Hometown: Opelika, Alabama
Undergraduate School and Degree: The University of Alabama / Finance
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?
I’m most proud of the completion of the Capsim simulation during my Strategic Management class. The simulation was a spirited competition among six teams. Each team was responsible for essentially running a company and making decisions regarding investments in R&D, production, marketing, and finance for eight rounds. In running the simulation, I learned a tremendous amount about successfully leading a private organization and also long-term strategy planning, industry and market assessment, competitor analysis, and teamwork. Having only recently been exposed to these types of decisions and consequences of those choices in my work life, I found the round-after-round lessons to be invaluable. My team had a very successful run of the simulation as we began in fifth place but finished in second.
Why did you choose this school’s Executive MBA program?
I chose the Executive MBA program at Georgia Tech largely because of the format/balance the program offers with a compressed and fairly regimented schedule. However, I also chose it for its broad curriculum that offered exposure in areas in which I wanted to develop skills and competency. Furthermore, the staff and program coordinators all provide the resources and support their students need to be successful. I was also impressed with the international residency exposure. Lastly, having been relatively new to Atlanta, I was interested in building a professional network, and Georgia Tech facilitates that in the best way possible.
What did you enjoy most about business school in general?
I enjoy the open discussion during class. One of the most valuable components of the Executive MBA (EMBA) program is that you are surrounded by individuals who are, by and large, mid-to-senior-level management professionals with a significant amount of experience in their respective industries. During class discussion, you hear various perspectives on a wide array of topics, and each opinion is a chance to learn something new. It’s common to view things through a specific lens based on