Sharon Black, EMBA Class 2009 – Expanding Horizons

Sharon is Business Area Manager of Engineering Services and Solutions at Raytheon Company’s Space and Airborne Systems business, a division of the Company with revenues in excess of $4 billion and over 12,000 employees. Sharon holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and later completed UCLA’s Technical Management Program.

Coming from a heavily oriented design engineering and technical leadership background, I was initially interested in pursuing an EMBA simply to gain a better foundation in broad business concepts and skills. Instead I have found myself involved in a far more challenging undertaking.

The curriculum is demanding and does require a real-time commitment both inside and outside of the classroom. But conversely, that is one of the great strengths of this program. It expects so much from us simply because it gives so much back. The learning experience may be rigorous for all of us, but we benefit immeasurably. The program pushes us to the limit, while at the same time providing valuable tools and enabling us to achieve beyond what we thought was possible.

At its heart, this is a deeply practical program. Fundamental concepts and theory are important, but the structure of our learning and the focus are geared to execution. We are constantly encouraged to examine and discuss real-world issues and look at how we can apply our learning to complex business situations. Through actual project-based assignments, we have had the opportunity to examine a small business, identify critical issues and make recommendations for improvement that were appreciated and well-received by the company.

But above all, this program is a truly collaborative experience, with a strong emphasis on relationship building between students and faculty and the importance of teamwork. There is a tremendous commitment of time and energy from faculty that goes way beyond normal classes and office hours. They consistently make themselves available to answer any questions, requests for advice, additional insights and even pleas for more time to complete assignments.

I have undoubtedly expanded my horizons in my first year, both personally and professionally. I have come to appreciate the global nature of business and have a keen anticipation of some of the second-year components, such as our coming international visit to China and Russia. I now understand that this program is offering me a “once in a lifetime” experience and I’m determined to enjoy every last moment.

Paula Oster, EMBA Class 2009 - Making the Right Choice

A graduate in Business Administration from Central Michigan University, Paula is the controller for a privately held company, Weber Distribution, LLC, an asset-based supply chain logistics provider located in Los Angeles County. She oversees a group of twenty plus professionals. Her responsibilities include corporate finance, tax, treasury, all operational finance and accounting, and control functions.

Why would anyone willingly choose to return to the rigor of academia, assignment deadlines, lectures and team responsibilities? This is perhaps just one of the myriad of questions that inevitably play on one's mind when weighing up the benefits of an Executive MBA qualification. I understood that if I was going to get the best from a program, I needed to fully embrace the commitment.

In return, I wanted a program that:

• Spoke to my desire to grow as an individual as well as a professional
• Emphasized a clear ethical component as a key to growth
• Focused on practical implementation rather than just theoretical knowledge
• Offered a high level of personal attention and a challenging learning environment

After careful evaluation, it became clear that the EMBA at LMU was the only program that met my personal demands.

As I write, I'm currently halfway through my EMBA and this journey has exceeded my expectations and more. The program has strengthened my leadership skills and broadened my horizons through exposure to excellent faculty, an optimal balance between theory, case studies and team projects, and the opportunity to learn from the broad experience of my peers. On a professional level, I've gained new knowledge and insight and feel I am better equipped to effectively lead my team in the workplace. It has altered my overall vision and perspective, enabling me to approach business decision-making processes with an entirely different attitude. While the program emphasizes the importance of having a “big-picture, think-outside-the-box” mentality, there is a relentless focus on the importance of implementation, execution and results-based management.

I originally set out to gain an EMBA in order to remain marketable and advance my career and my LMU EMBA experience has already delivered all that and more. With the benefit of hindsight, I can now see that I really set out to re-invent myself - to develop myself and increase my value to my staff and my organization. I am grateful to the program for what is proving to be a truly enriching and transformational experience.