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What Students Say

We asked more than a dozen alumni to
share what it was like to be part of the altMBA.

“The best training I’ve ever invested in.”

—John Holcroft, Software Developer and Usability Designer, Holcroft Healthcare

“One of the major insights I’m taking away from this program is no more excuses.”

—Coby Chapple, Product Designer, Github

“The altMBA also taught me that almost every good idea can be made better by asking a better question.”

—Kaci Lambe, Senior Web Designer, Whole Foods

“I applied to the altMBA with three expectations: to learn how to ship my best work, to learn how better provide and accept feedback, and to discover catalysts that would help me influence change. I’m grateful that the altMBA helped me achieve those things. It was time and energy well spent. It opened my eyes”

—Camila Naranjo, Director ISV Co-Sell Lead, Microsoft

“The altMBA community is full of the most inspiring group of people I have ever worked with. There wasn’t one individual I crossed paths with, who I didn’t learn something from.”

—Elizabeth Phipps, Manager, Artist Marketing, Sony Music

“After the altMBA, I had a keen new perspective on how to overcome obstacles. It taught me the value of empathy. Now I perceive tension as an opportunity and am inspired to find new ways to challenge myself.”

—Ian Scott, Product Manager, Kickstarter

“The altMBA taught me that I can fit even more into my day than I thought possible, that you really can teach an old dog new tricks, and that it’s never too late to change your mind about a belief. The best part was the opportunity to meet, get to know, and learn with and from talented people from all over the world. (I especially loved connecting over the video chats!).”

—Denise Visse, Buyer, North American Stores, Nike

“I used to avoid risk at every junction for fear of failure and embarrassment. Because of the altMBA I have realized that my relationship with risk has a lot to do with the story I tell that surrounds it. And the realization that I have the capacity and the responsibility to change how this story is told. Now, I see risk as an opportunity.”

—Elizabeth Phipps, Manager, Artist Marketing, Sony Music

“What kept me (and many others I imagine) from throwing in the towel completely was what I saw in the remarkable displays of generous giving. Empathetic comments. Emotional writing. Gracious listening. I can’t come into a program like this and for very long be content to be a back row student. That seat quickly becomes uncomfortable in this type of environment.”

—Nick Gibson, Enterprise Architect, The Karis Group

“The altMBA changed my view on what can be accomplished in a day. After going through the program, I don’t think I can ever make up an excuse again. It taught me that you really can do anything that you put your mind to, regardless of your parameters. altMBA graduates are going to change the world someday. ”

—Jessica Lauria, Senior Director of Brand Communications, Chobani

“After the altMBA, I’ve felt more hope about my future. I already consider myself an ambitious creature, so it was a shift to hear people ask me to be MORE ambitious with my thinking. In my whole life, I’ve never been pushed to ask harder, better questions and find more truthful answers. I’m asking more of my friends and family too. When someone confides in me about a new idea, I have better questions to help them make their ideas stronger while still being supportive.”

—Kaci Lambe, Senior Web Designer, Whole Foods

“Working a fulltime+ job with the altMBA work on top stretched me. Just when you think you couldn’t possibly add one more thing, you realize you actually can. The rewards were definitely life changing! The people I worked with and got a chance to meet through altMBA will be with me for life! Driven, passionate about life and what they do and so inspiring!”

—Clarissa Finks, Category Manager, Burton Snowboards

“The workshop taught me that perfection is a myth and that there’s still value in shipping something even if it’s flawed. This alone has given me permission to release projects that aren't ‘perfect.’ It’s given me more confidence to ship what I previously couldn’t or wouldn’t. I have dozens of projects that have never seen the light of day because they aren’t finished, perfect, or better than someone else’s work. I’ve been able to talk about my experiences and my work with more confidence.”

—Kaci Lambe, Former Senior Web Designer, Whole Foods

“It’s the culture. When ‘people like us do things like this,’ and we figure it out together, we are making something larger than the work itself. We are helping to make a culture. This is powerful, and it’s where the motivation to keep moving comes from.”

—Scott Papich, North America Go-To-Market Lead, Pearl Izumi

“altMBA was mind and life-altering. I absolutely loved it and the thinking I got done during the class. I've saved all my projects and I've created personalized frameworks for some of the take-aways from the class. It was such a good decision for me to participate and I've already recommended it to colleagues. I'll continue to do so. The coach feedback was energizing and very helpful for my growth. You guys are helping to empower the change-makers. Keep it up!”

—Debra Austin, Associate Professor of Law Process, University of Denver, Sturm College of Law

“The best part of the altMBA was working with the other students. Everyone is invested in the process and the people around them.”

—Kaci Lambe, Senior Web Designer, Whole Foods

“I now know that I possess all of the things I need—tangible or otherwise—to both start and finish any endeavour I put my mind to. At the start of the course, I think I knew this on an intellectual level, but I wasn’t living it. I couldn’t feel it. Now though, I’m beginning to feel this intuitively, and I know it’s only going to get stronger with time and practice.”

—Coby Chapple, Product Designer, Github

“After the altMBA, I feel ever more hopeful and positive about the work my company can do, and is doing, to change the world. I know I will be an even better contributor to that continued success because of the work we did throughout the course.”

—Denise Visse, Buyer, North American Stores, Nike

“altMBA. This thing is big, it’s time consuming, it’s challenging, and it is impossible to do alone. Repeat, impossible to do alone. At least 95% of us would agree that this has been more than worth the effort, and nothing in the world gets a 95% approval rating, so something about this is epic.”

—Scott Papich, North America Go-To-Market Lead, Pearl Izumi

“altMBA taught me fundamentals I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life”

—Kaci Lambe, Senior Web Designer, Whole Foods

“I’ve learned over the past few weeks – by changing the way I engage with my team – that my team is eager to grow, and excited to be given the tools to level up. I don’t think anyone will be left behind. Thanks AltMBA.”

—Keeley Tillotson, CEO Wild Friends Foods

“I was afraid that my potential only applied to my industry and I was locked in forever. I was afraid to explore. After altMBA, I am not, not anymore.”

—Matt Hill, Director of Marketing, Gradus Group

“I will second, third and fourth what folks have said about altMBA program. I went into it for specific professional reasons but came out of it a more complete person. There are moments in your life where big change happens. altMBA was one of biggest moments of change in my life.”

—Sean Wachsman, Brand Manager, Chambord Trademark

“altMBA has helped me envision what a truly interdependent community could look like in practice. This past month I caught a glimpse of what it could look like to overcome my reluctance to open up my world to others. I saw a picture of what a voluntary commitment to draw out the best in others and myself could really look like.”

—Nick Gibson, Enterprise Architect, The Karis Group

“altMBA is not only about learning about tools, understanding dependencies. It is a perspective change of how you approach people, work or life. An incredibly safe place to open up, discover yourself, understand others and grow by delivering on a day-to-day basis. A whacking experience for those willing to change from the inside out. For those willing to make a ruckus.”

—Emese Szabo, Business Support and Change Management at Roche

“The magic is in the generosity of the feedback. I have never experienced generosity like this before.”

—Sara Mesing, Account Operations Manager, XPLANE

“I signed up for the altMBA chiefly because I've been reading Seth for years and instinctively knew that this would be an amazing opportunity. I'd just set up an new business and felt sure I'd learn the missing pieces that I'd need to be successful. The reality turned out to be so much more than that. I instantly had chance to bring all the learning into my business. I got incredible constructive, supportive and honest feedback from fellow students and my coaches. Above all... I made friends. I found my tribe. And I'm part of a group of people intent on making a positive impact on this world. The best is yet to come. Apply NOW!”

—Grania Murray, Founder, The Retreat

“If you want to go on an amazing journey with 99 other humans wanting to make big change, then altMBA is for you. I'd say my brain has been stretched in lots of uncomfortable ways, you will work like you never have before to ship 13 projects, and you will have a whole lot of fun thanks to the coaches and the other altMBA'ers. I have a new framework for making decisions, setting goals, and looking at my business and my customers. But the boundary gets kind of blurred here as the program will have an impact on you personally too. Highly recommend.”

—Simone Davies, Montessori Teacher, The Montessori Notebook

“What a great way to start the new year! The altMBA was the challenge, structure, and community I needed to learn how to successfully create meaningful change. Through the learning, assignments, discussions, and reflections, I realized I am capable of so much more. I am convinced that the altMBA has re-wired my brain.”

—Bradley Spitzer, Freelance Producer and Photographer

“I’ve been able to talk about my experiences and my work with more confidence”

—Kaci Lambe, Senior Web Designer, Whole Foods

“The altMBA reveals and ignites skilled human behavior. I feel insightful, integrated, & energized to challenge the status quo. This experience will engineer focus and supercharge your willingness to experiment. The support structure provides a steady platform to leap into purpose and performance.”

—Pam Rosal, National Outdoor Leadership, River Program Manager

“My attitude has shifted. Prior to this program, I was just waiting. I was waiting for someone else to take action. I was not taking any action. I was in a holding pattern for the past 3 years waiting for something to shift and change in my own career. Waiting for someone else to do it for me. To notice how hard I worked, how dedicated I was, how much I pushed myself. But I didn’t do anything. I sat quietly, worked hard, and waited. I have never experienced this level of learning outside of an expeditionary environment. I have never experienced a sense of my creativity blossoming at this level before. . . .EVER.”

—Pam Rosal, National Outdoor Leadership, River Program Manager

“altMBA is about change. Making change happen and most of all being changed. I'm not the person I was before AltMBA started. I pulled out the real me hiding somewhere overwhelmed from fear. I think that what you learn in altMBA lasts forever. For your professional path, but most of all for your personal life. And I already see with my own eyes even small but big changes around me.”

—Barbara Orsi, Brand Manager, Alfa Wasserman

“The altMBA inspired me to dream a little bigger and have the courage to identify and describe what I want this world and my organization to look like.”

—Kaci Lambe, Senior Web Designer, Whole Foods

“I’ve learned a lot about myself, and the narratives I tell myself. I learned a lot about other people and what makes the world round. I learned that I can do more, be more and when I fail it won’t matter. People will root for me if I ask. I can inspire if I try. I’ve found my tribe. For the first time in my life, I have a tribe”

—Heather Lee Nguyen, UX Designer, UnitedHealth Group (Optum)

“Community feedback, peer support, shared beliefs in personal potential, and the right to pursue happiness make the altMBA a perfect place to prepare to leap. My creative confidence is growing immensely. This process confirmed for me that I could map out taking on a big project, stick to the plan, and have a completed product when I'm done with altMBA.”

—Ryon Lane, Partner/Producer, White Rabbit

“True fulfillment is found in giving, not just receiving. Giving is the substance that holds together an interdependent community like altMBA.”

—Nick Gibson, Enterprise Architect, The Karis Group