In the modern “attention economy,” focus has become one of our scarcest resources. Between academics, recruiting, and the social pulse of business school life, time feels perpetually tight and multitasking has become the norm. It’s tempting to check email, review slides, or respond to a message during a company presentation or alumni panel. But when we do, we miss the very reason we showed up in the first place.
If we’re not fully present, why attend at all? Showing up isn’t enough. The value of an event isn’t in your physical presence but in what you take away, the insights that guide your next move, the relationships that deepen through conversation, and the questions that shape your story and strengthen your pitch.
When you close your laptop, silence your phone, and give your full attention to the speaker or conversation, you signal respect, curiosity, and professionalism. You learn more, connect more deeply, and demonstrate the kind of presence that recruiters, alumni, classmates, and leaders remember.
In a world built on distractions, your full attention is a rare gift and one of the most powerful ways to invest in your own success.
How to Pitch Yourself to a Company
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says if you check your email in meetings, he’ll tell you to close it: ’it’s disrespectful’
