Katie Kent, MBA in Leadership & Change
Current occupation: Corporate Director of Business Development
What made you decide to pursue your degree as an adult?
It has always been a goal of mine to return back to school as an adult to pursue a graduate degree. I wanted to accomplish more for myself, academically, and become the first in my family to hold a graduate degree.
Why did you choose to study at Tiffin University?
I chose Tiffin University because it is a reputable higher education institution, had the MBA program I was looking for, and the flexibility I needed as a full-time professional, mom, and wife. I have several close friends that have successfully completed programs at Tiffin University, all with great experiences. It was a school I knew I would be proud to one day call myself an alumni.
What has been your experience with the program so far?
Deciding to go back to school after not being a student after tens years was intimidating and made me anxious at the start of the program. However, my guidance counselor, professors, and the Moodle platform all made the transition easy. I was able to quickly get back into the student mode and clearly understand what it would take to be a successful in the MBA program.
How has your experience been with faculty and your cohort?
I was grateful to have extremely positive interaction with my professors. Everyone was accessible, quick to respond, and I felt like the professors cared about my learning, course contributions, and overall success. I enjoyed the class interactions and the ability to learn from other professionals around the world, with different professional backgrounds, and experiences. These interactions enriched the MBA online experience and my knowledge.
How are you juggling work, life and going back to school? Any tips?
I adopted the Pomodoro Technique to maximize my time management abilities and cut-out distractions. It became significantly gratifying to watch my growth and confidence build in relation to the amount of quality work I could accomplish in a short amount of time; something I didn’t know I was capable of! Anything new will be intimidating at first. But, we all have to start somewhere and before you know it, writing 400 words, fifteen page research papers, and scholarly research in general all becomes a breeze. There will be sacrifice, but having a supportive family, network of friends, and employer all helps to ease the stress of juggling it all.
What keeps you motivated to stay in the program?
My inner drive to accomplish this goal I set for myself at a young age kept me going. I also have ambitious career goals and knew earning my MBA would be an asset to help push me forward in the future. The sacrifice is short-term. The knowledge I gained and graduate degree is forever.
What advice would you give to a prospective student who is thinking about going back to school?
You’ve got this! The time will pass anyways, why not spend some of that time taking small steps towards a big goal?
TU’s motto is: Without risk there is no gain. Can you tell us about a time when you took a risk and what you gained from it?
Going back to school as a new first-time mom, newly appointed executive, and wife was a tremendous risk. However, I found a way to make it all work and the reward is I have now completed the MBA program with distinction. It takes courage to do many things in life and the willingness to take the first step, but the greater risk is remaining stagnant and in the same place.