Q:Where is your hometown?
A:I currently reside in the town of Arlington just outside of Boston, MA but I am originally from Dominica.
Q:What are you studying at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business and when do you plan to graduate? When did you begin the program?
A:I am currently a part-time MBA student at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business with an interest in Corporate Renewal and Entrepreneurship concentrations. I anticipate graduating as early as Spring 2019. I began my program in the Fall of 2015.
Q:What do you do in your current job? What are your responsibilities?
A:I am currently a Product Manager, Officer, in Senior Loan Servicing at State Street Corporation. I manage a team of 10, which is responsible for custody and fund accounting functions for around 20 portfolios of syndicated bank loans. My main responsibilities are making sure that the team meets its daily, monthly and annual deadlines, while also making sure that each individual is provided the appropriate development opportunities.
Q:How has being enrolled in the program impacted your current job?
A:One of the reasons why I decided to enroll in the MBA program was to focus on strategic decision-making. I believe that since being in the program I've been better able to approach a business problem by considering diverse perspectives, while viewing through a leadership lens. The program has allowed me to explore business concepts, gauge potential impact to stakeholders and effectively apply theory to practice in my current managerial role.
Q:What skills are you building at D'Amore-McKim that you are using in your current job or will use in your future career?
A:For me, it is important to cultivate key competencies that are transferable. I am targeting areas where I felt deficient and am focused on attaining a certain level of mastery. At D'Amore-McKim I am provided with opportunities to enhance my communication skills and aptitude in quantitative analysis which I feel are critical to becoming a more confident leader in the future.
Q:What has been your most valuable experience so far?
A:The professors are engaging and bring unique perspectives to the classroom, which is quite wonderful. Learning from the expertise of professors and the relevant course content has been most valuable.
Q:Why did you choose D'Amore-McKim?
A:There were two factors that attracted me to D'Amore-McKim: goal alignment and flexibility. In making my selection, I wanted to find an MBA program that offered courses in subject areas that stimulated my intellectual curiosity and equipped me with the proper business acumen to progress professionally. Additionally, having the freedom to enroll in evening and/or weekend courses would permit me to continue to work full-time. The option of a self-guided pace or to follow one of the suggested curriculum was appealing because it added a level of convenience especially with the demands of meeting other personal obligations.
Q:What would you say to a prospective student considering D'Amore-McKim for their business degree?
A:Academically the workload is rigorous but enriching. With each class you'll be conquering new challenges, setting the foundation to be an effective manager. If I could use one word to describe the experience thus far it would be “transformative.” There's a degree of self-examination that one might encounter as she or he tackles managerial dilemmas. However, no two individual experiences are the same. For anyone strongly considering a business degree from D'Amore-McKim, I would say to consider it an investment towards fulfilling a commitment towards your future, and, of course, be prepared to embark on a journey.
Q:Where do you see yourself in 5 – 10 years?
A: That's a great question. I believe that upon completion of my degree, I will have learned a set of core principles pertinent to position myself for an Executive Leadership role related to social enterprise. Ideally, I envision being a Director of a non-profit. Wherever I land, I do foresee being a change agent within the social economy. Whether it's creating networks to aid in the elimination of funding inequities impacting marginalized groups, or managing the implementation of social responsibility programs designed to help corporations build equitable relationship within their surrounding communities, I will be able to draw upon the wealth of knowledge acquired at D'Amore-McKim to achieve these possibilities.