Each week, JWMI profiles students and alumni in its new featured series “Winning Voices.” Learn about our diverse community and what sets our program apart from those who have experienced it. For more great “Winning Voices” content, click here.
Brenda Condley
Director Global Service & Repair Operations
Pelco by Schneider Electric
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am responsible for Pelco’s service and repair operations in Clovis, CA as well as the 35+ authorized service centers located worldwide. We have state of the art equipment ensuring timely repairs for products in and out of warranty.
Why did you want to get an MBA?
Business is growing more and more competitive and as a leader, having the necessary tools to succeed is critical. I chose an MBA program to give me an overall view of the business world from finance to people management and operations to strategy. When I researched the various programs available to me, I chose JWMI because of the incredible respect and awe I had for Jack Welch. Known as one of the best leaders in our time, who better to learn from, gain insight about, and be challenged by, than Jack Welch?
How has the JWMI curriculum helped you in your career?
My career has taken a few twists and turns since I made the leap to embark on my MBA journey. I started as a manager of customer service and within the year, was promoted to global director. My responsibilities expanded from the U.S. team to two more international regions. I moved from that position to another global director role in charge of a services department. I didn’t get that job because I knew how to repair products; I got it because I can lead people and am known for my change management methodologies—which I learned in JWMI curriculum. I continue to grow as a leader and am currently part of the team leading change in our product portfolio and service offerings. This amazing testament as evidenced by my career success is due to the knowledge and confidence I’ve gained through my studies at JWMI.
What’s been your most rewarding experience in the program?
There are a couple of experiences that have really stood for me.
- The first is the caliber of instructors that led the courses. The instructors are true leaders in their own right. They have tenure with many Fortune 500 companies and are well respected in the business community. They provided real-world examples of how the curriculum applied to a particular business or situation. Each instructor was engaging, candid and motivating. This was game-changing.
- The second thing that stood out to me was the amazing people that I met along the way. The network of peers I made on this journey is by far, the best ‘parting gift’ I received from JWMI. In the past two years, I have reached out to many fellow students and alumni for professional and personal insight, and they are always eager to help. I cannot say enough about the professionalism from my new comrades I’ve met at JWMI. I plan on keeping in touch with them in the future and very much look forward to meeting many of them at graduation.
What strategies did you implement to manage job, family, life and an MBA?
I chose an online degree program because of the flexibility it offered me. Being responsible for a global team meant a lot of time away from home and in different countries. Having the ability to get my coursework done on my own time was an incredible advantage and helped me stay on track. At times, there was a LOT of work, but I planned out my week so that all of my readings were done on Sunday and Monday, my first discussion question post was published by Tuesday, and my peer responses were completed on Thursday and Friday. If a larger project was due, I had the weekend to sort it out. All of the instructors publish significant assignments well in advance, so at the beginning of each course, I was able to review the syllabus and plan out the next ten weeks to make sure I didn’t let anything fall through the cracks. Let’s face it—life happens! I never knew if I had to take a last minute flight out of the country or one of the kids needed something for school. There were holidays, vacations and doctors’ appointments. I quickly became a master juggler but knew at some point, I would be finished with the program, and the sacrifices I made along the way would be well worth it—and boy were they! Being able to say that I’m done, I did well and I’m fulfilled is AWESOME!
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