ALEXA
masters of business administration '15

WHY WEBER STATE? 

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Thankfully to my Grandpa, I was raised to value education.I knew that as soon as I finished high school I wanted to go to straight to college. I started college at Weber State University the same summer as my high school graduation. I had offers to out-of-state schools for swimming scholarships, but I wanted to focus on my academics, and Weber State University was offering me academic scholarships. Additionally, for family and financial reasons, I liked the idea and benefits of attending a local university. I am a first-generation graduate degree recipient in my family.

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WHY MBA? 

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I enjoyed the subject variety in my undergraduate Business Administration classes and I wanted to continue on that path to the graduate level. I earned my Master of Business Administration degree from Weber State University in 2015. I earned a Bachelor of Science – Business Administration degree from Weber State University on 2011.

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INCREDIBLE ACCESS 

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The Goddard School is Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Accredited, which means it commits to ensuring a top-quality education for students. The Goddard School provides a top-quality education at an affordable rate, increasing its value to students. Most importantly, the Goddard School faculty and staff strive to create a personal experience for each student, making each student feel known and special.

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FACULTY IMPACT 

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Professor Matt Mouritsen and Professor Shaun Hansen had a special impact on me as I got to know them during our Costa Rica MBA Study Abroad Trip in May 2015. They showed me that professors definitely require deep thought, hard work, and commitment to education; but, they also showed me that professors really care about each student in their program and bringing students together as classmates and friends. Pat Wheeler, in career services, also had a big impact on me while I attended the Goddard School for my undergraduate degree; she encouraged me to take a risk, step out of my comfort zone, and apply for an internship that intimidated me. I know that internship truly 
changed the trajectory of my career and for that I am forever thankful to Pat Wheeler's motivation.

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ADVICE 

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Do it! It will definitely be challenging, but the temporary discomfort is worth it in the long-term. You will feel so proud of yourself when your hard work pays off and you earn your MBA and enjoy the many opportunities it opens for you for the rest of your life.

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HOW HAS THE MBA PROGRAM IMPACTED YOU? 

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When I earned my MBA my employer at the time offered me a raise in my existing position. When I left that employer, having my MBA opened up so many more opportunities to apply for higher positions. Having my MBA has impacted my increased salary, my increased career growth opportunities, and my confidence in my job market qualifications. I am committed to life-long learning, growth, and development both personally and professionally. I personally know the impact and power of continuing education. I hope to help, encourage, and support others on their continuing education journey. 

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WHERE ARE YOU NOW? 

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I am currently a Technical Program Manager at Pluralsight. I am fortunate to really enjoy what I do for work. My career started with a Business Intelligence Internship at MarketStar that I found out about through the Weber State University Goddard School career services advisor, Pat Wheeler. I have progressed from that internship to Business Intelligence Analytics, to Sales & Marketing Operations, to Business Analysis, to Product Management, to Program Management. I have leveraged my formal education MBA degree, along with industry certifications (PMP, Salesforce.com Administrator, Qualtrics Certified Customer Experience Expert, and Lean Six Sigma White Belt), paired with hard work and following my professional growth interests to get to where I’m at today.

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