Aaron J. Glover
MBA 2012
 

Employment

Senior Associate, Fraud Research & Analytics,

SunTrust Bank

Education

MS Quantitative and Computational Finance,

Georgia Institute of Technology '12

BS Statistics,

University of Tennessee-Knoxville '09

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

Choosing to pursue an MBA degree allowed me to combine my technical background with the essential management skills needed to advance my career.  The MBA degree has allowed me to become more than just an analytical thinker – it has enabled me to strategically capitalize on the constantly evolving business environment.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

I never once felt as though I were just another number in the admissions process. The administration, facility, and leadership of the college are genuinely committed to the success of their students, and this is immediately evident throughout all steps of the admissions process. Additionally, I wanted to distinguish myself from other MBA graduates by pursuing an MBA with an analytical and quantitative brand.

What experiences did you have with Career Services?

When making a recent career move, I was able to pick up the telephone and immediately receive advice from Paul Hobson with the Jones MBA Career Center. Because of his expert advice and adherence to best practices, I was able to smoothly transition into a new, fulfilling, and challenging role with my company while simultaneously avoiding numerous pitfalls within the process.

Vivian Johnson
MBA 2009

Employment

Senior Aeronautical Engineer, Lockheed Martin

Education

MS Mechanical Engineering,

Georgia Institute of Technology '06

BS Mechanical Engineering,

Florida Atlantic University '04

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

I wanted to be in an environment that would cultivate my managerial and leadership skills.  Pursuing an MBA gave me numerous opportunities to develop such skills, both in and out of the classroom.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

I was impressed with Georgia Tech MBA faculty.  Many of the faculty members have engineering degrees.  As an engineer, I felt that the potential career insight I could gain attending Georgia Tech was not readily available in other MBA programs.

What skills did you gain or develop that are helping you in your current position and in your future career goals?

While pursuing an MBA, I became more adept at integrating my knowledge and skills with other individuals with vastly different skills and backgrounds.

Amy Hunter Rich
MBA 2012

Employment

Manager of Quality Strategy and Improvement,

Chick-fil-A

Education

BA International Studies and Spanish,

Berry College '04

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

I’ve always known I wanted to pursue my MBA for personal and professional growth. I am a believer in the concept of life-long learning. I know it can happen through reading, mentorships and experiences, but I knew that the rigor of an MBA was the best way to increase my all around business acumen.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

I wanted to continue working while pursuing my MBA and as I evaluated my options, both in Atlanta and distance learning, the combination of  GT’s reputation, ranking and program value was second to none. My mind was set that GT was the school for me. I attended an info session, spoke to current students and sat in class, and I knew for sure! Now I feel confident I made a great choice.

What skills did you gain or develop that are helping you in your current position and with your future career goals?

I gained skills in overall business analysis. I plan to stay with Chick-fil-A, and now I have the flexibility to grow with the company and confidently lead in other departments and areas of the business.

Charles A. Spencer
MBA 2011

Employment

CEO, Zooz Mobile

Education

BA Music,

Berklee College of Music '99

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

Pursuing an MBA was critical to developing and improving my business skills. These specific skills were critical to be able to launch a successful technology company.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

When searching for MBA programs and considering my interests, needs and goals, I explored institutions that would provide the greatest potential for launching a successful technology company. I also researched programs that would provide me with the greatest access not only to excellent professors and talented students, but also to the ATDC. The ATDC is one of the nation’s top technology incubators. The southeast region, for growing technology companies, is very alive and represents a state of continual growth and development. Tech Square  is at the heart and beating pulse of the technology market…“The place of greatest potential!”

What skills did you gain or develop that are helping you in your current position and with your future career goals?

I gained numerous skills from Georgia Tech’s MBA program, such as insights about the fluid character of the entrepreneurial finance field, techniques for advancing an effective IP strategy, and knowledge about the specifics needed for creating a firm that can effectively compete globally. When launching a company it is important to be familiar with the process of raising capital, and several classes helped me develop this knowledge.

For example, the Entrepreneurial Finance course helped me to associate a reasonable value to my company, a necessity for understanding how much capital to raise. The IP Strategy course, which was taught by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Chief Economist, Stuart Graham, helped me to understand at a deeper level the actual value associated with my current patent and IP portfolio. Finally, the Global Operations and Global Strategy classes helped me refine my global outlook to create a business strategy that can take advantage of the global environment.

Michael Krueger

MBA 2010

Employment
Strategic Planning and Market Development, AT&T

Education

BS Accounting,

Indiana University Bloomington '97

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

I wanted to advance my career by making a significant leap into upper level management. I thought an MBA at Georgia Tech would distinguish me above most of my peers and also supply me with the adequate resources to take my career to the next level.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

My current industry (Telecommunications) is dominated by engineers. I have always been fascinated by technologically advanced industries, so I felt a degree from one the finest technical Institutions in the world would distinguish me more than a degree from other universities.  

How would you describe the Georgia Tech MBA academic experience?

The curriculum in the program is very demanding and intense. There are a lot of bright and hard-working students within the program. Not only are you expected to come prepared to each class, you are expected to offer valuable insights to the various topics covered during the class. At times it can become intimidating, because it seems as though every student is prepared and some go above and beyond what is expected.

Chris Geganto

MBA 2011

Employment

Manager, North Highland

Education

BS Civil Engineering,

Georgia Institute of Technology '00

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

An MBA was essential for me to advance outside my current industry. For the past 9 years I have focused my career on construction management. Having an MBA was necessary for me to enter the consulting industry. The MBA enabled me to apply my current skills in a new industry without having to press “reset” on my career. This is critical for those individuals who have a proven track record in their current industry and are looking for a change. 

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

As a GT undergraduate alumnus in civil engineering, I knew directly how difficult yet rewarding the program would be. Georgia Tech encourages innovative thinking and provides a collaborative learning environment. Georgia Tech has committed faculty, staff, alumni, and student body to challenge my views of business, develop my ideas for success, and provide me with the means and opportunities to achieve my career goals. 

What experiences did you have with Career Services?

I worked with the Jones MBA Career Center extensively to help me leverage my current skill sets to determine my future career path. The Jones MBA career center is committed to helping each student succeed with their individual career goals. When I had to prepare for that important interview, career services conducted a mock interview that helped me gain the confidence I needed to be successful. Career services provided real feedback to make sure I was prepared. They are very involved in the process from beginning to end. They helped me assess which job offers would lead to achieving my end goals. Their services were critical in landing that “perfect” job.

Kristin Fadeley

Focus Areas

Organizational Behavior, Operations Management

Employment

Senior Developer, Norfolk Southern

Education

BBA Management Information Systems,

Georgia College and State University '08

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

I wanted to enhance my toolbox of knowledge so that I am prepared to excel in any position I find myself in as I grow my career.

Not only does Georgia Tech have excellent faculty and relevant course offerings, but it is uniquely positioned to provide an additional technology perspective which benefits me as an IT professional.

The class offerings are abundant, and it is easy to find classes that will help you in your unique career goals. Faculty members are interactive, accessible, and not afraid to challenge you.

Graduate Evening Management Students (GEMS) has proven to be an invaluable resource for the Evening MBA students.  I was able to meet fellow students before classes even began, and they are always communicating new opportunities to enhance or change your career.

Chris Humphries

MBA 2012

Employment

MBA Associate, Operations Strategy, Delta Air Lines

Education

BS Mechanical Engineering,

Georgia Institute of Technology '06

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

Like most people, I was really looking for a career change or at least a path to accelerate my career. I had a great engineering position in the building design and energy industry, but it’s not an industry that is easy for an engineer to find his/her way up the corporate ladder. I’ve always considered myself a very future-oriented person and I knew the education and opportunities delivered by an MBA program would drive my career growth in the direction I wanted.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech over other MBA programs and what’s unique to Georgia Tech’s MBA?

I was probably slightly biased towards Georgia Tech since I attended as an undergrad, but what it really boiled down to was the Institute’s reputation and its strengths in the core areas I am focused on. I have always had a passion for technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship and I really consider Georgia Tech a top university in all of those areas.

Another added benefit to attending Georgia Tech was the structure and convenience of the Evening MBA program. I really like the College’s focus on delivering the same quality of education and experience as they would deliver in a full-time MBA program. On top of that, the class schedule and location of the college made it very easy to figure out how I would add school on top of work. In the end, it was a no-brainer for me to focus on Georgia Tech when I submitted applications and choose Georgia Tech when I was accepted. 

It would have been extremely difficult to build such a wealth of solid knowledge and skills without the program. I felt that I gained at least one core piece of knowledge from every class that I will consistently use in my career. The professors were top notch and the coursework has always been challenging in just the right amounts to continually build on what each student has learned.

I will always remember a quote from one of my favorite professors (Robert Burgess) who said in class at the start of the semester “You will be amazed by the conversations you have with people at the end of this program.” I am consistently amazed at the knowledge I have developed over the course of the program and I know pursuing the GT MBA was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Osahun Igunbor

Strategic Management, Operations Management

Employment

Scrum Master/Lead Software Engineer, General Electric

Education

MS Computer Engineering,

Mercer University '06

BS Computer Engineering,

Mercer University '03

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

My industry experience in new product development has led me to understand that an effective engineering solution requires a fresh and innovative business strategy. An MBA degree would equip me with the necessary skills to drive innovation and productivity by developing my business competencies.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

After visiting many top rated universities on both the east and west coasts, I realized that Georgia Tech’s evening MBA program provided me with a competitive advantage over my other choices while allowing me to further my career. The competitive advantage includes having access to a global network, the Georgia Tech brand name, a quality education and access to the university’s innovative and business development programs.

What skills are you gaining or developing that will help you in your current position and in your future career goals?

The class discussions, the lectures, speaker series and other learning events build on everything I have learned in other areas of technology and process innovation. Incorporating these skills have proven to be highly effective in my line of work where I have to combine multiple business strategies, lean manufacturing principles, project management skills and Six Sigma tools to produce quality products for my customers. I used the skills from my Business Communication class while successfully presenting my Six Sigma improvement project to high level management and experts at my current job.

Dacia Tarleton
MBA 2011

Employment

Manager, North Highland

Education

MS Electrical Engineering,

Cornell University '99

BS Electrical Engineering,

Morgan State University '97

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

With 10 years of experience working in various industries and roles within IT, I realized that as I grew in my career I needed an MBA to open up more opportunities. My plan was to use my MBA to balance out my technical background in order to leverage my analytical skills in not just technical roles, but also business roles.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

The network! One of the critical aspects of an MBA is the networking component. At Tech, not only do you to get a great education from phenomenal staff, but you also are able to build an amazing network.  It’s really hard to do that if you are on a satellite campus.

Have you worked with the Jones MBA Career Center?

I have utilized the Jones MBA Career Center by participating in the career workshops, on-campus and off-campus recruiting events, career advice, and coaching.  It was a lot of work to get prepared for the job search, and it was even more work to actually do the job search, but I ended up with 7 amazing offers. As a career changer, I must admit that I was very nervous, but I stuck with the plan that we formed in the career workshop, remained diligent in my search for opportunities, and kept in contact with career services if I ran into any issues. This has been one of the best aspects of the program.