Faculty Testimonials
“Classroom discussion and students’ projects are great opportunities for me to learn jointly with my executive students how management theories can be applied and extended to build more effective and competitive organizations. As a native of Puerto Rico, I am excited by the chance to work with Latin American students and to explore with them the challenges of management in this diverse region.”
William Ocasio John L. and Helen Kellogg Distinguished Professor of Management and Organizations
“In my classes, I try to connect concepts with real business situations. Theories are interesting and important, of course, but the challenge is to apply them. The Executive MBA Program is particularly valuable because students can immediately apply the things we discuss in class.”
Tim Calkins
Clinical Professor of Marketing
“Executive MBA students have seen the ups and downs of economic cycles. They bring experience and savvy to the classroom. Even when they haven’t studied microeconomics analytically before, they become engaged in understanding the global economy and its importance for business leaders.”
Janice Eberly John L. and Helen Kellogg Distinguished Professor of Finance Student Testimonials
Sam Cirone ’09 Sergeant
Chicago Police Department
As a 16-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, I decided to pursue an MBA in order to strengthen my leadership and managerial skills, as well as to best position myself for a career in business should I ever decide to leave the force. Knowing that the Executive MBA Program had never been ranked less than first, applying to Kellogg was an easy decision. In addition, the Kellogg curriculum, which stresses the importance of teamwork, leadership and business ethics particularly appealed to me. I have already been able to apply many of the managerial and decision making tools I learned at Kellogg while on the job at the CPD. I am certain that I will carry with me the lessons I have learned, and the friendships I have made, well into the future.
Cynthia McIntyre ’09
Senior Director of Advertising
Careerbuilder
There comes a point in your life and your career when you look to stretch your abilities and know-how by challenging yourself to improve your skill set. I was at point when I discovered the Kellogg Executive MBA Program. Kellogg offers a rigorous MBA curriculum taught by world-class professors who are committed to providing global perspectives and forward-thinking applications to business issues that I’m able to take back to the workplace on Monday morning. The school’s emphasis on teamwork, its holistic approach to leadership and management, and the extensive global network of alums and faculty made Kellogg an obvious and exciting choice for me.
Gloria Guevara ’09
Vice President and General Director
Sabre Travel Network – Mexico City
Working in a fast-paced industry and a constantly changing environment demands that I be up-to-date on new business intelligence and successful strategies in multiple disciplines. I chose Kellogg because it offers the best experience with a complete curriculum and an extraordinary faculty. The Executive MBA Program is ideal for executives like me, who have no time for irrelevant information and welcome an intellectual, stimulating experience. The most valuable thing is that I have been able to apply the concepts to my work immediately, and see the results first hand.
The Miami campus was the best option for me. The location resulted in minimum travel, which with my two children was very important. Kellogg offers the best faculty, a flexible and perfectly organized program, and a great class who provide a good mix of experience from the United States, Latin America and several international markets. My classmates contributed excellent ideas and valuable expertise to the overall learning experience.
Gustavo De Luca ’09 CEO
Panamotor
I was looking for a program that would prepare me for future challenges in this fast paced and competitive world we live in. This program consists of a top ranking faculty and curriculum, which was a key factor for me. Having the opportunity to study alongside students from different countries and cultural backgrounds has given me the opportunity to learn from a global point of view. The highly qualified faculty, top-of-the-line facilities, and the limited amount of required travel time made this program my No. 1 choice. It was very important for me to make the most of my time away from my family and office. Being part of the Miami Campus program has been a wonderful experience. I have met extraordinary people with whom I have developed excellent professional and personal relationships. The program has an excellent format, which can be applied in real time while getting feedback from faculty, staff, and colleagues. I’ve gained a lot since I started the program.
Alumni Testimonials
Jim Kouris ’08
CIO
Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC
I looked for a school that allowed me to learn not only from my professors but from my peers. To me, that was Kellogg. To be in a class of senior executives from different industries and hear them interact with other students and professors discussing materials we were learning and how it is applied in the real world was truly a learning experience.
I enjoyed the fact that I could put my knowledge from weekend classes to work the following week and make a difference.
The opportunity to travel to other Kellogg campuses and see how global businesses/brands were built was a unique and invaluable learning experience. I have formed solid friendships at Kellogg with other students both domestically and internationally. The resources I had available were limitless; the professors were always there for you — along with your study teams — to answer any questions you had about the lectures, the homework or the current economy and markets.
Suzanne Martinez ’08 Senior Vice President
Jones Lang LaSalle
I chose the Executive MBA Program at Kellogg because of its focus on the globalization of business. Working for a global firm has exposed me to a client base that is represented by both international investors and companies operating worldwide. The Kellogg program gives me a unique opportunity to learn new ways to approach strategy, growth and profitability, but also allows me to exchange ideas with classmates who are senior executives representing diverse Fortune 500 companies. These leaders face challenges similar to those I encounter in my industry, making the peer-to-peer interaction in the Kellogg classroom particularly valuable.
Duone Jackson ’07 Senior Sales Representative,
Neuroscience Division
Eli Lilly and Company
After recently retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps, I thought it would be difficult to find an organization where the camaraderie is as present as it is in the Marine Corps. But the Kellogg School embodies those values and much more. Kellogg provides an intellectually vigorous environment. Faculty members, who are leading experts in their fields, connect theory to practice while keeping up with the latest ideas driving the business world.
The Kellogg emphasis on teamwork allows for thought-provoking exchanges with my fellow students — all of whom bring a diversity of backgrounds and experiences. The Kellogg approach to general management education embraces holistic learning, providing me with the knowledge, skills and experience to be a better decision maker. Most importantly, my Kellogg experience has made me a better leader, one prepared for the challenges of global business.
Hosanna M. Johnson ’06 President
Atlanta Education Fund
Participating in Kellogg was an outstanding experience. The classes were challenging and included real-world applications. While I enjoyed the formal academic program, the collegial atmosphere and emphasis on character, integrity and teamwork was exceptional. I studied with rising stars in a variety of industries, and while we each had expertise in our field, our best times were those when we leveraged one another’s experiences.
As a career educator, enrolling in the Executive MBA Program was intimidating. I had solid leadership experiences but needed to enhance my finance and strategic skills. Kellogg was well suited for my personality and style — intense yet, personable. After graduating, I accepted a position to launch an education fund in Atlanta, using many of the skills learned during my MBA experience. I enrolled in Kellogg looking for a degree; in addition, I found an extended family.
Katie Bylak ’05
Executive Director, Finance
PepsiAmericas, Inc.
The Kellogg Executive MBA Program brought together many facets of business for me. As a finance professional, I had limited exposure to the worlds of marketing, sales and organizational strategy. The Kellogg program filled the gaps, giving me a scope of understanding that I never had before. The collaborative environment at Kellogg makes you think differently. Working for two years in a study group teaches teamwork — and important lessons: You are only as strong as those around you. I was fortunate to participate in an amazing study group.
I now use these skills in my new role at PepsiAmericas Inc., leading finance for a $1 billion channel of our business.
Philip L. Glick ’05
Vice Chair and Professor of Surgery
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY-Buffalo
After five years of surgical residency, two fellowships, more than 10 years of academic practice, and increasing leadership responsibilities, it was clear that my black bag was missing some tools for my career to reach its full potential. I knew that medicine was a business, and so physicians needed to apply classic management and leadership principles. After lengthy research considering various programs and top schools, Kellogg was my unanimous choice.
Kellogg had the reputation and prestige to add to my academic pedigree. The school attracts top-caliber faculty and students who are really the essence of the MBA experience. The Allen Center’s facilities are like none other in the world, while the program’s staff is professional and first class. The friendships I formed with my peers are priceless — networking with my classmates and professors has already paid huge dividends. The Kellogg experience has exceeded my expectations and given me the
essential tools to continue my professional journey successfully!
Seaphes Miller ’04 Owner
HiTech Integrated Solutions LLC
Attending Kellogg was an easy decision for me to make, as I proudly had witnessed its consistent top rankings since receiving my undergraduate engineering degrees at Northwestern University. Once enrolled in the Kellogg Executive MBA Program, I understood why the school’s reputation had captured international attention.
Earning my Kellogg MBA degree provided an excellent opportunity to refine my diverse business background and further prepare myself for a career in general management. After a wonderful 20-year career at Procter & Gamble in brand management and product supply/operations, I sought an executive program that would provide a practical foundation to take me where I wanted to go next. In addition to gaining business management and entrepreneurial skills, the high-powered group learning experience at the Kellogg School provided me with the networks that enabled me to establish my engineering and IT consultancy, HiTech Integrated Solutions LLC.
Victoria Holloway Barbosa ’06 President
Dermal Insights, Inc.
Assistant Professor
Rush University Department of Dermatology
I attended Kellogg because I wanted a first-rate business education. I received that, and more. During my time in the program, I was a corporate vice president in R&D for an international cosmetics company. The education made me a better manager and executive in real time. Using case studies as well as examples from my classmates, I learned to address a myriad of business challenges. The emphasis on teamwork was a model that I carried with me into the workplace and continue to utilize now to inspire my coworkers and maximize productivity. The friendships and business relationships that I formed while in school are as valuable as the classroom education and have endured past graduation. Ultimately, my Kellogg education provided me with the knowledge foundation, the network and the courage to pursue my entrepreneurial ambitions.
Toshikazu Dezaki ’07
Director
Navigant Consulting
Kellogg is one of the few top-tier programs that provides a balance within their curriculum, which prepares leaders in all facets of business. The blend of quantitative and qualitative coursework exposes students to a platform that mirrors the challenges in the business arena. The faculty is top-notch. The choice to attend the Kellogg Miami Campus proved to be extremely valuable. The Kellogg staff does an exceptional job selecting the right blend of students, whose perspectives provided tremendous insight into the business world both domestically and abroad. This, coupled with the tremendous faculty, fostered a unique learning experience that exceeded my expectations.
Beth Hayden ’05 Senior Vice President,
Human Resources
Jones Lang LaSalle
My journey through the Kellogg Executive MBA Program was an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience. Considered from the perspective of sheer talent, the team of Kellogg professors, staff and students is truly world class. Many people ask me for career advice, and when they do I’m quick to advocate for the Kellogg Executive MBA Program because of the value it brought to me, personally and professionally.
Recruiting is a top priority for most organizations today, and candidates must differentiate themselves to succeed. The Kellogg experience sets you apart from the pack. Kellogg prepares well-rounded leaders — those who collaborate, make sound decisions, and who are exceptionally inspired.
Joaquin Larrea ’08 Corporate Financial Head
Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A.
All the knowledge that I am obtaining through the Kellogg Executive MBA Program is expanding my horizon and strengthening a host of critical tools that I am actively using for business success today. The Kellogg program is enhancing my overall managerial skills, financial planning abilities, international business and negotiation strategies, and project management aptitude. All these tools come together to help me succeed in my role as head of corporate finance at a company pursuing aggressive growth through its mining and cement division.
As the world grows so fast, I find that Kellogg is the best place to study given that its curriculum always is focused on teaching teamwork and keeping its students updated with the latest management framework. Moreover, the experience of learning from people from different countries not only enhances this education, but the global Kellogg network also increases an array of business opportunities throughout North America, Latin America and elsewhere.
Amy Giuffre ’07 Director of Investor Relations
Harley-Davidson
“It’s my nature to seek out a challenge — that’s why I chose the Kellogg Executive MBA experience. The curriculum and faculty lived up to my expectations of a top-notch global program. My classmates were interesting, seasoned professionals that came from varied backgrounds and were equally up for the challenges our Kellogg experiences brought to us. I was able to apply my learning directly to my work during the program, and upon graduation my Kellogg experience enabled me to transfer into a completely different area of business. The Kellogg program will push you to your limits, but it’s well worth it.”
