Q:Where is your hometown?
A:Buffalo, NY
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 in the Part-Time MBA program with no planned concentration—I believe it's more valuable enrolling in mix of different courses to become more well-rounded. I started the program in Spring 2015 and I'm planning to graduate Spring 2018.
Q:What do you do in your current job? What are your responsibilities?
A:I work for an engineering consulting company in a variety of different roles. I am a Project Manager on some projects and Engineer/Technical Advisor on other projects. I am responsible for reviewing design documentation and making decisions in the best interest of the client. I travel monthly to contractor manufacturing facilities to review work procedures, testing, and quality assurance. I also provide the client Project Manager with strategic recommendations based upon my review of engineering design documentation, testing and analysis of data.
Q:How has being enrolled in the program impacted your current job?
A:I've become more exposed to the financial/corporate side of my company and have taken on more Project Management responsibilities since joining as a Project Engineer. I've been involved in business development with key clients and as well proposal pursuits for new work. I've developed trusted relationships with clients and have been relied upon for strategic advice, even when not being the most senior/knowledgeable individual on a project. It has also provided me with better time management skills both at my current position and outside of the office. Finally, with an Engineering undergraduate degree the MBA program has shown me new ways to look at difficult problems and provided me the opportunity to be looked at as a leader to guide other engineers and coworkers to accomplish these problems.
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:Leadership skills. I love solving difficult engineering problems. Unfortunately you can't always do it on your own, especially when you are up against resource constraints or need certain expertise/experience to arrive at the right solution. I have been fortunate to learn and work with other senior engineers, but have also been given the opportunity to lead other engineers and delegate work in order to more effectively utilize my time and talents.
Business perspective with an engineering background. Sometimes engineers tend to overcomplicate problems at times and can spend excessive time over-engineering something that is relatively simple. With a business mindset the key is not only to make the best design, but do it in an efficient way that will result in the best outcomes for the company. Business decisions are often difficult and frustration from an engineering standpoint, but with an MBA different tools are available analyze the current situation.
Relationship building skills. Building work relationships with those around you is important. Understanding what each coworker brings to the table is also important to determine what the best use of their time is when working together.
Presentation, negotiation and strategy skills. My coursework and experience has tough me to be more confident in my abilities and the importance of being prepared and be more presentable for difficult business discussions with my boss, the client, and even coworkers.
Q:What has been your most valuable experience so far?
A:Case studies, group projects, and presentations are the most valuable aspect of my studies to date. I enjoy working with different group members each time if I can. I like to act as a facilitator/leader of the group to complete the case or project by the deadline. Making sure everyone is engaged and dedicated to the project is also extremely important. Coursework has exposed me to the importance of the business perspective to engineering projects. I continually look for new tools to utilize in my everyday work. It is often beneficial to test out certain tools and skills in the classroom before utilizing them at my workplace.
Q:Why did you choose D'Amore-McKim?
A:Excellent reputation. Excellent professors. Diverse enrollment. Overall, I felt Northeastern had a more “hands on” feel to the coursework than other schools in the area that felt more academic.
Q:What would you say to a prospective student considering D'Amore-McKim for their business degree?
A:It is a great commitment, but the experience and relationships you gain from your peers and professors will last a lifetime. The professors at Northeastern are just as committed as you are and really want to see you apply what you learn at your current and future job positions.
Q:Where do you see yourself in 5 – 10 years?
A:Ideally, I'll be running my own company (not sure in what industry yet)! Realistically, I see myself being deeply involved and dedicated to a company in an executive leadership role. I want to hold a vast amount of responsibilities, manage many different types of people (directly and indirectly), and make key decisions that will improve and grow the company.