“Rose,” “bud,” and “thorn” aren’t words one might expect to hear at a gathering of Wharton alumni. But at Wharton Circles, they’re synonymous with building community. Since the program’s founding five years ago, small groups have been using those words as a springboard to start discussions, picking a rose (one positive aspect of an event in their lives), a bud (one area for growth), and a thorn (one challenge). Today, the Wharton Circles program has blossomed from 177 New York City-based alumni to 2,016 all around the globe, and its newly formed MBA Circles present a unique opportunity for personal connection.
“We were truly invested in each other’s successes,” says Lori Rosenthal W80, the facilitator of one of the inaugural circles in 2019. Back then, the initiative was known as Wharton Women’s Circles and was created in direct response to our alumnae community, which was seeking support beyond just careers.
“We went to the same School,” says Rosenthal. “We all cared about being smart women. We cared about being professionals. We cared about making an impact. So I think it became sort of a safe port in the storm. That’s what got us started, and then as you begin to get more immersed and more trusting, the insights became bigger, and we began to share more.”
When the pandemic hit in 2020 and Circles switched to a virtual format, those bonds only grew stronger. Currently, the program requires a commitment of six months, with one meeting each month. For Rosenthal’s group, the requirement was 12 months, and they kept it going long after their cycle was up, continuing to meet on their own even as life took them to such far-flung cities as Atlanta, Houston, and Palo Alto. Five of the original seven members still meet regularly.
Circles are now reaching even farther. When the pilot MBA Reunion Circles launched last year, the program saw its first-ever international participants, mostly in Europe and China. MBA Circle facilitator Chris Philpot WG95 appreciated how his group was matched according to time zone, including one member in Peru. “Circles was a new experience for me because I was involved with alumni I usually wouldn’t have had an opportunity to meet,” says Philpot. This year, Wharton Circles will continue with Women and MBA, each ranging from five to 10 members led by one or two facilitators. The Women Circles are open to full-time MBA, Executive MBA, and undergraduate alumni, both women and men, while MBA Circles focus on full-time MBA and Executive MBA alumni. All Circles are shaped by Wharton’s Lifelong Learning staff, who keep a variety of regions, industries, and employers in mind during the matching process. For Philpot, that meant mixing alumni who graduated in the 1980s with those who were only five years out, which presented some communication challenges. “Younger people preferred getting notifications on their phones,” Philpot says, pointing out that facilitators must manage various expectations.
Although Philpot’s Toastmasters experience and Rosenthal’s career in human resources helped them lead their Circles, no prior experience is necessary to become a facilitator. Alumni who volunteer for the role receive training from Lifelong Learning and MBA Career Management, as well as other resources to lead the discussion (such as the popular rose, bud, thorn exercise) and guidance on how to set the tone for the group. These materials tap into Penn’s Positive Psychology curriculum and are designed to prepare facilitators for vulnerable conversations. In Philpot’s group, that included reflecting on what aspirations alumni had when starting Wharton and how those match up to what they’re doing now. In Rosenthal’s group, the topics ranged from health issues to starting a new venture.
While it’s not surprising that business-school alumni would gravitate toward talking about their careers, the capacity for Circles to use that commonality to forge a deeper connection is what differentiates the program from other Wharton clubs and events, says Becky Toner, associate director of lifelong learning at Wharton External Affairs.
“There’s job support — that happens naturally. But you’re not there for a transactional purpose,” explains Toner, who runs the facilitator training and executed the launch of the MBA Circles. “This is about making a connection that could lead to a longer-term relationship, like a friendship. So it’s showing up as your whole self, not just your Wharton self.”
This year’s Wharton Circles program will be limited to 450 participants. Join an upcoming Circles Open House on Wednesday, August 27, or Wednesday, September 3, to learn more.
