"One of the best things about working in a diverse team is that the advice and counsel that you get from the team is confidential and it gives you the benefit of seeing how other companies and industries solve similar problems." - Greg Haas
Crossing the finish line, the members of the Executive MBA's Orange Team have many reasons to celebrate: several promotions, two engagements and the beginning of a new venture together — a racehorse named Orange Express. Driven and diverse, team members represent four states
and multiple industries. Here they speak candidly about helping one another succeed, the value of peer advice and the excitement of advancing into new leadership positions.
EXPERIENCE (JOEL): I felt that the UW EMBA was more highly rated with better faculty and better students than the educational choices where I live. The different participants in this program enrich the class with their knowledge and their experience — we are not just learning from one instructor, we are learning from 40 instructors.
QUALITY (SOL): When I interviewed with the EMBA Program, the staff was so organized. It was a good indicator that the program quality would be very high. I have recommended this program to people in Los Angeles because they make it so convenient that it might be as easy to commute from California as from Portland.
FLEXIBILITY (BEVERLY): I have an intense job. There is tremendous flexibility in terms of when I get my work done for the program. The team format allows me to always have people available — whether it’s Tuesday at 10 p.m. or Sunday morning. So I can really adjust the workload to my schedule.
FORMAT (CHRIS): The program is directly related to my current work and my future aspirations. Also, the North America format provided the intensity I needed. One of the most amazing aspects of the program was the transformation of a group of smart, experienced individuals into a world-class team.
PERSPECTIVE (GREG): One of the best things about working in a diverse team is that the advice and counsel that you get from the team is confidential and it gives you the benefit of seeing how other companies and industries solve similar problems. You can discuss real business issues with the group and have an open-minded debate without negative consequences.
IMPACT (BRIAN): I developed a deeper understanding of accounting — and specifically some of the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation — that allowed me to have more effective discussions with my company’s auditors. It literally made the difference of millions of dollars in revenue that we recognized earlier, instead of postponing for several years. This situation raised my reputation within the executive levels. Two days after graduation, I accepted an offer as vice president of a local company — doubling my income.
RESULTS (DEL): I just accepted a position as CEO of an early phase software company. Without a doubt, that would not have happened except for this program. I made contact with the company through an EMBA marketing ops project and the school’s credentials and the founder’s knowledge of the program’s reputation were major factors in my selection. |
