, showroom representatives, and influencers who showed up. Taking place during the worst heat wave Paris had experienced in 20 years, the event proved to be very timely. Beyond the food and refreshments we prepared, I knew it was important that I showed up over the two days well-rested, relaxed, and ready to connect.

We often forget that business exists for people, and lead as if people exist for our business. As I learned in Madrid, holistic leadership builds healthy businesses that focus on people, and it can be as simple as showing care and gratitude. Tired veterans of the luxury fashion industry said they came for the beautiful clothing but were moved by our hospitality and impact chain and ultimately shared that Urbane & Gallant is the change that’s needed—a luxury menswear brand with substance. In Paris, I saw a yearning for business leaders to do what’s right in the world. Business & Society at SOM is about boldly leading positive change, and Urbane & Gallant is how I’m living out that mission.