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Lokesh Ramu
Sales Director
Honeywell International
Program/Concentration: Jack Welch MBA
PLEASE SHARE MORE ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL ROLE AND RESPONSIBLITIES.:
I lead the aftermarket sales team for Asia-Pacific at Honeywell Aerospace. I have 15+ years of experience in the Aviation Industry across various roles, including finance, supply chain, P&L management, Sales, and Marketing. My current position is to grow the commercial aerospace business in Asia by working with all major Airlines and Maintenance and Repair Service Centers.
WHY WERE YOU LOOKING TO GET AN MBA?:
I wanted to pursue my MBA to enhance my business acumen and become a better leader. Enhancing my qualifications would give me a better opportunity to take on new leadership opportunities at Honeywell. The JWMI MBA, in particular, was much more rewarding as I learned from some of the most outstanding leaders I’ve looked up to, including Jack Welch, Warren Buffet, and Richard Branson.
HOW HAS THE JWMI CURRICULUM HELPED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
The JWMI curriculum has helped me become a better people manager and sales leader. My approach has significantly improved in addressing problems, opportunities, and challenges in my current role. Through the three years program, I’ve had the chance to take on additional responsibilities and was promoted as Senior Sales Director in 2023.
DID YOU FIND THE CURRICULUM WAS IMMEDIATELY APPLICABLE? PLEASE EXPLAIN.:
The learning journey at JWMI has helped me apply the learnings immediately in my current role. Although not applicable to my current position, the two courses on Operational Excellence and New Business Ventures have helped me broaden my vision on these two subjects for my next career move.
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?:
The initial concern was the difficulty in contacting professors because of remote learning. However, many professors held weekly video sessions to discuss the program, assignments, and weekly posts. The discussion board interactions with my classmates were engaging, and the professors ensured a continued dialog throughout the week.
HOW DID YOU NAVIGATE JOB, FAMILY, AND WORK? WHAT STRATEGIES DID YOU IMPLEMENT TO GET IT DONE?:
The first year was easier as I did not have to travel for work and could work from home, and easier to manage my weekly discussion posts and reading material. The second and third years became more challenging as I resumed work and travel. Having dedicated time each day for the MBA classes helped me with my weekly readings and discussion posts. I also kept my family and manager informed so there were no surprises in case I missed any family events or could not take on additional responsibilities at work. Everyone was supportive, which made it more accessible.
WAS THERE A PARTICULAR PROFESSOR OR MEMBER OF THE STAFF THAT YOU FELT HELPED YOU TO EXCEL? PLEASE ELABORATE.:
All the professors were professional, helpful, and available at any time to help the class out. The professors provided excellent guidance, managed onboard discussions, and were respectful to all the students. I want to highlight Prof. John Shaw and Prof. Brent Duncan, who were outstanding during my JWMI journey.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM?:
The network I’ve built with all my classmates across the globe and the mentors I’ve added to my professional network is most rewarding. The ability to apply my learnings in my current position and expand my vision to newer areas makes me more confident to look for alternating career opportunities.
IN JUST A FEW WORDS, DESCRIBE WHAT “LEADERSHIP” MEANS TO YOU.:
A Leader can lead by example with a clear vision and encourage and inspire people to follow the path.
PLEASE SHARE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW STUDENTS EMBARKING ON THE MBA JOURNEY.:
Be prepared for challenging but equally rewarding years of the JWMI program. You will need to make some sacrifices that are worth the results you will obtain.
Please ensure you participate actively in all discussions and contribute to the conversations, as this is also a great forum to make mistakes and learn from them.
Connect with Lokesh Ramu on LinkedIn
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