Photo by Shawn Moore

The eldest in a family of six daughters (four of whom attended HBS), Elaine L. Chao came to New York City from Taiwan at the age of eight. She adapted to her new home quickly, learning English and excelling academically. Since attending Mount Holyoke and HBS, she has held numerous leadership positions in the private, nonprofit, and public sectors, including director of the Peace Corps, president and CEO of United Way of America, and her present post, U.S. Secretary of Labor.

I remember driving to Boston with my parents to begin my first semester at HBS. We were all so excited and full of anticipation. We attended a reception at the Dean’s House and then enjoyed a wonderful dinner. When I got back to my room in Chase Hall that night, I found three cases in my mailbox. I stayed up half the night reading them.

The culture that I grew up in didn’t place a premium on verbal communication, so I was terrified during my first year. But I found the School to be such an exciting place, and I learned to voice my positions. The entire time I was at HBS I was aware of what a privilege it was to be there. The School provided me with a remarkable education and a network of friends and acquaintances who are now scattered throughout the world. It was a seminal experience.

As I progressed in my career, one of the most valuable courses I took at HBS turned out to be Organizational Behavior. Having worked with several organizations in all three sectors, I have learned that the “soul” of an organization often resides in its unspoken culture and unwritten rules. An effective leader must be able to recognize and understand these touchstone values. Each organization I’ve worked with has had not only a different mission, but also a different culture, vocabulary, stakeholder constituency, and operating style. Effective communications also means knowing how to listen.

My family means a lot to me. Since I married U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Kentucky has become my home state. We are in Kentucky pretty much every weekend. My sisters and I are close, and we feel blessed that our parents are in good health. We came to America not knowing how to speak English or having the support of preceding family members. Our initial years of struggle, hardship, and sacrifice helped us to appreciate the value of family.

One of the wonderful things about America is our emphasis on lifelong learning. I have a tremendous sense of curiosity and adventure, and these qualities have stood me in good stead. My goal has always been — and continues to be — to make my life count. — SY

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