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.
Jeffrey Arnold
Director of Infrastructure
Retail Business Services
Program/Concentration: Jack Welch MBA
TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AT Business Services.
As Director of Infrastructure, I am responsible for designing, upgrading, and implementing the Data Services, Voice Services, and Cloud Services for Ahold Delhaize’s great local brands, Stop & Shop, Hannaford, Giant Foods, The Giant Stores, Food Lion, and Peapod. Additionally, we are responsible for all distribution centers, data centers, and corporate locations within the United States.
Why were you looking to get an MBA?
I knew I had the experience to lead an organization and was doing so in a Senior Manager and Associate Director capacity. My ambitions are to reach the VP of Infrastructure and perhaps CIO level. To do this, I knew I needed to add formal education to my experience to be competitive. My current organization consists of approximately 50 engineers spread out throughout the eastern United States. Having an MBA makes all the difference in managing the responsibility currently carried by my team.
HOW HAS THE JWMI CURRICULUM HELPED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
I have been in my current role for just over a year. JWMI and my goal of reaching my MBA contributed to me obtaining this position. Furthermore, the JWMI course work and discussions with professors and fellow students enabled me to analyze my organization and our business needs from an executive and leader’s perspective. For me, this meant assessing a situation and arriving at a conclusion based on a combination of logic and experience.
DID YOU FIND THE CURRICULUM WAS IMMEDIATELY APPLICABLE? PLEASE EXPLAIN.:
Within every class, there was always something immediately applicable. Some courses were more relevant than others at the time, but there was still part of the curriculum or discussions with professors and classmates that were applicable in my job the very next day.
Within every class, there was always something immediately applicable. Some courses were more relevant than others at the time, but there was still part of the curriculum or discussions with professors and classmates that were applicable in my job the very next day.
LOOKING BACK AT WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT AN ONLINE PROGRAM WHEN YOU FIRST EMBARKED, WHAT WAS YOUR OVERALL IMPRESSION NOW? DID IT MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS VIA DQ BOARDS, EOP VIDEOS, FACULTY ETC?:
It did meet my expectations overall, and exceed them in some cases. Additionally, some of the tools used were challenging and even fun. The faculty was probably the best I have seen in an academic setting, and their real-world experience was extremely beneficial and relevant.
How did you navigate school, family, and work? What strategies did you implement to get it done?
I learned early on to get my work done as soon as possible and never wait until the last minute. That doesn’t mean I was always early, sometimes it didn’t work out that way, but I could get my work done and allow for personal time when possible. There was a period when I was doing my work from remote locations in China, Australia, and Italy. I just stayed ahead of the deadlines, which dramatically reduced the stress. One other strategy that I would encourage. Do all of your posts on a word doc or some other program before transferring it to the Blackboard program. I found it easier to insert references and a good back-up for any technical issues you may encounter.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM?:
Honestly, graduating! Earning my MBA was one of my lifelong goals. Getting through the program and knowing that I stuck with it, even when I occasionally wanted to quit, was the best part for me. The number of hours spent doing work instead of watching a sporting event, or going back to my hotel room to write my next paper instead of going out with coworkers, was all worth it in the end.
WAS THERE A PARTICULAR PROFESSOR OR MEMBER OF THE STAFF THAT YOU FELT HELPED YOU TO EXCEL? PLEASE ELABORATE.:
Every professor I had helped me in one way or another. However, Professor Dan Green stands out in my memory as he always had relevant examples and allowed the class to capitalize on their discussions. He provided some great insights that I found helpful for my organization as a huge part of what I deal with in my current position includes Organizational Change and Culture.
Please share any advice for new students embarking on the MBA journey.
A few pieces of advice.
- Get your work done early. Do not wait until the last minute.
- Do not be shy about asking for help; everyone needs it from time to time.
- Communicate with your professors. Life happens, and they understand it and will help.
- Keep your eye on the goal and but knock out every class one at a time. Before you know it, you are done!
- Take advantage of the time between classes; relax during that time, decompress, and take a vacation if you can!
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