Guest Lecturer at Imperial College Business School:  May spoke on the topic of "Perspectives on Leadership" to over 45 of Imperial's executive MBAs on May 27, 2010.  She shared lessons on leadership as it relates to career success, and encouraged students to take charge, create options and make conscious choices in their careers and, indeed, in their lives. 

Panelist at Stanford University's Clayman Institute for Gender Research:  May joined three Swedish research professionals on April 29, 2010 to discuss "Gender Perspectives on Innovation and Entrepreneurship:  Policy and Practice."  In practice, whether one is an innovator, "intrapreneur" or entrepreneur, certain key factors can enhance one's success.  Neither gender has a monopoly on great ideas and the whole economy benefits if we can help people to commit to and execute on innovative and entrepreneurial activities. 

Guest Speaker at Arizona State University's W.P. Carey Business School:  May addressed MBA and undergraduate honors students on "Perspectives on Leadership and Success" on April 23, 2010as part of their Distinguished Speaker Series.  She shared her views on the six keys to effective personal and professional leadership, as well as the six biggest mistakes she made in her career.  Mistakes are inevitable, and often we learn the most from these experiences; it's how one recovers that matters.   

Workshop Discussion at CRAC's (The Career Development Organisation) flagship conference "Decisions at 18:  Flexibility and Careers of the Future":  May hosted an interactive workshop on "The Future of Financial Careers in the City" at Royal Holloway College on April 21, 2010 for careers advisers across the UK.  She shared insights into the six core careers in the City and a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed. 

Panelist at Cass Business School event:  May Busch and Johanna Waterous (former Senior Partner at McKinsey) spoke on "Banking vs. Consulting:  A Closer Look" to an audience of 100 plus MBA and Masters degree students and alums on March 16, 2010.  May and Johanna shared searingly honest observations about what these extreme careers are really like, and what it takes to succeed.  While the event was sponsored by the Cass Women in Business Society, the audience was refreshingly an even mix of male and female attendees. 

May Busch keynote speaker at Squire Sanders:  The Women's Network of Squire Sanders, the US law firm, hosted their first client event on November 19, 2009 with the theme of "What Works for Women:  Wisdom for Achieving Career Success."  May shared the six key lessons she learned from her years on Wall Street:  what she did well and especially the mistakes she made.  Well attended by 40 professional women across law, banking, asset management and other businesses, the session's success was underscored by attendees' enthusiasm for attending the next events and the business connections generated. 

Ideas and Insights

Working hard doesn't have to be hard work.  If you choose a career that is aligned with your goals and your own definition of success, then you will find the process much more enjoyable.  Having congruence between what you are doing and what you believe in makes everything seem easier ... because it is!  My father is 79 years old and still working 10+ hours a day and loving it - frankly, it is what makes life worthwhile for him.  He is a scientist and leader, and is completely at one with what he does every single day.  It is from observing him over many years that I understand that working hard doesn't have to mean hard work.  Finding work that you find fun is truly a wonderful gift!