What made you choose Marymount University for the pursuit of your Doctorate?
Marymount specifically has that intersection of business and technology that I think is more realistic in the world we live in today. So many businesses call themselves whatever business they are in—and a tech company.
Being able to say that I myself am an expert in both business and technology, as well as how they intersect, makes me much better aligned with how those businesses view themselves—and how I fit into that culture and necessary skill sets.
What do you hope to accomplish by earning a DBA degree?
I chose to pursue my doctorate because, like a lot of my peers, my career has been a bit of a hodgepodge. I currently work in finance, but my undergraduate degree is in engineering. I have been a consultant and a freelance photographer.
Pursuing my doctorate gives me the opportunity to expand on my skill set while also going deep into a subject matter area. Being able to call myself an expert in something was really important to me.
What motivates you to complete an online program?
I chose an online program specifically because so much of what we do now is online. By being able to groom my skill sets about how to interact through video, speak knowledgeably, work with my peers, and just cross that chasm of virtual communication was really important to me. I think it will be an important skill set to gain, along with the more traditional learning principles.
Additionally, it gives me the flexibility to be sure that no matter where my career and my life take me over the next few years, I can finish the program. I am not going to get interrupted if my job asks me to move across the country, or if I choose to move across the country. I get to keep my studies. I get to keep my advisor, and all of that will stay constant no matter where I am geographically located.
What is the biggest highlight of your experience with the MU DBA program?
My favorite part about the program so far has been interacting with everyone. In a doctorate program, it is really great that you do get to say everyone, not just your classmates. More than once, our professors have let us know that now that we get to view them as peers too.
And because of that intersection of business and technology, we have professors from different backgrounds—professional teachers, as well as those who have spent time outside of academia and have a background in research and how these things manifest themselves in a traditional corporate environment. Diverse perspectives really help bridge the gap between what we are learning and how we can apply it day-to-day.
What are your long-term professional and personal goals?
I am looking forward to having my doctorate for a few reasons. The first is because one day, I hope to teach. I think having a doctorate will really open up that door for me.
The next reason is that I want to continue to be a lifelong learner. This program is giving me more tools, whether it is reading academic journals or the input of peers and how they have solved problems in the past. It is really exciting to think I am getting better and much faster at what I do and creating a continuous learning environment.
