"The once-a-month format is a huge differentiator."

RYAN MAJKRZAK // MBA '13
Vice President of Quality Systems
Cameron Health (a Boston Scientific Company)
San Clemente, Calif.

"Pursuing an MBA was important to me, but with a demanding schedule, I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. The Ross EMBA Program’s monthly format allowed me to gain valuable skills while maintaining my work and family commitments."

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"I was able to apply Ross tools to my work right away."

MATT DENNINGER // MBA '13
Senior Marketing Manager, Solar Energy Business
Advanced Energy Industries Inc.
Fort Collins, Colo.

"The effectiveness of my strategic planning and execution before coming to Michigan pales in comparison to what I'm able to do now. Both the professors and the action-based learning components have enabled me to bring about profound change for my company through careful planning and measurable analysis."

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"I'm gaining the business skills to lead positive change in healthcare."

BETTY CHU // MBA '13
Medical Staff President
Beaumont Health System
Troy, Mich.

"As a physician in a leadership role, I'm constantly looking to expand my skills. Healthcare is changing, and in order to keep up with the system, I knew I needed more business knowledge. My Ross education differentiates me from my peers, and it's given me critical leadership skills and the ability to communicate and bring together teams."

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"The faculty are very focused on practical, real-world application."

PRESTON YOUNG // MBA '13
Attorney, Intellectual Property Law
IBM Corp.
Yorktown, New York

"The Ross EMBA Program has changed my entire perspective on business. I see things holistically now, and can understand how all parts of an organization come together successfully. It's not just about how I fit into an organization or how I can excel; it's about understanding and leveraging the strengths of the entire company."

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"I'm tackling our toughest issues with confidence now."

TESSA MYERS // MBA '13
Business Manager
Rockwell Automation Inc.
Cleveland, Ohio

"I'm at a point in my career where I'm striving to contribute more value to my organization and take on more strategic responsibility over larger areas. I really wanted a program with a strong focus on strategy. Ross obviously delivered on that. I also really liked how ExecMAP complemented the learning by bringing it all together in a real-world setting. The knowledge and tools I've gained have made a big impact already in my work. I'm tackling our toughest issues with confidence now and thinking on a higher level. I'm a better business manager and leader because of the program."

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"My new position came as a direct result of the program."

PRASANNA KUMAR // MBA '11
Manager for Product Development
Smith's Medical
Minneapolis, Minn.

"I pursued an EMBA program to give me the skills and credibility I needed to take my career further. Even in a short time, the Ross experience has delivered. Since starting the program, I advanced from a mid-level manager to a senior manager with increasingly complex responsibilities over a wider geographic area. I am currently working to expand my company's presence in emerging global markets. I've applied just about everything I learned at Ross; the tools have proven practical and workable in a multitude of environments."

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"Every part of the curriculum touched on an important aspect of my work."

LUKE NACHTRAB // MBA '11
Chief Operating Officer
Northaven Development Group
Sylvania, Ohio

"When I was evaluating EMBA programs, I looked at all the top 25 schools - everything from program curricula to formats. Ross' emphasis on general management and strategy were the main differentiators for me. Running a small business, the strategy behind every move we make is critical. If you just make decisions intuitively without using analytical methods, you can find yourself in a mess. Gaining strong strategic knowledge with an enterprise-wide perspective was key."

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"I got a comprehensive set of tools I've been able to apply immediately in my work."

LAWRENCE PEMBLE // MBA '11
Chief Operating Officer
Chindex International Inc.
Bethesda, Md.

"The general management curriculum gave me pracitcal knowledge I've put to use across the organization. I also gained important insights about key aspects of my work in China and a new perspective on global markets.

"During the off-campus weeks, I was traveling for work most of the time, so I did a lot of team activities remotely from China. Flying into Detroit was easy, and staying at the school's Executive Residence was extremely convenient. I was juggling a lot of things during residencies, and having all the logistics taken care of was a big help for me."

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"I'm a stronger consultant to my clients and better business owner."

KEISHA STRONG // MBA '11
Owner/Consultant
Strong Consulting
Chicago, Ill.

"The program helped me focus precisely on the value add I can provide my clients and how best to position myself. One of the biggest benefits has been the complex knowledge of global business I gained. Now when a client approaches me about wanting to expand globally, I can better assess ideas and opportunities - in terms of product positioning, competition, costs, hidden issues, and, ultimately, likelihood of success. Global application is emphasized in every single course at Ross, from marketing to finance to strategy."

Read Keisha's Story

"The FBI is run like a business."

JEFF BROWN // MBA '11
Supervisory Special Agent
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Detroit, Mich.

After being tasked with streamlining the Bureau’s functional processes for a field workgroup, Jeff pursued his Executive MBA in order to more effectively manage his team and think holistically about operations. “Everyone in my cohort brough a unique perspective, which increased my learning across the board,” he says. “The Ross EMBA gave me an overarching view of finance, accounting, and operations that’s helping me improve agents’ workloads."

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"Ross gave me great strategy and problem-solving tools."

MIKE CARSCADDON // MBA '08
Executive VP, International Field Operations
Habitat for Humanity International
Atlanta, Ga.

Before transitioning to Habitat for Humanity International, Mike worked as a CPA. He says he pursued the Ross EMBA because he says, “I needed an interdisciplinary perspective to excel in senior management.” Through the Executive Multidisciplinary Action Projects (ExecMAP) course, Mike worked with a team on a project for Habitat. “We now use the project results in our international programs to improve sustainability,” he says. "We even call it 'the Ross tool.'"

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"The monthly format was ideal."

JOHN CHANG // MBA '09
Physician Executive Fellow
WellPoint Inc.
Thousand Oaks, Calif.

A Pennsylvania-based physician with an unpredictable schedule, John needed an executive MBA program that fit his work and life demands. “The faculty and staff made it easy to blend my coursework into my routine,” he says. “The professors even arranged exams around my call schedule.” John pursued the Ross EMBA to help him gain business skills essential to healthcare delivery today. “The program was a life-changing experience for me both personally and professionally. I have a new perspective on the value I bring to an organization. I landed my dream job since graduation.”

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"The Ross niche is strategy."

GLORIA DECOSTE // MBA '08
Brand Manager
Nestle-Purina Petcare Co.
St. Louis, Mo.

“Working in brand management is much like running your own company,” Gloria says. “I interface with every function, and I don’t have a lot of time to make decisions. With my MBA, I’m able to make decisions faster and more strategically, and support my recommendations with analytical data. Leadership naturally evolves from the expectation of excellence, and that’s what Michigan is about: the expectation of excellence.”

"I’m at the point in my career where I have many technical skills. What really becomes important is the ability to lead."

DEBORAH FRAZER // MBA '11
Director, Healthcare Compliance Office
Genentech Inc.
South San Francisco, Calif.

“I approach management completely differently now,” Deb says. “By seeing the big picture, I can give better direction to my team members and they can translate that understanding into the required details.” Deb says she was attracted to Ross because of the caliber and diversity of the peers in the program: “I wanted to learn with, and from, people who are responsible for operations and/or running businesses,” Deb says. “Ross gave me that.”

"My current job is a direct result of the Ross EMBA Program."

TIM JACKSON // MBA '08
VP, Media Product Management
Intelsat
Washington, D.C.

“There is no question I can tie my promotion to Ross,” says Tim, who was promoted within his company four months after graduation. During the program, Tim was based in Los Angeles and commuted to Ann Arbor. “The biggest advantage was the once-a-month format,” he says. “It helped me integrate studies into my career and schedule.”

"I formed strong bonds with some very senior people."

RAJESH KANDASWAMY // MBA '11
Senior Vice President
Citigroup
Cincinnati, Ohio

”My fellow students had incredibly diverse backgrounds. I learned something from all of them,” he says. “I thought once you leave college, you lose the ability to really make a strong network. In the Ross EMBA Program, I’ve found that again.”

"ExecMAP gave me the opportunity to explore a different field."

WILLIAM LANGFORD // MBA '08
VP, Field Marketing
Pepsi Beverages Co.
Auburn Hills, Mich.

“It was great to apply everything I’d been learning — from finance to marketing — to a start-up,” he says. “I never would have gotten that opportunity without Ross.” In addition to gaining an inside view of startups, William developed a fresh outlook on his role inside a large, global corporation. “I see my job from a much broader perspective now,” he says. “I have a deeper understanding of the various functions across the organization. I learned how to ask the right questions, get the right answers, and make the right decisions.” He also says the program required him to tightly manage priorities: “I had to sacrifice some things, but I gave back to my family whenever I could. We still took vacations, but I took my books with me. I even took a final in Hawaii.”

"Ross nurtures teamwork and has made me a more effective leader."

EDITH MENSAH-OSMAN // MBA '11
Assistant Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio

Edith’s work centers on understanding the pathophysiology and genetic basis for the development of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and osteosarcoma. As a researcher and teacher, she pursued the Ross EMBA to further develop her leadership skills. “Ross focuses on leadership, mentorship, and how to use your unique experiences, expertise, and training to contribute to your work and serve as a role model,” says Edith. “That was extremely appealing because I don’t want to let my students down. And, of course, Ross is a top school. It was a combination I didn’t think I could find anywhere else.”

Read Edith’s Story