What were your professional goals and motivation for pursuing your MBA at the Seidman College of Business?

I was a communications and marketing manager skilled at completing the work right in front of me, but knew I was lacking the strategic mindset needed to help the organization get to the next level. I saw the EMBA program as the perfect next step to broaden my thinking, connect me with other like-minded leaders and set me up for future success in my career.

Did your Seidman MBA change how you approach business and if so, how?

My Seidman MBA experience greatly changed how I approach business. It gave me analysis tools to assess financial viability of ideas, it deepened my skillset in negotiation and broadened my thinking of how customer-centricity and business strategy align.

How was your Seidman MBA helpful to you in advancing your career?

Since graduating from Seidman with my MBA, I was given more responsibility in my manager role, and then took on a Strategic Marketing Partner role with a system-wide strategic scope. The skills and strategic mindset I gained through the EMBA program are crucial to the role I now serve as I set strategy for marketing across the Corewell Health system.

How did your Seidman MBA shape your leadership style?

Respectfully challenge assumptions’ was a theme of what I learned at Seidman. The experience shaped me into a more confident leader. I am now willing and able to share dissenting opinions and see healthy conflict as positive and necessary for an organization’s growth.

What content or skills did you learn in the EMBA program that you regularly use today?

In the EMBA program I learned there is one price for those who negotiate and one price for those who don’t. I now use negotiation skills more readily today in both my personal and professional life, to ask for the best deals for the best price working with vendors and businesses.

What was the most rewarding part of the Seidman EMBA program?

Hands down, the most rewarding part of the Seidman EMBA program was the connections to other like-minded individuals and the rich in-class discussions that resulted in bringing together a diverse, smart group of students pursing excellence in business strategy.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering a Seidman EMBA?

Don’t wait. Do it now! Regardless of what’s going on in your personal life, you will never regret the time you spent learning in the Seidman EMBA program. I got engaged, planned a wedding and a honeymoon all during the time I was in the EMBA program. The longer you prolong starting the program, the longer you are prolonging your career advancement. The mindset, tools and knowledge you gain will help you do your current job smarter and more efficiently and set you up beautifully for your next career step.

Is there anything else you would like to share about the Seidman EMBA program?

This program is thoughtfully designed to give aspiring leaders the most excellent and useful experience on their journey to making a great impact in business. We all have unique skills and traits with a unique place we fit in this world, and without the excellent training from top-notch professionals, I personally would not have what I needed to reach my fullest potential. I am deeply grateful for my time at GVSU in the Seidman EMBA program.