The Power of Uncomfortable Decisions

Even as her career followed a successful upward trajectory, Sev Gunes-Lasnet, ’24, felt stuck. She had worked for nine years at a Big Four accounting firm where she received regular promotions and felt valued as an employee. But something didn’t feel right; she didn’t find the work as personally fulfilling as it used to be.

At the same time, she felt herself pulled in different professional directions that she wanted to explore. She was passionate about the nexus between investment capital and businesses: what makes a good investment opportunity? How does a company’s core business deliver value to society and its shareholders? She had a growing sense that her lack of formal education in finance was becoming a barrier to reaching her career goals. She trained as an aerospace engineer and used complex financial models at work but did not have the time to study their nuances. Feeling stuck and yearning for something else led her on a journey of self-discovery 15 years after beginning her career.

Taking Risks

Gunes-Lasnet comes from a family of lifelong learners and risk-takers. “My family really values education,” she said. “There are plenty of examples of people pivoting and then being very happy.” She reflected on her family history while contemplating her next step. Education was a clear theme. Her grandfather started his professional life very young and with no qualifications at a factory job for Carnot Metal Box in Nantes, France. A coworker encouraged him to apply for a Merchant Marine Academy apprenticeship, after which he became an officer, traveling the world and working on oil tankers for up to two years at a time. Although he valued the adventure, it left Gunes-Lasnet’s grandmother home alone with their children. At age 26 he pivoted, resigning from his officer position and securing a contract with a chemical manufacturing company. The company agreed to put him through engineering night school, which meant three to four hours of studying each night in addition to his day job. He went on to have a very successful third career as a chemical engineering executive. Her grandfather’s story played an influential role in Gunes-Lasnet’s perspective on change. Knowing that he completely changed his life, not once but three times, through pursuing education and taking risks, deeply influenced her. “You’re not stuck in a lane if something is not working out,” she said.

Gunes-Lasnet decided that her new lane required advanced financial skill sets and a way to explore her ideas. She enrolled in the Chicago Booth Executive MBA Program in London and focused on gaining strong capabilities in financial and competitive strategy, marketing, and the nuances of valuation. “These have given me a robust toolbox that I didn’t have before,” she said. “I feel very confident approaching any deal.”

Investing in Learning

Participating in the program at Booth required an investment of time, and Gunes-Lasnet’s partner and two little boys (aged 4 and 7) found it challenging at times. Gunes-Lasnet believes it is of crucial importance that she demonstrates to her boys that learning is a lifelong pursuit, and the boys have greatly enjoyed visiting the Robert Rothman, ’77, London Campus.

The program gave Gunes-Lasnet a dedicated space for self-reflection through classes like Negotiations, Managerial Psychology, and Managerial Decision-Making. She gained confidence in public speaking and found that the group study work pushed her to adjust her ways of working. “For me, it’s been a really amazing experience in understanding what’s holding you back in your set behaviors,” she said. “I’ve been able to completely unveil these.

“Discovering how to be self-aware enough to work in any team is a hugely beneficial life skill. I feel privileged to have studied alongside a group of dedicated, passionate, and incredibly knowledgeable executives from around the world. I’ve not only learned from my classmates but also have enormous respect for them.”