wisconsin A Wisconsin Enterpr i s e M B A P r o gMBA r am

Wisconsin Evening MBA

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How It Works
Our Story Breakthrough Learning Connections that Count A Dynamic Community Lasting Transformation

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Cover art: AJ LaGasse (2009 AJ LaGasse)

Photo: Anna Dulmes

Photo: Bruce Fritz

Our Story
Connection. Leadership. Innovation. Community. These four values define the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since 1900 we have created knowledge and produced alumni with significant impact on business. At the graduate level we have been a leader in the development of focused, applied offerings connecting ambitious students with the needs of industry. One dramatic innovation in the schools history came in 1998, with the creation of a completely re-imagined Wisconsin MBA for working professionals. Designed to meet the needs of students working full-time, todays Wisconsin Evening MBA program produces graduates with bridge-building organizational expertise and connections no traditional part-time MBA program can hope to match. Since 2006 it has been a key part of a portfolio of graduate business degree programs for working professionals, managed as part of the Enterprise MBA programs at the Wisconsin School of Business. The Evening MBA program boasts high student satisfaction, excellent ROI in terms of post-graduation salaries and career advancement, and ringing endorsements from alumni as well as the broader corporate community.

The Wisconsin Evening MBA Experience To begin, you dont just enter our Evening MBA programyou join a strong, close community of working professionals who share your goals for professional development. You will benefit from a lock-step cohort program that offers access to all the resources of a world-class public research university, while experiencing a unique team-focused approach. If our students had a motto it would be: Work hard, play hard, and succeed together. The intense personalized attention our students receive, and the strong relationships that form, are hard to describe. In fact, we wont even try. Well let you get an idea by reading the stories of some of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff, starting on page 35.

Our focused general management curriculum is designed to leverage your existing expertise while helping you integrate and develop cross-functional fluency. But our unique curriculum is only the start of the story. The many opportunities to connect and learn from leaders outside the classroom are an integral part of the Evening MBA program. They include speaker events, an international trip experience, and networking opportunities with other working professionals within and across our Enterprise MBA programs. Extensive involvement with team members on real-world projects facilitates these types of connections and makes you part of a strong professional network that supports you during and after your time in the program.

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People have the understanding that they are part of something bigger. Im going to school with everyone who came through before me or will come after. We are all a part of the Wisconsin School of Business. We all have different experiences, but its something that we all share. Theres definitely a connection that you can feel.
Melissa Mand, MBA 2009 HR Shared Services Team Leader 6 6 QBE the Americas

And when you graduate? The Wisconsin Evening MBA model produces real results when it comes to career advancement. Our graduates achieve quickly and notably. The reason why is no mystery. Often current employers have already identified Evening MBA students as high-potential leaders. Once they have earned their MBA, the added value they provide can open new doors of opportunity within their current firms.

Those who wish to switch careers after graduation are equipped with a powerful marker of expertiseas well as membership in one of the strongest alumni networks in the world. As a Wisconsin MBA you will make your own future, equipped with the skills and fluency to succeed in general management and the ability to deliver value in an increasingly complex environment.

We totally re-engineered our Evening

MBA program to allow us to recruit the best working professionals, deliver a superior experience, and provide the best career opportunities possible.

The results have exceeded our expectations. Michael Knetter Albert O. Nicholas Dean Wisconsin School of Business

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Wisconsin Enterprise MBA Programs

The Wisconsin School of Business offers highquality MBA programs specifically designed to meet the needs of working professionals. The Wisconsin Evening MBA Designed to give you the opportunity to be a cross-functional leader. The curriculum focuses on building bridges across business units while developing your own organization-wide expertise. Meets two evenings a week for 32 months.

The Wisconsin Executive MBA Targets the needs of senior business leaders seeking the ability to transform their organizations by reinforcing core business principles, expanding strategic mindsets, and exploring emerging issues. Meets alternate Fridays and Saturdays for 22 months. The Wisconsin Executive MBA The Managers Program Customized and created in partnership with a company or other organization, and offered exclusively to a select group of its employees.

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Partnership for Value Creation

As a Wisconsin Evening MBA, you will be an active lifelong partner in creating and maintaining the value of your degree. Our programs success is based on extensive, integrated offerings across our learning environment, community, student support, and career management services. While a student in the program, you will learn, contribute, and grow as part of a community committed to excellence across these areas. Our graduates maintain close ties, mentor students, serve as guest lecturers, offer their company headquarters for site visits, hire our graduates, serve on school advisory boards, and help to build continued degree equity in many ways.

Auxiliary learning experiences (trip, speakers, etc.) Faculty, curriculum

Team

Cohort

Current Evening MBA students Student Advisory Board Social Leadership Committee

Industry and community connections

Other Enterprise students

Learning Environment

Community

Enterprise alumni Wisconsin School of Business alumni UW alumni Corporate sponsors

Peers, individual efforts

Complimentary Milwaukee coach service

Assessment tools Industry connections

Food/beverages Parking (under Grainger Hall) Course materials Academic advising

Student Support

Career Management

Strategic planning Career mapping

Other services Other services Coaching

Networking opportunities

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>> breakthrough learning

The Wisconsin Evening MBA program is designed to help you achieve breakthrough learning by enhancing your knowledge of business and opening new doors of opportunity. Every aspect of the programintegrated curriculum, convenient schedule, ideal facilities and technology for working in teamsis designed to help you make the most of your learning while maintaining your career. When you learn The Evening MBA program meets at Grainger Hall two evenings a week. This format allows busy professionals to earn a valuable degree without interrupting their careers. Extensive use of technology provides flexibility in working on team projects.

The Evening MBA experience is made up of three program years:

Year 1: Building the Platform In the first year of the program, you will focus on key leadership skills and business fundamentals. The year runs from late August through early July.

Year 2: Developing Expertise In the second year of the program, you will focus on developing your expertise across key functional areas. Your increased understanding of global business issues will culminate in an international study tour during the break between the fall and spring semesters. This second year runs from September through early July.

Year 3: Pulling It All Together In the last year of the program, you will concentrate on developing advanced skills in functional areas and integrating them into a final capstone project. Graduation in May marks the successful completion of your remarkable journey.

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Having worked for several years at the midmanagement level, I came to the program eager to acquire a strategic perspective in business management. In the rich tradition of the Wisconsin experience, my classmates and instructors have prodded me out of my learning comfort zone. As a result, I am being equipped with dynamic tools to critically review my past assumptions and to create future opportunities.
Tamanjong Fusi, MBA 2010 Retail Sales and Appliance Analyst Broan-NuTone, LLC

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We plan lots of activities outside the classroom. Its great because you hang out with people that you wouldnt necessarily find yourself drawn to otherwise, but you come to realize that all of these people are so interesting, and have so much to offer. Its really energizing to come and interact with the other students twice a week.
Kristeen Barth, MBA 2009 Business Analyst American Girl
Photo: Bruce Fritz

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What you learn Our curriculum develops the quantitative, behavioral, and ethical foundations of management. The integrated course structure is designed to address the fundamental issues that face cross-functional managers throughout their careers. Coursework areas include: Values-Based Leadership Financial and Cost Accounting Managerial Communications Economics for Managers Data Analysis and Decision Making Marketing Finance Managing People Operations Management Strategy

Through a diverse set of courses, you will master important skills you can use immediately in your work and that will foster your long-term personal growth. For example, in a capstone class in management, youll learn how to create a strategy mapan invaluable tool in setting strategic goals you will be able to use right away and throughout your career. In other classes, youll tackle semester-long assignments, some on behalf of area firms.

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The Evening MBA program is also known for applied learning, taking academic concepts and integrating study into industry settings. A unique feature of the Evening MBA program is the second-year international study trip. We have found that traveling with your class to a global business center outside the United States provides invaluable firsthand experience of the opportunities and challenges of doing business abroad. Applied learning also happens closer to home. Many of the courses incorporate class-based projects for area businesses. Professors also periodically invite noted industry leaders to the classroom as guest lecturers to share their expertise. The final, and perhaps most important, way our students learn is from each other. Most of our students have considerable work experience, and each student entering the program brings unique expertise and insight to the classroom. Professors welcome the wide array of business perspectives and encourage dialogue on the topics. The opportunity to learn as part of a cohort of high-caliber working professionals is a key benefit of the Wisconsin Evening MBA program.

Evening MBA students often work on in-depth projects involving area businesses. Giene Wicker-Keyes, the owner of Dog Den, LLC, a Madison dog-care business, says, They created a whole marketing communications plan for us which weve put into practice, plus created video advertisements weve used on the web. The combination of strategic insight and real-world tactics that we could use immediately was great.

How you learn Collaboration and teamwork are critical features of the Wisconsin MBA. For each of the three years of the program, you will work as part of a standing team. Your small group will feature a complementary mix of backgrounds and expertise. The reason for the heavy emphasis on team projects is simple: thats how things get done in the real world. Sitting quietly while taking notes seldom makes things happen. As a Wisconsin MBA, you will have many opportunities to work on teams of diverse individuals to achieve joint goals.

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Youve been in a classroom with people, but when youre all together in a foreign country for seven straight days, you really see a whole different side. Friendships and bonds emerge or grow really strong. Now as a group, we know each other more and know what makes each other tick, giving us more understanding of where people are coming from. The trip was definitely a defining moment for the class as a whole.
Terri Leigh Rhody, MBA 2009 Director of Marketing Epic

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Where you learn The home of the Wisconsin School of Business is Grainger Hall, near the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. In 2008, an award-winning, $40.5-million addition opened to provide enhanced resources for the full-time MBA and the Wisconsin Enterprise MBA programs for working professionals. The new wing offers: Comfortable new classrooms Enhanced space for Evening MBA career management and other student services Student-friendly gathering spaces and common areas for networking and team meetings, including a first-floor caf open during evening hours Evening MBA student lounge and business center

In 2007, a group of innovative leaders pledged $85 million to name our school in honor of a state and a university that have supported a world-class business school for more than a century. The gift has positioned the Wisconsin School of Business to grow and strengthen our faculty and to provide higherquality experiences for our students. 19

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>> connections that count

When you become a Wisconsin MBA, you make connections that matter. Your network broadens to include faculty who are noted in their disciplines, industry leaders making a difference in their fields, and alumni from among the more than 36,000 Wisconsin business alumni around the world. Connecting with Faculty Leaders The outstanding instructors who teach in the Evening MBA program bring experience and understanding of the world of business. Youll learn from academic faculty known for expanding knowledge through groundbreaking research as well as industry practitioners who bring in-depth, specialized expertise into the classroom.

Connect with Morris Davis Assistant Professor, Real Estate and Land Economics Morris Davis has earned national attention for his research on U.S. home prices. A former Federal Reserve economist, he has testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on home prices and the broader economy. Connect with Hollis Skaife Associate Professor, Accounting and Information Systems Hollis Skaife, through her research on capital markets regulation, is playing an important role in the ongoing debate on competitiveness of U.S. capital markets. She serves on a key advisory council to the International Accounting Standards Board. Connect with Greg DeCroix Associate Professor, Operations and Information Management Greg DeCroix is an expert in supply chain management, particularly in the areas of decentralized decision-making in supply chains and environmental impact. Connect with Antonio Mello Professor, Finance, Investment, and Banking Antonio Mello has taught at leading institutions around the world. He has consulting experience with governments, international institutions, private financial institutions, and corporations worldwide. Prior to joining academia, he was chief economist of the Central Bank of Portugal.

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Connect with Lori Cross Lori Cross is president of Mind Span Consulting, a firm that specializes in development of authentic leaders in high-tech environments. She has more than 25 years of experience in leading global organizations through turnarounds, start-ups, and execution of new business models.

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John Morgridge, a Wisconsin School of Business alumnus and chairman emeritus of Cisco Systems, shares his experience leading the firm.

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Connecting with Industry Leaders Another hallmark of the Wisconsin Evening MBA program is its strong connection to leaders in innovation across a variety of fields. The Enterprise MBA Programs Speaker Series is expressly designed to broaden the understanding of important issues for Evening and Executive MBA students. Noted business leaders, highly regarded academics from relevant fields, and others with unique expertise share their knowledge with students. You will also have the chance to learn and connect at other special events held throughout the school year. Field trips to local companies are another important source of real-world understanding. Several trips throughout the year build on concepts covered in the classroom.

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Connecting with Alumni Leaders The Wisconsin School of Business has an extensive network of more than 36,000 alumni living and working around the world. Graduates of our Evening MBA program benefit from being part of this powerful group. Alumni stay in touch with their alma mater in a variety of ways: as guest lecturers, case competition judges, advisory board members, and informal student mentors.

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Events such as the Enterprise MBA Programs Speaker Series connect current students and alumni.

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The opportunity to participate in career workshops and networking events has been tremendously helpful. I have made connections both personally and professionally with my cohorts, other Evening MBA students, Executive MBA professionals, department faculty, and alumni. Taking advantage of these resources has prepared me to confidently walk into a room of strangers, introduce myself, learn about others, and discuss opportunities for building connections. Career
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services has helped me develop my brand and the skills I need to be a master networker and successful leader.
Julie Lussier, MBA 2011 Membership & Development Coordinator Dane County Humane Society

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Connecting with Career Management Experts In addition to the business knowledge gained in the program, you will benefit from highquality career coaching. A full-time career services expert focuses exclusively on the needs of the working professionals enrolled in the Evening and Executive MBA programs. Career management services are tailored to the backgrounds, experience levels, and interests of students. Workshops and individual counseling cover key topics in developing your career.

Wisconsin Evening MBA Career Services

A process for creating your own strategic career plan

Managing Your Career

YEAR ONE
Create a brand statement for your current employer identifying the ROI of earning a degree from the Wisconsin Evening MBA program. Learn techniques to enhance your existing rsum. Work with Career Services staff to develop a master plan for identifying and meeting your future career goals.

Networking Opportunities
Attend speaker series and other networking events to interact with area business leaders. Learn about using social media tools to advance your network.

Industry Connections
Connect with industry contacts through classmates in the Evening MBA and other Enterprise MBA programs.

YEAR TWO

Continue to attend networking events. Benefit from access to an extensive database of Wisconsin business alumni.

Explore new industries and job functions for those interested in a job search. Learn techniques for conducting advanced job searches.

Salary information and other statistics on our students are available online at bus.wisc.edu/evemba.

YEAR THREE

Prepare a promotion proposal for your current employer or explore other career opportunities identified through Career Services.

Identify the most valuable networking associations for your industry. Become an active member of Wisconsin business alumni.

For job seekers and career switchers, learn about employers by attending on-campus recruiting events and employer information sessions. Master the latest online recruiting tools.

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>> a dynamic community

When you become a Wisconsin MBA, you join a dynamic community rich in diversity. Students in the Wisconsin Evening MBA program come from a wide variety of locations and backgrounds. They work at a wide range of firms and organizations. In each class, public and private companies, non-profits, family-owned businesses, and governmental units are represented. Evening MBA students vary in their primary areas of expertise, the extent and nature of their work experience, and in their different career goals. They are also in varying life stages. Some are relative newcomers to large organizations. Others are entrepreneurs whose dream is to build a successful company of their own. Many are parents looking to balance the needs of their families with their work and school commitments. The members of this diverse community all share one thing: the belief that being a Wisconsin MBA will transform their lives. They also share the talent and commitment to make it happen.

All Roads Lead to Madison People come from near and far to join the Wisconsin Evening MBA program. Although many students are based within an hours drive of Madison, others come from Chicago, the Fox Valley, Iowa, and beyond. A significant number of students enrolled in the Evening MBA program come from the greater-Milwaukee area. Their participation is made easier by the luxury coach service we provide between Milwaukee and Grainger Hall on class nights. Students tell us that the complimentary Milwaukee Shuttle allows them to study, relax together, and generally make the most of their valuable free time.

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Luxury coach service provides a convenient transportation option for Milwaukee-based students.

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The Student Advisory Board was born out of the need for a more direct line of communication from the students to the administration. Our focus the first year was to create the fundamental structure of the student advisory board. This year we have been working with focus groups to create greater value in our learning environment and strengthen our reach into the community.
Erika ODonohoe, MBA 2009 Director of Training Services Amicas

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An Active, Engaged Community There is nothing passive about earning a Wisconsin MBA. We believe the more engaged our students are, the deeper their learning experience will be.
Photo: Jeff Miller/UW Communications

Students on the Evening MBA Student Advisory Board partner with the school on ways to continuously improve the program and enhance its value to students. Students use the analytic skills they are honing in the classroom to benefit their own education and to build an even stronger program for the classes that follow. The Evening MBA Social Leadership Committee plans events for students, their spouses, and families. Along with all the hard work and dedication, our students still like to have fun!

Be a Badger Wisconsin wrote the book when it comes to school spirit. Theres something about being part of a world-class research institution that knows how to rock a football stadium. It tends to generate lifelong loyalty. Being a Badger means different things to different people. To some, its about being an avid fan of Big Ten sports. To others, it means relaxing at the Union Terrace. For others, its the satisfaction of being part of a highly respected university with a spirit of exploration, possibility, and forward thinking. Badgers become part of a network that can open doors wherever alumni encounter one anotherwhether across town or around the globe. It might be hard to explain what makes being a Badger so special, but its easy to feel it. 31

>> lasting transformation

In the short term, becoming a Wisconsin MBA is a way to broaden your skill set and enhance your value to your employer. But in the long run, its a way to maximize your potential. As effective and confident leaders, Wisconsin MBAs are uniquely positioned to see and capitalize on unexpected opportunities. We have every expectation that the three years you spend earning your Wisconsin MBA will be among the most important ones in your life. Our graduates tell us that they never worked harderor learned morethan during their time in our program.

You will graduate with the tools to identify problems and develop strategies, and the know-how to successfully implement those strategies. But thats just the beginning. Information can quickly become outdated. The Wisconsin MBA will train you in a way of thinking that can adapt to the inevitable challenges the business world will throw your way. It will give you access to resources that you can depend on for the rest of your career.

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All of my promotions have stemmed from what I learned through the Wisconsin Evening MBA program. It gave me a broader business prospective, helped me hone my management skills, and strengthened my expertise in marketing and product development. If you can apply what you learned at night in the program to what you do in your day job, you get so much more out of the experience. It is a real benefit.
Mike Hollenstein, MBA 2002 Vice President/ Direct Purchase Catalog G&K Services

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What Our People Say

The story of the Wisconsin Evening MBA program is the story of people: students, faculty, staff, employers, and alumni. In these pages, a few people tell their stories, sharing the paths that brought them hereand what each has found along the way.

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LaShell Lentz, MBA 2010 Current Employment: Account Vice President Burish Group of UBS Financial Services Inc.

the next step for a financial warrior

LaShell Lentz was 17 when she joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard and served in the Guard while attending Edgewood College in Madison. It was the start of a dual role she has played throughout her career. As a freshman, she earned an internship with The Burish Group of UBS Financial Services. During the past 12 years, she has stayed with the company, moving steadily up to her current position as account vice president. Along the way, she earned her Certified Financial PlannerTM designation and Series 7 license for general securities. At the same time, she continued with her National Guard duties, culminating in a tour of Iraq in 2005, where she led a platoon of 55. Her next assignment: earning a Wisconsin MBA in order to become an even more valuable player at UBS. The military and finance have a few things in common: theyre both demanding, male-dominated arenas. Ive always been a fighter, so I like the challenge. In the military, your cadre would say: Here, youre in charge of this situation. Do something. That training really translates well into financial management because youre in charge of helping your clients pursue their goals. Clients need college, retirement, and wealth-distribution planning. Youre asking the questions and giving the guidance. Its a collaborative effort, but youre still taking charge. Being in the MBA program has helped give me perspective on other industries. I think a big benefit of the Wisconsin Evening MBA program is that you have many people with different backgrounds, and we are able to learn from each other. Through the MBA experience, Ive been able to relate to my clients better because I now have a better understanding of their particular business situations. Going in, my perception was that earning my MBA while working would be a very long and difficult journey. It turns out, I have done many things in life that were harder and less worthwhile. Ill be excited to be able to say, I did it. I was smart enough, and I was dedicated enough, to become an MBA.

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Eric Dehn, MBA 2011 Current Employment: Manager Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

his mission: it + mba = success

Eric Dehn received his undergraduate degree in biology from St. Olaf College, but has spent his career in information technology in various industries including insurance, transportation, and financial services. Until now, all of his business training has been on-the-job. Today his goal is to acquire the necessary general management skills to assume progressive levels of responsibility to reach the highest levels of senior management. I believe for me to continue to acquire the necessary skills to succeed in business, I need more formal general management training to better understand the language of business, effectively lead teams, and develop superior talent. Its something Ive been exposed to a lot over a number of years, but before now I have not been able to pull it all together and fully understand the far reaching implications of decisions. Now I can leverage my technology expertise more effectively to enable strategic decision-making across other divisions within my organization.

The lock-step approach at Wisconsin is important to me because I wanted an MBA program that emphasized long-term relationship-building and teamwork. We establish teams right away, which provides an immediate anchor to support our learning. Because of this we quickly get to know at least a subset of people more intimately, which has resulted in a better understanding of material and an immediate network for support. The team-based atmosphere is essential to the learning process in part because teamwork is essential to success outside of the classroom. I have already applied my education in my current position. I have applied the learnings from the leadership and managing behavior courses to more effectively manage teams; financial accounting training to manage a project requiring general ledger integration; and risk management to better understand the consequences of risk-mitigation strategies for technology projects.

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Donald B. Hausch, Wisconsin School of Business Dickson-Bascom Professor of Business Operations and Technology Management

connecting the classroom and the workplace

An economist by training, Donald Hausch has been a member of the UW-Madison faculty since 1984. He has seen many changes in the 25 years since he joined the university, and has been involved with the Evening MBA program since its inception. As a member of the committee looking into the feasibility of creating a formal Evening MBA program in the early 1990s, Hausch helped develop the curriculum and has taught in the program for many years. He finds real joy in teaching Evening MBA students and is awed by their drive and perseverance. Our goal when we created this program was to maintain the academic integrity of a world-class MBA program, but to deliver the program in a way that fit with peoples lives. I think weve done that, but make no mistake this is a hard program. Those who join are really sharp people who find a way to become unbelievably organized. They dont function without having a textbook at the coffee table and one on their bedside table, taking every opportunity to keep current with their studies. Students have a great laboratory, which is the workplace. One of the exciting things is the idea that anything we talk about, the next morning theyre already thinking about in the context of their workplace. Theyre testing out what theyre learning and coming to class the next time and maybe saying, That isnt the way it works. Then youve got this incredible

conversation about why it didnt work, which can go a lot of ways. The students example may be the perfect vehicle for clarifying the ideas from class, or maybe theres a way to reconcile the theory and the practice in a way that reveals more clearly the economic principles underlying our ideas, or maybe our conversation will show some limitations of our concepts and highlight the need to view things in a little bit richer environment, all of which improve the relevance and the value of the program. Other times theyll come back and say, What we talked about last class, you know, thats what happened, and its a very powerful thing for everybody in the class. It is one thing for me to say something is right; its another thing for one of their classmates to say, Yes, that was my experience this week. I mean, Im irrelevant at that point. They bought it because their classmate just gave it the thumbs up. The students have a great sense of humor and they really just hunker down, do what they have to do, and for the most part are pretty cheerful about it. After all, they chose to be here! They become very close with one another and respect each other. They end up not just sharing their coursework, they share their lives. Their classmates become very important and when somebodys sick or has a challenge in his or her life, the support kicks in really quickly. Its very powerful.

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Ami Sandhu, MBA 2010 Current Employment: Marketing Manager Mattel/American Girl

career marketer looks to move to the next level

Ami Sandhu never thought she would end up in Wisconsin. Growing up in South Carolina, she earned her undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke in Massachusetts. Eager to jump-start her career, she secured a number of marketing/advertising internships throughout college. Following graduation, she worked at a top New York City advertising agency, representing brands like RCA, Gortons, Ballpark, Mont Blanc, and Burger King. Eventually, she became interested in switching to the client side of marketing, moved to Madison, and obtained a position at American Girl. Her aim is to obtain the formal education and credentials needed to keep growing in her field.

Because of my backgroundI majored in politicsI didnt have traditional business training. What I learned was on the job. But I always wanted to have a more disciplined approach and a more objective understanding of how business works. I want to be a real expert. I want to be somebody who has a diverse base of knowledge who can easily adapt and understand different market situations or different industries and categories. The MBA is helping me to become that person. The coursework has been great. For example, marketing has given me a more disciplined approach in looking at how to address a market opportunity or figure out a key challenge, such as whether to launch a product or an initiative. I do feel I will be more confident in my abilities when I graduate, not just because I can say I have an MBA, but because I actually have learned valuable skills. Gaining that functional knowledge has always been my goal.

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Deborah Mitchell, Wisconsin School of Business Associate Dean of Enterprise MBA Programs Senior Lecturer, Marketing

building partnerships for the journey

Deborah Mitchell has built a career creating market-focused organizations, by leveraging both academic and professional expertise. Mitchell, who holds a doctorate in marketing and behavioral science from the University of Chicago, founded a successful consulting business after teaching marketing as a faculty member at Wharton and Stanford. Executives at CNN, Bristol Myers Squibb, General Motors, Time-Warner, Syngenta, and many other firms have sought her marketing expertise. Mitchell joined the Wisconsin School of Business in 2003 and leads the schools Enterprise MBA Programs, which include the Evening MBA, Executive MBA, and Executive MBAThe Managers Program. In my professional life, Ive balanced being a professor with being a strategic marketing consultant to leading companies. As a consultant, you go in and work for a time, and then you leave, and you dont really get to establish deep relationships or even necessarily see through to completion the kind of work that youre involved in. You partner with your client for a time and then move on. With the Enterprise MBA Programs and my position as associate dean, I have the great pleasure of getting to know the students and seeing the arc of transformation that starts when they come in and then builds to graduation. With our stepped-up efforts to stay connected to our alumni, Im able to follow the transformation as it continues after graduation.

We see many people come into the Evening MBA program who are very good at what they do, but they are looking to put all the pieces together. Theyre looking to get that kind of integration across all the different areas of their firms and develop expertise with regard to the whole, not just one vertical or one area. And over the course of the three-year experience, I see that come together for them, and I hear from them that they understand so much better now how all the pieces do contribute together cross-functionally and otherwise. Transformation also happens in terms of how Evening MBA students view their career development. People come into this program and find a lot of value in what we offer in terms of career serviceswhether its to get a promotion, change careers, or just develop professionally through things like executive coaching. We have full-time dedicated staff who work with all of our Enterprise students no matter what their goals are. In general, weve put the Evening MBA program together with the core being about the total experience. Many people initially think about it just in terms of attending classes and getting a degree, but quickly realize it is much more than thatits an experience, a partnership. When you enroll in one of our programs, you dont become a studentyou become our partner. Its a lifelong journey and a lifelong partnership. 45

Stephen H. Arnold, MBA 2007 Current Employment: Director, Voice of Customer CUNA Mutual Group

finding new ways to listen and learn

Stephen Arnold decided to pursue an MBA to combine more formal business training with his on-the-job experience to become a more well-rounded manager and leader. The Wisconsin Evening MBA was the best fit for him, because it allowed him to continue working while fulfilling his goal of becoming a graduate of the University of WisconsinMadison. He joined CUNA Mutual while in the Evening MBA program, and has gone on to receive multiple promotions, which he attributes to a combination of good fortune, strong mentoring from his leaders and peers, and the advantage of his Wisconsin education. In his current position, he leads a team whose mission is to listen and learn from customer feedback and then take action on that feedback to drive decision making with the customers requirements in mind.

I expected a high level of experience, professionalism, passion, and drive with this program, and my expectations were absolutely met. I was surprised by the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, both from the faculty and the students. This diversity led to a rich educational experience. The formal business management and leadership training I received in the program has been an invaluable complement to my onthe-job challenges and opportunities. One of the great benefits of the Evening MBA program is the immediate ability to put classroom learning into action. The experience and education also enables me to take a broader, more strategic view of work and leadership. In the program we learned what it means to be stretchedmentally with the coursework, physically with the time constraints, and emotionally with the burden we put on our families and friends as they picked up our slack at home. But ultimately, the degree has provided tremendous value for me personally and professionally.

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Terri Leigh Rhody, MBA 2009 Current Employment: Director of Marketing Epic

sports journalist turns marketing supermom

Terri Leigh Rhody began her career as a sports writer and editor, first for small newspapers and then the Wisconsin State Journal and Des Moines Register. After eight years of the 24/7 realities of a sports journalists life, she decided to switch to marketing. She found her journalism background and experience helped her to quickly understand different industries, particularly health care and information technology. She moved back to the Madison area for a marketing role at Epic, where after two years she was overseeing its marketing team. Being a single mom hasnt slowed her downeager to expand her network and knowledge base, she decided the time was right to earn an MBA. I think the professional world has gotten to the point where, at a certain level, you really need to have an MBA just to keep up with whats going on and to be considered for the next job. The Wisconsin MBA appealed to me because of its location and reputationand maybe even more importantly, the access to the alumni network, the program resources, and the UW connections throughout the business community. From a relationship standpoint, it is invaluable to have those intricate networks available to you. Ill be done before my son hits kindergarten, and thats great. Im surprised, looking back, how quickly it went. When I started the program, three years seemed like a really long time. Now it doesnt seem like all that long ago that we were all starting out, getting together and forming study groups. Its been a great balancing act, and I really feel a sense of accomplishment. The MBA is something that, from the very beginning, I decided to go ahead with because I want my son to be able to look back and see, Okay. Even though all this was happening, Mom did this. And I want him to understand the value of education, whether its formal or informal. You always should be growing and learning. If Im not living that reality, then I really cant teach him that by words alone. 49

Sachin Tuli, Wisconsin School of Business Lecturer, International Business Co-Director, International Programs

sharing the benefits of global perspective with others

Sachin Tuli immigrated to the United States from India as a child with his family. Growing up biculturally, he has had an international viewpoint as long as he can remember. Tuli received his undergraduate degree in marketing from the Wisconsin School of Business. After working in the private sector for a few years, he returned to the school in 2002 to serve as the assistant director of the Center for International Business Education and Research. In 2006, Tuli assumed new roles to further internationalization through new overseas partnerships and programs and global business education. An international study tour wasnt always part of the Evening MBA curriculum, and when I came on board it had just recently been integrated as a required experience for students. Were ahead of other institutions in that regard. Its vital as a school to give tomorrows managers the tools they need to grapple with the issues of the global economy, and it takes a tremendous amount of planning, coordination, and resources to make these trips happen. Helping students understand how an economy like Chinas is integrated into the work they do is crucial. I think oftentimes these destinations are portrayed as places to outsource or to save money, but an important learning that comes out of these trips for students is to see potential future markets. Students get to understand the cultural differences that exist, and how they might need to localize their products if they want to succeed in these nations. Students are deeply engaged in their trip. The preparation on the culture and understanding of the countrys political landscape happens well before we depart. We bring in UW faculty with expertise in the countrys history, economy, legal system, and other important macro-level issues, and students receive several lectures on these topics. They discuss readings and cover the basics of language. In teams, students pick an industry or company and do research and briefings so that the conversations we have with company executives and industry experts overseas are at a higher level. Its hard for me to think of what I do as work most of the time. To come back from a trip and to hear from students that it really helped them think about the world and their work in a new waythats the most rewarding thing I think anyone could really ask for.

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Jessica Antosiewicz-Bourget, MBA 2007 Current Employment: Associate Director, Regenerative Biology Morgridge Institute for Research, UW-Madison

the fusion of cutting-edge science and business

Jessica Antosiewicz-Bourget received her degree in molecular biology from UW-Madison and began working in the lab of famed stem-cell researcher James Thomson. Over time, she came to realize that she needed an advanced business degree to pursue the career she desired in the biotechnology industry. But, working in the fast-developing area of stem-cell research, she felt she couldnt leave the field for two years to attend school full time. So for her, the Evening MBA format proved ideal. Applying the skills she learned in the classroom the next day at work was invaluable and helped her gain quick recognition for her contributions. The program has paid off immeasurably for me. I could never have guessed I would have such a quick return on investment. There is the obvious economic benefit. Since graduating, Ive had several offers in the biotechnology industry and recently took a position as associate director of regenerative biology at the Morgridge Institute for Research. I am responsible for all aspects of lab operations and the technical staff has doubled. I would not have been competitive for this position if I did not have an MBA. Before applying to any graduate programs, I asked people within the biotechnology industry what would make me stand out what would bring my rsum to the top of the pile. Across the board, everyone said an MBA would be the right choice, and the return has been much more than I expected.

My classmates were from a variety of different backgrounds, which was really amazing. I find that since I have been promoted post-business school and been in different situations, when I think back to class, I continue to gain insight from our class discussions. We had people from finance, accounting, engineering, sales, marketing, banking, IT, and I really enjoyed everyones input and all the different perspectives on situations. There were people who had been managing teams of people for years, and there were people who had no management experience, so being able to work through issues in a group environment was really valuable to me. Its fantastic how much has stuck with me since I graduated. Now that I am moving forward in my career in even more of a leadership role and doing marketing in a consulting role, its really starting to pay off. I have such a great knowledge base to understand the implications of why decisions are being made. Ive had additional opportunities because I have an MBA, where others might not be progressing quite as quickly. People notice that you went out and got an MBA while continuing to work full-time and it shows you have initiative and drive to push your career to the next level. 53

Pete Dietrich, MBA 2010 Current Employment: Project Manager Safe Bridge Solutions

putting the pieces together

Pete Dietrich grew up in a family with a long history of entrepreneurial activity. The family businesses have ranged from banking to hardware. While entrepreneurship is clearly in his DNA, he initially pursued another path. It wasnt until he took a course in entrepreneurship at UW while earning a masters degree in exercise psychology that he began to embrace his calling for business. Following graduation, he took a project management position at Epic in Verona, Wis., where he implemented electronic medical records for more than three years. He now works for a local Madison IT firm as a project manager and is becoming more involved with his familys businesses. He believes that the expertise and connections provided by the Wisconsin School of Business will enable him to create and run his own successful company someday.

The Wisconsin MBA has given me greater confidence in decision making. In between going to school, working full-time, and planning a wedding, I applied for and received a grant to grow one of my familys businesses. My MBA training gave me confidence to search out and to ask the right questions in writing the grant and developing the business plan. My professors have been very supportive of my success both in the classroom and professionally. My theme for the Wisconsin MBA is to apply my learning from the classroom immediately to my life. My finance and marketing courses have been especially valuable in this regard. My advice to future students is, When working toward your MBA, try to experience as many things as you can both inside and outside the classroom. UW is a great place to grow and network. Sometimes in life you may think that events are isolated with little relevance, but later you can apply these experiences to the present situation. Its like you had this box of puzzle pieces and you can now form the puzzle. It gives you direction as to where you need to go.

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Vijit Jayasheela, MBA 2009 Current Employment: Senior Staff Engineer/ManagerGlobal Quality & Reliability Engineering Kohler Company

road warrior twice a week

Vijit Jayasheela grew up in India and studied industrial engineering. After realizing he wanted to broaden his scope in a manufacturing career, he came to the United States for his masters in manufacturing systems engineering, which he received from Wayne State University. Upon graduation he worked for a few years as a fulltime automotive reliability engineer at Visteon, and moved to Wisconsin after receiving an offer from the Kohler Company. Jayasheela commutes from Sheboygan twice a week for the program driving to Milwaukee to catch the Wisconsin Evening MBA motor coach that takes him to the Madison campus. He appreciates the flexibility Kohler has given him to attend the Evening MBA program, and is confident it will provide a worthwhile return, both for him and his company. The biggest challenge for me when I joined the program was the commute. It took me some time to get adjusted to it. In the winter youre talking about the possibility of putting in at least four hours of driving each way on a bad snowy day, but you can still make it to class in spite of that. For me, I look at it in terms of an investmentnot just in money and time, but in myself. Any opportunity I can take to enhance my skills is always a plus, be it short or long term. This is going to be with me for a lifetime.

On the way to Madison, were busy reading on the bussure, were talking to each other and getting caught up, but we often use it as an opportunity to prepare for classreviewing class notes, discussing cases, that sort of thing. On the way back to Milwaukee the atmosphere is more relaxed. Well watch a DVD that someones brought or some folks myself includedoccasionally catch up on sleep. Everyone looks at how we can make the most out of the whole experience. I really enjoy spending time with my classmates. Every time I talk to someone, I hear about their experiences and outlook, which are often quite different from my own because of their background. Class discussions are just great, hearing so many completely different perspectives. What I tell people interested in this program is to go for itits going to open up a number of doors in terms of future career opportunities. Personally, I feel continuous education is really importantthere are always new ways of looking at things and you always gain insight into other perspectives when you join a program like this. Thats a key to growth.

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Joann Peck, Wisconsin School of Business Associate Professor, Marketing

ironman marketer who believes in the power of touch

Joann Peck has an affinity for the Wisconsin School of Businessits where she got her MBA, and where she received her inspiration to continue her education and earn a PhD in marketing, which she did at the University of Minnesota. She has been a member of the marketing faculty at the Wisconsin School of Business since 2001. In 2008, she earned a campus-wide Distinguished Teaching Award. Her research focuses on the role of touch in consumers purchasing decisions, an emerging field. In addition to being an award-winning teacher and innovative researcher, Peck is an athlete; last summer she competed in her first Ironman triathlon in Madison. She recently began teaching in the Evening MBA program, and is truly impressed by the students passion for learning. I really like teaching in the Evening MBA program because with all of the work experience the students bring, its a fun group to teach. Theyre very motivated. They share their work experience and apply everything that you teach them almost on the spot.

The students have their own community and they genuinely respect and care for each other. The collaborative nature of the program helps because besides the friendliness, there is this friendly competitiveness. Theres always this motivation to try to beat the other team in a friendly way. So theres cooperation and competition, but its really healthy competition. You can tell that as a result people are highly motivated, and they want to do as well or better than theyve done in the past. Someone once told me the first word every MBA always says is But. So you get challenged on a lot of things, but I think thats good because it allows for a lot of dynamic discussion within the classroom. Theyre not shy about telling me if they disagree with what I say. I play off the students enthusiasm. Its been said teaching is like being a stand-up performer. Theres something about a really good group that just gives you energy, and the Evening MBA students have it in droves. So they make it fun and I think that makes a huge difference in terms of the educational experience.

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Charles Higley, MBA 2009 Current Employment: Executive Director Citizens Utility Board

lobbying for renewable energy

Charles Higley wanted a career with impact on policy and people. After earning a degree in urban and regional planning at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he launched a career running renewable energy programs and lobbying on energy policy both in Madison and Washington, D.C. Today, he leads the Madison-based Citizens Utility Board. There he coordinates the non-profits efforts to obtain reliable and affordable electricity and telephone service on behalf of Wisconsin customers, representing their interests before regulatory agencies, the legislature, and the courts.

The organization I work for is always one grant away from extinction because we rely on foundation grants and other sources, but those are the keys that keep us open. The MBA is a good complement to my background. Ive enjoyed the MBA classes a great deal. Im trying to take advantage of this as an opportunity to learn one more time. My favorite experience was our international study trip to China. This program definitely provides the opportunity to further your career while fitting in with the rest of your life. Ive seen my classmates make it work for them, and I have been able to as well. I feel whatever career path you choose to follow, this program can give you the tools to make a difference.

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Ellen Bartkowiak, Wisconsin School of Business Assistant Director, MBA Career Services

helping others career dreams come true

Ellen Bartkowiak has always taken pride in helping people reach their goals. In college she worked part-time in her schools career services office and had a chance to make a difference in the career paths of her classmates. Flash forward through a number of years and a variety of roles. Today she is a key partner in the professional development of current Wisconsin Evening and Executive MBA students. The value of a dedicated career center is that we are able to provide targeted support and coaching at every level of need. Some people are looking to advance in their present organization, some are checking to see what else is out there, others need help immediately due to a recent layoff. Trying to package all of the services to address everyones situation is challenging, but it is exciting and very fulfilling to find out what each student needs and help them create their ideal future.

As part of my own development, I went through an intensive training program to become a certified executive coach. When you go through the training, they ask you: Who is your dream client? Without knowing about the job here in the Enterprise MBA Programs, I said, My dream would be to work with driven, focused mid-level managers and senior executives who want to change their lives. So when I heard about this position, it was a natural fit. Both the caliber and ambition of our students are impressive. And these students all share one thing in common: theyre here to make something happen. Our program is all about helping leaders be out in front. The classes students take, the academic learning that goes on here, is a key part of that effort. Another important part is career management. That is my focus: helping students use the knowledge and connections gained within this program to create and follow their dreams.

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Make Your Move

Weve shared our story. Now its up to you. Here are steps you can take to discover whether you are ready to become a Wisconsin MBA.

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Students in the program are a diverse group. Each person in my study team brings different things to the table in projects or cases. I have no business backgroundmine is purely technologyand others are from finance or from marketing. Its fun to have that diverse set of backgrounds. It really makes for lively discussion and a great learning environment.
Manju Muthukumaresan MBA 2010 Technology Lead Kohls Department Stores

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>> Learn More

How we learn about you When selecting the individuals who will make up the next class of the Wisconsin Evening MBA program, we look for motivated professionals committed to becoming an MBA. There are some baseline requirements for admission: A bachelors degree from an accredited institution A target undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale A target of at least two years of full-time, post-baccalaureate work experience A competitive score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) For non-native English speakers, an acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Computer literacy But thats only part of the story. Personal achievements, motivation, leadership, diversity, industry representation, and international experience also play a key role. We gain this holistic view of you based on your rsum, admission essays, and letters of recommendation. If we feel we need more information to gain a clear picture of what you would bring to the program, you will be invited to an admissions interview.

How you can learn more about us Go to bus.wisc.edu/evemba for: Detailed curriculum information Wisconsin Evening MBA FAQs Dates of upcoming information sessions Admission requirements and deadlines Online application form Visit the School The best way to get a sense of the Wisconsin Evening MBA program is to experience it in person. We want to meet you! You can either: Attend a Wisconsin MBA information session (held monthly in Grainger Hall during the school year), or Meet one-on-one with a representative of the Wisconsin Evening MBA program to > Tour Grainger Hall > Visit a class > Talk to Evening MBA students about their experiences Or if youre ready, apply now, bus.wisc.edu/apply.asp

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>> Contact Us
Choosing to become a Wisconsin MBA is an important decision. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you and help you decide if its the right choice for you. You can talk to a member of our admissions staff by calling 608/263-1169 or send us an email at [email protected].

What is your story

and how might a Wisconsin MBA help you write the next chapter?

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To someone considering this program, I would say they have got to be ready and committed to do it, but it will be one of the greatest things theyll ever do. I wouldnt lie to folks and tell them that its easy or that anybody can do it, because it does take a lot of commitment, is a lot of hard work and its a lot of time out of your life. But looking back on it, I think the most compelling thing I could tell someone is
Photo: Bruce Fritz

I wouldnt change a bit of it. I would do it all again if I had the chance.
Matt Krumenauer, MBA 2009 Director of Government Relations Cooperative Network