Response to Classmates Discussions

Week 2 - Discussion Forum 2

Guided Response: Respond to at least three of your fellow students’ or instructor posts in a substantive manner and provide information or concepts that they may not have considered. Each response should have a minimum of 100 words and be respectful of others’ opinions and beliefs that differ from your own. You are encouraged to post your required replies earlier in the week to promote more meaningful and interactive discourse in this discussion forum. Continue to monitor the discussion forum until Day 7 and respond with robust dialogue to anyone who replies to your initial post.

On this Document there three classmates that needs to be respond to they are Ashley Thiberville , Lisa Schreiner , and Britney Graves

. Please provide reference to your response if any

Ashley Thiberville

The titles that stood out to me on Linked In are project manager, sales operations specialist, human resources business partner, talent acquisition manager and district manager. These roles all utilize an MBA in various ways, from the human aspect to the financial/budget aspect.  The project manager utilizes the budgetary aspect of an MBA to manage inventory and timelines for ongoing projects within the company and ensures they have the appropriate funds and manpower to meet the demands of projects.  The sales operations manager’s role ensures the logistics of the business run smoothly and that the business has the inventory levels and tools to meet the demands of daily sales and operations. The human resources business partner utilizes their MBA to support and guide human resources team members for the district, ensuring they are providing accurate, consistent  information and  guidance to their teams, while adhering to monthly recognition and payroll budgets.  The talent acquisition manger works closely with stores and their managers to source and develop talent to meet business needs throughout the district. Finally, the district manager utilizes their MBA to manage a district of ten multimillion-dollar stores. 

The DM role is one I am most interested in post-MBA.  A district manager for a high dollar retailer is responsible for ensuring stores properly manage their budgets, inventory and teams.  All aspects of an MBA are utilized by a DM, as they must be able to assess financial situations, manage talent and oversee inventory allocation management.  DMs also provide a fresh set of eyes when visiting stores and businesses and can help in store leaders see wins and opportunities in a new light, allowing them to be better, more effective leaders.

Lisa Schreiner

Earning an MBA degree is a challenging and rewarding experience for many people. An MBA is valuable to one running their own business, one looking to advance their career in an organization, or as a personal goal. Applying the knowledge from an MBA degree is useful in various industries and career paths, not only financial. A review of LinkedIn provides an array of job titles and duties benefiting from obtaining an MBA degree.

A Vice President of Financial Management in the Banking industry uses the degree to establish cost controls, further monitoring and tracking benefit savings from these controls, analyzing spend to determine the impact drivers attributing to overages, integrating corporate strategies across departments, creating budget and forecasting plans out three years, managing all third party vendor oversight, and aligning financial reporting with corporate KPI’s.

A Financial Analyst applies the MBA to financial planning, budgeting and forecasting, working with cost center managers on annual operating and staff position budget development, creating pro-forma statements to evaluate new projects, and supporting the leadership team on capital planning and contingency management initiatives.

A Pharmacy Advisor holding an MBA degree utilizes analytical and business knowledge to design more efficient models for CVS Health's retail pharmacies. Using SQL, SAS, and Python on a daily basis to design such models. Aggregating large qualitative and quantitative data sets across 9,800 locations to generate insights that drive blue chip initiatives and innovative process improvements.

A Treasury Cash Manager provides program management of E-Payables, P Card and T&E, monitors and manages daily cash to determine daily cash position, general ledger review and posting for cash transactions, bank administration. Is the primary treasury liaison with internal Sarbanes-Oxley auditors and internal audit. Creates and files quarterly compliance tracking and reporting for all North America divisions. Processes wires, ACH and bank transfers, as needed.

The Managing Director Cost Management sets direction for the Strategic Sourcing, Vendor Management, Budgeting and Cost Analysis functions of the organization. Drives delivery of cost reductions through sourcing strategies and maximizing value and performance of strategic supplier partnerships through effective vendor oversight programs. Leads a team of 25 associates, develop and lead cross functional teams to drive cost reductions and improve operational performance of the organization.

Throughout my career path I have performed and contributed to functions found in many of these roles. I continue to strive in streamlining processes, creating efficiencies, and gaining knowledge along the way. My experience over the last 30+ years in accounting and finance has provided many opportunities for me to learn about and perform in various roles, creating value in my contributions. I have held management positions leading teams in various locations across the country. I chose to take a step back from management about 19 years ago and find it was the best decision I ever made. I do not wish to pursue any of these roles that contain management duties. Obtaining my MBA was a personal goal and when I learned it was covered by my employer, I could not say no. I am sure the degree will assist in advancing my career as an individual contributor. I am gaining knowledge each day from the course work and look forward to applying the concepts, ideas, and framework to advance the organization forward, meeting strategic goals.

References

LinkedIn. (2020). LinkedIn.com

Britney Graves

Person 1 – Development Partner Manager Current Person 1 is currently a development partner manager, working at Apple in New York. They use their master’s in business administration (MBA) and their bachelor’s degree in technology to help grow communications and technology aspects of Apple. Person 1 has a grasp on different systems to include OTT and ISP that lead back to entertainment and media, and an understanding of how to relate and present to upper management. With that said, person 1 uses their traits, experience, and knowledge to grow connections, and develop innovative ways to help Apple involve.

Person 2 – Financial Planning and Analysis Manager As of 2018, person 2 has been working for Parker Lynch, managing budgets, forecasting analysis, and providing project improvement solutions. Currently, they use their MBA and the financial classes that were encompassed in the program to do their job to the fullest. In addition to their MBA person, 2 has earned their CPA, which is a certificate that gives them an advantage over their competition. Person 2 uses their degree to ensure the company is in good financial health.

Person 3 – Mechanical Test Engineer Although person 3 holds an MBA, they are currently in an entry-level position at Collins Aerospace. The position requires constant interference with multiple different aspects of the company. For example, reviewing drawings, concepts, and suggest new/improved ways to increase productivity. As we’ve learned, adapting is critical for companies to maintain their competitive edge. Person 3 uses their MBA to communicate, verbally, and in writing their ideas; without the extensive course work, those necessary skills may not be polished, which would hinder the effectiveness of producing the best product.

Person 4 – Operations Manager Person 4 holds an MBA and holds a top position at Amazon. Person 4 is responsible for training front line supervisors, ensuring that operations follow specific standards laid out by OSHA, and building work forecast plans. Person 4 uses their MBA not only to increase efficiency but grow the company from the inside. Person 4 makes necessary changes based on surveys and policy changes that come down from top leadership.

Person 5 – CMC Project Manager Person 5 is responsible for process development, analytical development, and project strategy; with that said, they are relied on to ensure the needs of the customer are accomplished. Person 5 uses their MBA to communicate and present where the project has come from, where it needs to be now, and the end goal. Because they are responsible for all aspects of the project, person 5 uses different Microsoft tools to track progress and critical management documents. Overall, person 5 uses their MBA and the problem solving obtained from the program to accomplish a variety of different projects for different people.

The role that sounds most interesting to me personally is person number 5, the Project Manager. I’m currently a project manager and have always wondered what other career pathways I could do with my future degree. After reading up on other individual’s careers, I realized how much I enjoy project management. Being a project manager allows me to use my communication skills to make new connections and work with new people daily. I also enjoy the fast-paced aspect of managing projects; there are always roadblocks or obstacles that get in the way and require thinking outside the box to find a solution. A lot of careers are black and white; however, project management has leeway, which makes it interesting. With that said, I believe the project management role lines up perfectly with how I plan to use my MBA after graduation. I hope to take my education to the next step and acquire a PMP and other certificates that help me stand out from other applicants. There are many types of project managers, and CMC is just one type. I would consider branching out into this field vs. the technical area I’m working in, currently.

I have updated my LinkedIn to incorporate more recent information for my schooling, experience, and goals.