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.
Kathleen Go
Logistics Market Leader – BC & Alberta District
Harry Rosen, INC.
Program/Concentration: Jack Welch MBA
TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AT HARRY ROSEN, INC.
I am in charge of the Logistics Teams in two Canadian Provinces—British Columbia and Alberta, focusing on daily operations, transportation and shipping, e-commerce fulfillment, and inventory management. Daily coaching, communication, and creating a positive environment -are important in my role, working remotely, and having teams across provinces.
Traveling is temporarily halted due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, so I have not yet met or had an opportunity to visit my teams in Alberta since stepping into my role. Utilizing our current technologies to connect with them remotely is a challenge, but growing partnerships with different leaders who can assist you are key to ensuring the teams feel supported during times like this.
Why were you looking to get an MBA?
I started this program after being passed over for a promotion two years ago at my former company. This rejection steered me into a self-reflection phase, and I realized that I needed to focus on self-improvement to continue on a successful path.
During my journey, I used the skills I learned in Business Communications & Executive Presence to continue to keep my options open and ended up having a coffee conversation with a managing director of another company who heard about me from an employee. We talked about the program and how much I enjoyed the book 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. Apparently, the company uses the 2nd installment of the book as a bible. I got a job offer from that interview with a substantial increase from my current salary. It just goes to show that everything happens for a reason and that rejection can be a phenomenal way to motivate yourself to be better.
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.?
I was looking for a fully online program since I was working in the retail industry; I needed something flexible to work with my changing schedules. I did not anticipate how challenging the courses would be, nor that I would learn so much from the material studied. Thankfully, the professors’ support, the EOP videos, and even the faculty office hours helped my fellow students and me. Having access to The Wall Street Journal and using this resource in the courses was a wonderful tool in bridging the concepts we study and real-life scenarios.
What’s been your most rewarding experience in the program?
I think that the most rewarding experience is knowing that with every discussion question (DQ) you submit, you help another student learn from your experience and vice versa. The DQs are an amazing way for students to draw from their experiences and share with the class. The different backgrounds of your classmates create cognitive diversity that allows us to learn from everyone else. I’ve had classmates who are CEOs, Managing Directors, VPs, even those who are just starting in their leadership roles, and I can tell you that I have learned something significant from each one of them.
How did you navigate school, family, and work? What strategies did you implement to get it done?
One other thing I appreciate about this program is the consistent deadlines from the beginning of the program to the end. Wednesdays and Sundays are always going to be submission deadlines in each course, so you can build a consistent schedule. Even with a full-time job and doing this MBA, I was still able to have a social life because I dedicated the time to studies. I read all of the weekly notes and readings using the blackboard app (JWMI’s online student portal) during my commute to and from work, which saved time.
Please share any advice for new students embarking on the MBA journey.
To anyone who has enrolled in JWMI, kudos to you for taking the first step in investing in yourself! During this program, you might feel exhausted, and there may be days that you feel like quitting, but push past that feeling and focus one day at a time, one project at a time, and one course at a time. Be honest with yourself and adjust the number of courses you are taking every term if necessary. I knew that Finance was something I would find challenging, so I chose to take both Finance courses separately, only focusing on one course for those terms so as to maximize my learnings. Be honest with how much you can handle.
Connect with Kathleen Go on Linkedin
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