On Change Leadership and Soft Skills

"If there is one thing I've learned from working with leaders and their organizations, it is that the way people accomplish things is as important as what they accomplish. The most successful leaders I've worked with know this and actively build this competency in themselves and their organizations. After almost four years as an internal change consultant at Delta Air Lines, I founded a consultancy that helps organizations take the mystery out of managing change.

We help leaders understand that change is predictable. And, that with enough attention to ‘how’ it's implemented, they have significantly more control of the way it impacts their business. Terry's emphasis on ‘soft skill’ development builds awareness of the way we approach our work. Those experiences were invaluable to me personally and are an imperative to anyone who plans to lead an organization in the 21st century."

On Leadership

"There are many definitions of leadership. Terry doesn't fall into the trap of thinking that leadership only exists at the top of a company. The more challenging the environment, the more necessary it is to discover leaders at every level of an organization. In my experience, that is the way to unleash the strength of an entire company.

I chose Terry because it teaches more than the application of business knowledge; it trains you in the behaviors of leadership. At Booz, I'm doing just that — drawing out the leadership skills and behaviors that everyone on my team, within their own scope of responsibilities, can demonstrate."

On Expanding Boundaries

"My goal is to become Executive Director of a non-profit organization that focuses on economic development in poor communities and gives more people a chance at achieving the American Dream. Connecting with NPOs in the affordable housing arena and using my new business skills and knowledge in a company that challenges me and believes in my abilities is what I love most about my position.

My interest in real estate, which attracted me to Terry, stems from my grandparents, respected business people and real estate investors in my native state of Nevada. Their support and encouragement led me to experiment and explore the world. Working in different cities, traveling to different countries and meeting people with different viewpoints and priorities have made me the well-rounded, tolerant woman I am today."

On The Terry Advantage

"My first job out of college was with Sports Media Group (NY), coaching pro athletes on dealing with the media. I then worked for Ketchum PR in Atlanta for five years before deciding to get my MBA. Why Terry? In-state tuition, a top 50 MBA program, on the rise, with a reputable marketing department.

It was a no-brainer. Terry MBAs receive a great education, go on to very successful careers, and all without a lot of debt. I think an MBA is only as good as you make it, so I advise taking advantage of every opportunity Terry has to offer; it will be very rewarding. Last but not least, Athens is a really fun town!"

On Work-Life Balance

"Married with two school-aged children, I was looking for a full-time MBA program with strong academics, located in a smaller, family-friendly college town. UGA was perfect! Academically, I gained the strong foundation in business fundamentals that I was seeking and, personally, I gained the break I needed from corporate America to spend more time with my family.

My summer internship experience with Deutsche Telecom in Germany solidified my new business skills in a real-world setting and gave me the confidence to use them in consulting. Now, at Aon Consulting, I can combine my past experience as a project manager with my new knowledge from my concentrations in Risk Management and Organizational Consulting."

On Success

"The most important ‘takeaway’ from the Terry MBA Program for me was my lovely wife, Lisa. We were married two years after graduation as our classmates and Terry faculty looked on. Obviously, getting my degree from Terry was an important stepping-stone in my life and career. Currently, I am Director of Corporate Development/Mergers and Acquisitions for Interface, Inc.

I work with C-level management and business unit presidents, participate in executive decision making, and get a first hand look at what it takes to lead a global company. Professionally, I aspire to the ranks of the great CEOs of our time, while personally I strive to be a great father and husband and an asset to my community. I live my life in the belief that, if I am honest, fair, and lead by example, I will find success."

On The 11 Month Program

"I selected Terry's 11-month program because I thought it was the ‘best bang for the buck.’ I thought it ridiculous to lose an entire year to repeat courses I had taken only two years earlier. My first job after Terry was at Tyco Toys, now Mattel Mt. Laurel.

I love the toy industry! It is creative, fun, and always changing — a true ‘fashion’ industry — and I work with some of the brightest and most talented people in the entertainment industry. So what do I aspire to? I aspire to be a boss that guides and grows her employees in the same way that my bosses did me and to give back to the people and institutions that have helped me in my career."

On Value

"I spent countless nights surfing the websites of over 150 MBA programs in my quest for the best combination of quality and financial aid. Selecting the Terry MBA program over all other programs was simply automatic. The rigorous courses, the wonderful cultural and work-related diversity of my batch-mates, and the tremendous use of technology are already standing me in good stead.

As Secretary of Information Technology to the Government of Goa, I am in a unique position to revolutionize the delivery of government services. We have embarked on an ambitious plan to fully computerize all offices of the state government, right down to the village level, within three years. Our aim is to speed up services, eliminate corruption, and make Goa the best e-governed State in India. In this way, I am achieving my personal aim in life: making a positive change in the lives of people."

On The Terry Community

"I'm not just a lawyer, I'm in the business of law. My MBA will help me manage a diverse staff of 30 attorneys and 60 support personnel, as well as better understand and assist our clients with the business problems that lie at the heart of their legal issues. I intend to emulate the caring, discipline, professionalism, and daring to lead that I experienced in the Terry MBA Program and to one day become Terry's most successful MBA graduate.

As my grandfather retires and I step into his shoes to manage the firm he began 40 years ago, I think about all he and my father have accomplished and get charged up about the road ahead of me. I dream about returning at the end of my career to Costa Rica, where my grandfather was born, to serve as that country's president."

On Success

"My undergraduate years at Washington & Lee University instilled in me the importance of honor in all aspects of my life. My eleven months at Terry reconfirmed that there is no dividing line between business ethics and personal ethics. So to me, success means growing, professionally and personally, without sacrificing my integrity. After graduating from Terry, I was hired by Caremark, Inc., a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical services company.

I work with people across our organization to identify, develop and implement strategies that position Caremark for the future. If, at the end of the day, people can say that I have been honest, ethical and fair with them, then I'll consider myself a success."

On Affordability

"I always wanted to attend the University of Georgia because of my wonderful childhood exposure to Fort Valley State University through my mother, who was an administrator there. After graduating from UGA's School of Journalism, I immediately applied to the MBA program. In 1988, it was one heck of a deal! Nowhere else in the country could I get a graduate business education of Terry's caliber at such a great price.

Among the lessons I have kept with me: First, the value of diversity is immeasurable. Effective business communication is a language unto itself. Relationships are critical to success. Team players are the best players. And finally, always seek out the ‘win-win solution.’ At INVESCO, I hope to be a catalyst for everyone afraid of change and a champion for anyone needing a little help along the way."

On The Terry Advantage

"In assessing schools on what I felt were the most meaningful benchmarks — academic reputation, caliber of instructors, culture, placement, and value — I found the Terry MBA Program truly distinguished itself. The program's excellent analytical instruction and soft skills development prepared me well for my current position in corporate finance. Terry's commitment to the business community and its growing reputation make my MBA degree more valuable every year. I'll always treasure the friendships I made and the time I spent at Terry."

On The Curriculum

"I was born in a small village in southwest Germany and grew up in Nuremberg. My parents taught me the ‘old German virtues’ of hard work, honesty, punctuality and politeness, which seemed old fashioned and too tough to me back then, but today I am thankful. Georgia, too, is a good mix of tradition and progress. Terry's curriculum, especially the entrepreneurship sequence, focused on applying business know-how and concepts to practical situations and inspired me to co-found my own business several years later, after a stint in management consulting with McKinsey.

As CFO, I'm the link between the numbers details and the big picture, the hard financial facts and our business strategy. To keep my skills current, I am taking part in the CFA program. I would like to remain in financial management, perhaps eventually in a mid-sized to large company with a strong international presence."

On Quality

"After four years in promotional marketing with an Atlanta firm, I chose the Terry MBA Program for its unbelievable value, growing reputation, team atmosphere and close professional ties to the Atlanta business community. The MBA faculty, many of whom are leaders in their field, has been a joy to work with. For example, I learned accounting from the past chairman of FASB — who better to teach the rules!

The summer of 2003 found me at Bosch Siemens Corporation in Munich, Germany on a three-week corporate strategy consulting team, organized by Terry's Interna-tional Business Program. Then I interned with the Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, Michigan. I was responsible for all promotional activities in Wal*Mart, Kellogg's largest account. These experiences and every aspect of the Terry MBA program have improved my leadership abilities and preparedness for a career in promotions or brand management."