The One Question I Asked at Harvard That No One Else Did — And How It Changed Everything

On Sunday, I attended a Harvard Graduate School of Education admission engagement session in Austin. A room full of achievers — alumni, applicants, leaders, educators, and people like me exploring the doctorate and master’s programs.

The session began with the presenter introducing alumni.
They shared their programs, their journeys, their outcomes.

Then he clicked back to his slides, ready to move on.

Something in me paused.

We heard everyone else’s story.
But what about his?

So I raised my hand and asked,

“Wait — what about you? What’s your story with Harvard?”

And everything stopped.

He froze for half a second… then lit up.

I mean visibly — posture, face, energy.
He said he’d done this presentation at least 30 times, probably more, and not once had anyone asked him about him.
Not his background.
Not his role.
Not his connection to Harvard.

Thirty-plus sessions.
Not one human-to-human moment.

The Energy in the Room Shifted Instantly

He shared his story with enthusiasm —
where he started,
why Harvard,
how he ended up leading these sessions.

He kept circling back to my question — clearly moved by the fact someone finally saw the person behind the slides.

A simple, genuine moment. But it cracked something open in the room.

And in me.

Because here’s what I realized:

We’re surrounded by people.
We engage with roles.
But we rarely see the human right in front of us.

We don’t ask.
We don’t pause.
We don’t get curious.
We don’t interrupt the script.

And yet — that’s the thing people remember most.

The Truth: Everyone Wants to Be Seen

Leaders want to be seen.
Teachers want to be seen.
Parents. Students. Entrepreneurs. Speakers. Admissions reps.
Everyone.

Being the one who notices?
That’s presence.
That’s emotional intelligence.
That’s leadership.

Not the loud, flashy kind.
The quiet, powerful kind people feel.

Roles don’t replace humanity.
Credentials don’t replace connection.
Harvard titles don’t replace the need to be asked:

“What’s your story?”

That question cuts through performance.
It interrupts autopilot.
It creates a moment people carry with them.

And maybe — when my application hits his desk — he’ll remember that moment too.
Not because I was strategic.
But because I was human.

Connection isn’t built with perfection. It’s built with curiosity.

Ask the question no one else is asking.
Notice the person no one else is looking at.
Interrupt the script with humanity.
It changes rooms.
It changes relationships.
It changes outcomes.

It changes you.

If your team or organization needs deeper emotional intelligence, true connection, and leadership presence — this is the work we teach. Learn more at MotivAction.Academy