I was trying to make a change in the type of work I was doing and was stuck. I returned to school for my MBA to elevate my education and skills and enhance my professional credibility. I picked St. Kate鈥檚 MBA program after looking into several options. A full-time program that was doable while still working full time was a must. And when I learned that social justice is embedded into every course, I knew this was the place for me.
My career really took off after I started the St. Kate鈥檚 MBA program. Within a few months of starting the program, I transitioned into a new communications role at my company and I moved into another higher role before I finished the program.
I had been working toward a career change for a couple years before starting the program and was not getting the traction I needed. The immediate skills I gained in class that I could implement at work the next day鈥攐n top of showing I was dedicated to advancing my education鈥攚ere the spark I needed to make these big moves. And I went on to make two more big moves since graduating in 2018.
Last year I became senior manager of inclusion, diversity, and equity communications at Medtronic. It combines my communications and leadership skills with a subject matter I care about deeply. I use what I learned about integrated marketing communications every single day, and I am an effective collaborator with my partners because I connect the dots between big-picture business strategy and our collective actions and impact.
For the past several years I鈥檝e had a clear aspiration to be a senior leader in communications. And that鈥檚 still true, to a point. More recently I鈥檝e started exploring what that could look like in a less traditional sense. The power of effective storytelling goes well beyond the communications function itself, and I want to keep my long-term options open for how I can lead in this space and help others share their stories in a meaningful way.Ultimately, I am energized by connecting people to their passion and power, so lifting up others through mentoring, coaching, and inspirational leadership will be a common theme and driving force throughout my career.
The best part of the St. Kate鈥檚 MBA program was learning from and sharing ideas with my classmates. We came from diverse backgrounds and industries, and the discussions were always fascinating and helped me think in new ways. The relationships I built were invaluable.The program was meaningful because I gained essential education while growing my network of connections I can count on for the long haul.
The program promotes collaboration over competition and is designed to help women practice their leadership skills. Women considering an MBA need to know ... you can do this! If you鈥檙e thinking about it, you owe it to yourself to take the leap. You will be supported by a program that was intentionally built with your needs in mind, at a school that鈥檚 been dedicated to empowering women for more than a century