Student Profiles
The participants in the EMBA program represent diverse industries, functions, and backgrounds. Following are profiles of some current students.
National Origin
UK/India
Current Location
Washington, DC
Industry
Health information technology/Federal government
Education
Information technology
Tony Ambegaoker
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer
IDL Solutions
Biography
As chief operating officer and chief technology officer for IDL Solutions, Tony Ambegaoker is responsible for optimal service delivery and driving the technical direction of the company, which has government contracts in excess of $28 billion. He manages the P&L of a portfolio of programs across multiple federal agencies, including Health & Human Services, Treasury, Housing & Urban Development, and the State Department. Prior to co-founding IDL Solutions, he worked for industry leaders such as IBM, Fiserv, and Sprint.
Why This Program?
“Everything I’ve learned until now has been the result of experience, and I decided it was time to both formalize my business education and expand upon it. I wanted to pursue this education at MIT Sloan because of its reputation as a top school, the mid-career executives who would comprise my EMBA peer group, and the ability to continue working 12-hour days while in school. Also, as an entrepreneur who has been growing a business for 20 years, I was excited to engage with the MIT community to share my experiences and help the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Los Angeles
Industry
Education
Education
Mechanical engineering
Shawn Atlow
Director
Los Angeles Unified School District
Biography
Shawn Atlow manages all activities related to the $5+ billion in grants that support LAUSD facilities. She leads initiatives designed to convince legislators to maximize the funds made available for public school construction and minimize new rules that exacerbate public agencies’ financial difficulties.
Why This Program?
“The program is even more powerful than I imagined it would be. I’m learning from world leaders in finance, but because of the global cohort and the breadth of knowledge on campus, I’m also learning about earthquake-proof buildings in the Dominican Republic and how Singapore teaches its students math. In the first month, I took away more than I expected to learn by graduation.”
National Origin
India
Current Location
Albany, NY
Industry
Software
Education
Chemistry
Guha Bala
President
Vicarious Visions, Inc.
Biography
Guha Bala ’13 and his brother Karthik ’13 founded Vicarious Visions in 1994 in their parents’ basement. With mega-hit video games like Guitar Hero and Spider-Man, the brothers have shaped popular culture around the world while helping to create entertainment blockbusters totaling $2.5+ billion in sales.
Why This Program?
“I came to the MIT EMBA Program to broaden my perspective beyond my industry and gain firm grounding in unfamiliar fundamentals. Expanding my thinking was the real draw, rather than simply an additional degree. MIT is at the intersection of technology, media, entrepreneurship, and business. That combination represents extraordinary value to entrepreneurs like us—and to a company like Vicarious Visions. The lessons we are learning are immediately relevant. We’re leveraging what we’re learning daily.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Silicon Valley
Industry
High tech
Education
Mechanical engineering
Kathleen Bergeron
Senior Director, Macintosh Product Design
Apple, Inc.
Biography
Kate Bergeron has been a leader in Apple’s Product Design group for nearly ten years. As a manager and engineer in the mechanical engineering of computer products, she is focused on high volume products, specifically in the mobile computer space. Bergeron has had extensive experience working with international design teams, OEMs, and vendors in Asia.
Why This Program?
“In a technology business, you’re only half prepared if you know technology but not business. I realized that if I was going to evolve as a leader in my field, I needed an MIT EMBA. It integrates everything I need with a distinct focus on global teams and how to move an industry forward. Apple expects me to stay current technically and to make strategic business decisions. The best place to do that is the MIT EMBA Program.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Londonderry, NH
Industry
Defense technology
Education
Mechanical engineering
Lynn Bollengier
Vice President, Engineering
L-3 Warrior Systems, Insight
Biography
After 18 years in engineering management and product development, Lynn Bollengier assumed the role of VP of New Product Development for L-3’s Warrior Systems. She now manages a new product development group of more than 100 engineers and is preparing to lead the creation of the next generation of defense systems for L-3.
Why This Program?
“The MIT EMBA Program has been critical in helping me define myself as a leader and to understand the impact of the core values I bring to the workplace. If you really want transformational impact, if you want to do more than check ‘MBA’ off your to-do list, if you’re not afraid to leave your comfort zone behind, I don’t know why you would go anywhere else.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Melrose, MA
Industry
Nonprofit
Education
Biopsychology
Diana Brennan
Executive Director
Melrose YMCA
Biography
As executive director of the largest branch of the YMCA of Metro North, Diana Brennan is responsible for all aspects of the $5,000,000 operation, spanning four facilities and over 70,000 square feet. In addition to supervising over 150 employees, she focuses on positioning her organization in the community, recruiting key volunteers, and fulfilling the YMCA’s mission through fundraising and strategic program development. She also serves as the association chair of the YMCA of Metro North Health and Wellness Committee as well as the statewide chair for the Emergency Assistance Fund, which provides financial support to YMCA employees in need.
Why This Program?
Over the course of my career, I have truly enjoyed the business aspect of my position and realize that I will be most successful executing best business practices rather than relying on common sense. I have been successful in advancing the Y movement, but recognize that our potential is much greater. Formalized business training will help me run a more effective organization, increase our capacity for community outreach, and position us at the forefront of changing policy. Working in a not-for-profit organization such as the YMCA, I found myself extremely drawn to MIT Sloan because of its mission of developing leaders who have a capacity to change the world. My desire to lead my organization to improve the world manifests itself in the work I do every day. Within the MIT EMBA program, I find myself in the perfect company of faculty and classmates who are focused on making positive change by maximizing our education and new network. Even now, only a few months into the program, the change I am capable of making is so much greater than I ever thought possible.
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Arlington, VA
Industry
Government
Education
Electrical engineering/computer science; Information systems
Dedric Carter
Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Director
National Science Foundation
Biography
Focused on science policy work for the National Science Foundation, Dedric Carter works on strategic initiatives that impact the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics community broadly, including creating opportunities for people from underserved communities in engineering and science. He also is a senior leader in the NSF Innovation Corps program, which helps to leverage basic research outcomes for potential commercial applications. Prior to joining the NSF, he was assistant dean of Engineering for Development and Strategic Initiatives and lecturer in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at MIT.
Why This Program?
“A mentor once told me that if you want to grow, you need to navigate through the eye of the hurricane – otherwise you get thrashed about. I wanted to increase my abilities in the area of financial operations so for me, coming to MIT is like going to the eye of the hurricane. This is the best place to learn and grow my abilities in financial operations. The program is evidence-based and data-driven, and I can take the opportunity while I’m here to engage resources in the Master of Finance Program as well benefit from many other resources that are just a stone’s throw away from MIT Sloan.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Boston area
Industry
Defense
Education
Mechanical engineering
Matt Graziano
Senior Program Manager
General Dynamics C4 Systems
Biography
As a senior program manager, Graziano is responsible for the successful execution of several key U.S. Army programs that operate across multiple business areas and disciplines within General Dynamics C4 Systems. He previously served as a business development manager and led the company’s Marine Corps and Air Force business pursuits in transformational, network-centric communications. Graziano is a former Army Signal Officer who served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Why This Program?
“During my MBA program selection process, I visited the MIT EMBA Program and found myself surrounded by a group of energetic, self-motivated, and brilliant leaders open to new ideas. I was struck by two significant differentiators—the level of character in the room and the students’ willingness to check their egos at the door. I instantly felt comfortable in this team environment, both as a learner and a contributor, and I knew the program was for me.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Cambridge, MA
Industry
Agriculture/Biotech
Education
Biochemistry; Biology
Jacqueline Heard
Investment Director
Monsanto Company
Biography
Jacqueline Heard is an investment director for Monsanto Company’s corporate venture group, Monsanto Growth Ventures. She works closely with Atlas Venture on an alliance to identify joint investment opportunities in areas that span human health and agriculture sectors. During her time at Monsanto, she has headed several multidisciplinary research teams with global reach. A venture capitalist with a doctorate in biology, her career in the agriculture industry spans two decades with roles in research, senior scientific management and investments.
Why This Program?
“I wanted to get an MBA to expand my network and learn the mechanics and language of business. I need know enough about topics like microeconomics in order to ask the right questions, make the right connections, and formulate the best strategies for the businesses with which I am involved. And as a VC looking at early-stage life science opportunities, there is no better place to do that than MIT, which is a hotbed of technology and entrepreneurship. I’m already beginning to tap into resources like the Center for Entrepreneurship, the MIT Venture Capital Conference and the many great science and technology centers.”
National Origin
Russia
Current Location
Moscow
Industry
Consulting
Education
Actuarial science; Insurance
Sofia Ievenko
Senior Manager in Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services
Ernst & Young
Biography
As a senior manager at Ernst & Young, Sofia Ievenko specializes in fraud investigations and insurance dispute services involving forensic accounting. She also focuses on organizational transformation and controls, operational processes effectiveness, insurance claims management and diagnostics, and business process optimization and reengineering. With a doctorate in insurance and actuarial science, Sofia previously worked in top executive positions at leading Russian insurance companies.
Why This Program?
“When you are a high-level manager, it’s not sufficient to only have technical skills and knowledge based on experience. You also need strong leadership and management skills, and be able to communicate with a diversity of people from different backgrounds and ways of thinking. As Russia is becoming integrated into global society, I want to learn from top professionals in developed markets and the best and fastest way to do that was by coming to MIT Sloan.”
National Origin
United States/Venezuela
Current Location
Denver
Industry
Oil & Gas
Education
Mechanical engineering, Political science
Danny Jimenez
Vice President, U.S. Business Unit
Sanjel Corp.
Biography
As vice president for the U.S. Business Unit at Sanjel Corp., a privately owned Canadian-based international oilfield services company, Danny Jimenez focuses on safety, service quality and financial performance. His team handles all aspects of his unit’s operational needs and community relations as well as provides strategic initiatives for market penetration and expansion opportunities in the U.S. He also serves on the board of directors of the Western Energy Alliance, an advocacy organization that promotes the beneficial use and development of natural gas and oil in the West. With nearly two decades of experience in the pressure pumping business, Danny began his career as a field engineer in the Rocky Mountains before taking overseas assignments in Algeria, Venezuela, Angola, Cameroon and Congo.
Why This Program?
“Due to the recent development of unconventional oil and gas resources, Sanjel USA has grown exponentially. That is a dramatic change so the challenge is going to be sustaining that growth. To work on this challenge, I need additional tools, knowledge and exposure not only to cutting-edge research and technology, but also to innovative ideas. I came to MIT because its name is synonymous with innovation and entrepreneurship. I knew I’d have access to a vast network of resources like the MIT Energy Initiative and have the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most accomplished leaders in a wide variety of industries. I also wanted to learn from world-class faculty who would challenge my views and sharpen my critical thinking skills. When you combine all of those components, you get a rigorous EMBA program that creates stronger leaders who are better prepared to tackle the business challenges of today and tomorrow. “
National Origin
India/UK
Current Location
Austin, TX
Industry
Technology
Education
Computer science
Patriek Karayil
Online Marketing Director
DELL
Biography
As online marketing director, Patriek Karayil manages DELL’s $1 billion online marketing search organization. He is responsible for driving the go-to-market DELL.com search strategy and marketing operations, impacting 500 million customers worldwide. Prior to DELL, Patriek led several high-functioning organizations in the Fortune 500, focusing on business strategy, product marketing and online marketing.
Why This Program?
“When you run a large global organization with significant revenue impact, well timed data-driven business decisions become crucial, and you can’t afford to falter on those decisions. With switching costs low for customers, I felt I needed a research-driven business foundation to be more effective in my role. I wanted an EMBA program that focused on comprehensive management instead of emphasizing just a few key areas. Having taken executive education courses at MIT Sloan, I knew the quality of education here would be head and shoulders above other programs and provide a diversity of perspectives.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Boston
Industry
Internet/E-Commerce
Education
English/Journalism
Kristina Kennedy
Vice President of Marketing
Abine
Biography
Kristina Kennedy is responsible for marketing, acquisitions, customer support, and operations at Abine, an online privacy company. Previously, she was part of Zipcar’s marketing team, leading communications throughout North America and the United Kingdom. At Gazelle, she managed a team responsible for brand, communications, and acquisition activities. During her time at Gazelle, the company grew to more than 250,000 customers and achieved 5753% revenue growth, ranking #35 on INC Magazine’s list of America’s fastest growing private companies.
Why This Program?
“I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve quickly moved from manager to director to vice president. But as I’ve risen up that ladder, my responsibilities have increased and they now span beyond tactical or even strategic marketing to include things like budgetary decisions and financial reporting. I needed a business education to arm myself with a cross-functional skillset to be a better executive. MIT Sloan’s executive MBA program was the quickest path to swimming instead of just treading water. And since I’ve chosen to build my career in the technology field, MIT Sloan’s focus on technology was very attractive.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
New York City
Industry
Financial services/Investment banking
Education
Management science; Systems management
Christina Kite
Senior Vice President, Corporate Group Strategy and Operations
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Biography
Christina Kite is a senior vice president for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York where she is responsible for the development and implementation of financial management strategies, particularly those related to transforming data into business intelligence and information insights. She also leads the offices of vendor management and procurement, corporate real estate and business services and information strategy and analytics. Prior to joining the bank, Christina was the CFO for corporate real estate at Goldman Sachs where she oversaw a $2-billion operating and capital expense budget.
Why This Program?
“My prior education was focused on technical areas so I wanted to round out my skillsets and competencies, particularly with strategic thinking and decision making frameworks and models that I could use in my position at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Many of the people I respect in my workplace, including Chairman Bernanke, graduated from MIT so I was very interested in the school’s EMBA program, which is known for its focus on data and analytics. By coming to MIT, I’m broadening my opportunity to impact my organization, which ultimately impacts the world and that is very exciting.”
National Origin
India
Current Location
Boston
Industry
Consumer Electronics
Education
Computer Engineering
Vijay Kumar
Director, Software Engineering - Systems
Broadcom Corp.
Biography
The director of software engineering – systems at Broadcom, Vijay Kumar builds and leads high-performance engineering teams in new technology areas. As a manager and engineer, he has been involved with several firsts in the industry, such as the first advanced video decoder chip, the first Blu-ray/HD-DVD system-on-chip, the first streaming Blu-ray/media players, and the first Android set-top boxes. He has extensive experience working with international teams, vendors and original design manufacturers across Asia and Europe.
Why This Program?
“Technology has always come naturally to me, but as I take the next step in my career, I realize the need for a better understanding of the business side of managing technology from finance and economics to marketing and business development. MIT’s strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship and its world-class faculty were all a given, but when I saw the breadth and diversity of the EMBA class, which comprises business leaders from different industries and from around the world, I knew this would be a great learning environment. Since the first week of school, it has been a steady dose of learning that I can directly apply to my job.”
National Origin
South Korea
Current Location
Redmond, WA
Industry
Technology
Education
Business/Computer engineering
Jenna Lee
Regional Account Director APAC – OEM
Microsoft Corp.
Biography
Jenna Lee leads APAC regional sales and business management to build and develop business with global partners at Microsoft. Nominated as a top finance program manager for three consecutive years, Jenna has managed worldwide SAP-finance rollouts and represented SAP operations to industry leaders on behalf of the company. Her past positions at Microsoft have been in areas such as program management, IT, finance consulting and engineering.
Why This Program?
“I want to accelerate my professional growth, facilitate better global partnerships at Microsoft, and sharpen my leadership skills. After attending an admissions preview workshop for MIT Sloan’s EMBA program, I saw how the program is designed to prepare executives for success and knew this was the right environment for me to maximize my capabilities. Even in the first quarter, our Organizational Processes course has made a significant impact on how I understand and manage changes based on political, cultural and strategic points of views. Working with over 30 countries, having those new lenses has been very helpful.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Boston
Industry
Healthcare
Education
Biology; Medicine; Public Health
Inga T. Lennes
Physician and Director of Clinical Quality
Massachusetts General Hospital
Biography
Inga Lennes is director of Clinical Quality for the MGH Cancer Center where she leads quality, safety and efficiency projects throughout the center. A practicing thoracic oncologist and researcher, she focuses on projects related to redesigning cancer care to be more patient focused and efficient, and new models for documentation within electronic health records. In addition, Inga teaches medical students, residents and oncology fellows.
Why This Program?
“Quality improvement in cancer care is the theme that carries through all of my work and I try to approach that imperative through change projects and research. However, my prior education didn’t include extensive leadership training or prepare me for the administrative tasks that I face in this position so I wanted to get an MBA to augment my management knowledge. I was particularly interested in MIT Sloan because of its Operations Management Group, which engages in collaborations with healthcare. I’m looking forward to learning what this group has done across different industries and applying that to cancer medicine.”
National Origin
India
Current Location
San Francisco
Industry
Consulting
Education
Civil/Transportation engineering
Sreeni Malireddy
Founder and CEO
Intueor Consulting, Inc.
Biography
Sreeni Malireddy is cofounder, CEO and chair of the board of Intueor Consulting, a strategy and technology advisory firm. He is responsible for the firm’s strategic direction, execution, growth and profitability. He has successfully guided Intueor’s growth over the last three years, with sales exceeding $25 million. Prior to launching Intueor in 2005, Sreeni served as vice president for technology and strategy practice at PB Consult, a management consulting firm in the transportation vertical market.
Why This Program?
“Consulting is my passion and while I’ve built a successful business in this area, I wanted to familiarize myself with emerging business frameworks and modern management principles so I can lead Intueor to new heights and at the same time maximize value to our clients. MIT Sloan’s EMBA program was a great fit in terms of peer experience, diversity, age group, shared values and the range of entrepreneurial opportunities. At MIT, we are a real part of the campus and thus are fully integrated into the community with full-time MBAs, Sloan Fellows and EMBAs.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Boston
Industry
Restaurants/Retail
Education
Finance
John McDonough
Director of Financial Planning and Analysis
Papa Gino’s
Biography
At Papa Gino’s, John McDonough leads a team that is responsible for the analytics of nearly everything that goes into and out of the company’s restaurants, including marketing and operations analytics, consumer loyalty, test/control analysis, demand planning, sales forecasting and pricing. Prior to joining Papa Gino’s, he served as manager of planning at Panera Bread Company and in business strategy and analysis at Dunkin Donuts where he worked on the international expansion of Baskin Robbins in China. A martial arts enthusiast for nearly 30 years, John also is the founder and owner of Combat Sports Boston, a local martial arts school.
Why This Program?
“I want to figure out the best way to balance selling food at profitable rates with maintaining a bigger sense of responsibility to the community because we are providing something that people consume , which impacts their health. At MIT, I’m finding better ways to analyze my industry -- and determine that balance -- and look at broader business issues to expand my view of the world. Given the MIT Sloan EMBA program’s focus on data as well as the diversity of the students, this was a natural fit for me.”
National Origin
India
Current Location
New Orleans
Industry
Energy
Education
Chemical engineering
Ajay Mehta
Project Manager
Shell International Exploration & Production Inc.
Biography
A research scientist with a doctorate in chemical engineering, Ajay Mehta spent the first 10 years of his career in Shell’s R&D Center in Houston, then assumed an overseas assignment in Borneo, where he worked as the regional point person for minimizing CO2 from existing operations and new projects in Asia and Australia. Mehta now serves as project manager for Perdido, the deepest producing oil and gas field in the Gulf of Mexico.
Why This Program?
“Being at MIT puts us at the forefront of world-changing innovations. Take the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI). The multidisciplinary research underway will transform the next generation of policy design and technology development. Being a part of the MIT community puts me in a perfect position to be a vital link between MITEI and my company.”
National Origin
India
Current Location
Groton, CT
Industry
Biopharmaceutical
Education
Veterinary medicine; Veterinary pathology; Cancer biology
Prashant Nambiar
Associate Research Fellow
Pfizer Inc.
Biography
A veterinarian by training with a doctorate in pathobiology, Prashant Nambiar is board certified in toxicology and veterinary pathology. Having worked in academia and in the biopharmaceutical industry for more than 10 years, he currently has multiple roles at Pfizer where he is an associate research fellow, disease area lead, and pathology area lead in Drug Safety Research and Development. He also serves as a member of the Pfizer Carcinogenicity Safety Council.
Why This Program?
“As you specialize in a field, there is a tendency to become insular and develop tunnel vision, which limits strategic thinking. I wanted to get out of that trench and think more holistically about the business I’m in, and see how other industries tackle a variety of business challenges. Having previously taught at MIT in the Division of Comparative Medicine, I knew this would be the perfect environment to find that diversity of thinking which facilitates cross-pollination of ideas across industries. Now that I’m here, I’m like a kid in a candy store. The ecosystem at MIT is perfect for fueling one’s mind, discovering new ideas, and applying many of those learnings within my organization.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Industry
Government/Public Service
Education
International Development
Elizabeth Petheo
Head of Mission
UMCOR Haiti/World Bank External Service
Biography
Elizabeth Petheo joined UMCOR, an international development and relief agency, in Haiti in 2011 where she leads water, sanitation, hygiene, livelihood, and shelter and reconstruction operations with a total Haiti operating budget of $45 million across partners. In addition to focusing on strategic planning, policy, and procedures, she directs organizational recovery responses to natural disasters. Currently on external service leave from the World Bank in the Agricultural and Environmental Services Department (formerly the Agriculture and Rural Development Department) in Washington, D.C., her professional experience includes work with the American Refugee Committee in Sri Lanka, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Kenya, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Kenya, and the U.S. Department of State in Hungary.
Why This Program?
“The field of international development is evolving to include deeper and broader public and private partnerships. In this context, I wanted to refine my data-driven skills to better design the next set of international development innovations. I was attracted to MIT Sloan because of its focus on ethical global leadership and new approaches to business practices. The tools I will develop in MIT Sloan’s EMBA program will enable me to build on my international programming knowledge and organizational management skills to be a catalyst for private-public sector action. Already I’ve been able to immediately apply what I learn in class to my job to approach challenges in new ways.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Syracuse, NY
Industry
Real estate development
Education
Economics/Government
Richard Pietrafesa
Founder and CEO
York Street Management
Biography
Richard Pietrafesa is the founder of his own real estate development firm. Previously, he served as president of Polo Ralph Lauren Clothing, CEO of The Pietrafesa Corp., a private equity-owned clothing manufacturing company, and managing director of Destiny USA, a mall development firm. He is a member of the SAVE Council on Energy for the Milken Foundation and the LEED for Retail Committee of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Why This Program?
“Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate that in business, you don’t know what you don’t know. I didn’t come to MIT Sloan to learn a specific thing, but rather to absorb current theories and best practices, and determine how I could apply that knowledge in the next phase of my career. One of MIT’s missions is to create leaders who do positive things in the world, and with nearly 25 years of experience I’m at that stage in my career where I want to leave my mark on society. I’ll be able to do that better and faster after the MIT Sloan EMBA program, which is providing me with knowledge, tools and inspiration.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
San Francisco
Industry
Internet/E-Commerce
Education
Economics/Financial management; Accounting
Joe Selsavage
Chief Financial Officer
Hotwire.com (Expedia, Inc.)
Biography
Joe Selsavage is CFO for Hotwire, a global ecommerce travel company, where he oversees the Hotwire Group's global finance and accounting operations. Joining Hotwire soon after its launch in 2001, he has been instrumental in the design and implementation of almost every component of Hotwire's financial infrastructure. His responsibilities include FP&A, financial reporting, financial operations, treasury, risk management, and facilities. In addition, Joe oversees Hotwire's Global Hotel Supply Team and the Global Car Rental Team for all Expedia, Inc. brands.
Why This Program?
“I have a strong background in finance, but my newer responsibilities at Expedia go beyond finance. I wanted to broaden my business knowledge so MIT Sloan’s focus on general management was a good fit. The demographics of the EMBA students, who are senior executives in a wide variety of industries, were a good fit too. Given their experiences, I knew I’d learn just as much from my classmates as from the professors and class materials. Another draw was the program’s focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. Not only am I always looking for innovative ideas for Hotwire and Expedia, I also am interested in starting up a business within my organization and this is the ideal ecosystem to explore those areas.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Milwaukee, WI
Industry
Manufacturing
Education
International Business; Finance
Warren Simmons
Group Vice President – Supply Chain Management
Broan-NuTone Group
Biography
Warren Simmons leads the global supply chain team at Broan-NuTone Group where he is responsible for strategic sourcing, logistics, import/export and inventory management. His role involves identifying, negotiating and driving a sustainable global supply chain strategy. Prior to his position at Broan-NuTone, he worked for other global companies, such as Schneider Electric and John Controls in the U.S., France and Japan.
Why This Program?
“I wanted to learn the latest cutting-edge techniques and tools in management to make a greater impact on my current business. I came to MIT Sloan for its scientific and data-driven approach to learning and problem solving, which will increase my confidence when dealing with the unknown. It will allow me to challenge myself as well as conventional wisdom as I make strategic decisions and build sustainable models that will withstand cyclical economic changes.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Waltham, MA
Industry
Biopharmaceuticals
Education
Biology; Biochemistry
Kevin Statz
Associate Director, Marketing
Alkermes, Inc.
Biography
As associate director of marketing at Alkermes, Kevin Statz is responsible for driving increased sales of the managed injectable medication VIVITROL through the creation of marketing strategies and delivery of supporting tactics for physicians, patients, and payers. Leading cross-functional teams, Kevin develops programs to increase VIVITROL’s value proposition for physicians and payers and to simplify the medication’s access and distribution processes. Before joining Alkermes, Kevin held sales and marketing roles in the biotechnology divisions of companies such as Roche and Johnson & Johnson.
Why This Program?
“I didn’t necessarily need an MBA to advance my career, but I wanted the education for my own intellectual growth and to challenge myself. I wanted to be able to do more and to do it better, ultimately making a bigger impact on my organization and the world. I came to MIT Sloan’s EMBA program because the MIT brand offers instant credibility in global markets and I wanted to learn from renowned professors who are changing business theory through the science of management. I wanted to be at the forefront of innovation. When you’re on campus, you can feel the energy of innovation all around you and it inspires you to think bigger.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Las Vegas
Industry
Healthcare
Education
Accounting/Finance
Rosalind Sullivan
Chief Financial Officer
Cenegenics Medical Institute
Biography
After serving as senior accountant for a large accounting firm and assistant controller at Merrill Lynch/Howard Johnson & Company, Rosalind Sullivan joined Cenegenics as controller. Promoted to CFO in 2007, she now oversees the organization’s accounting, tax, finance, and treasury functions and has contributed to the organization’s overall success—and the development of 17 new centers.
Why This Program?
“One of the things that makes this program so powerful is the action-learning component. The MIT EMBA merges the theoretical and the practical so that you immediately apply your new knowledge on the job. Everything we’re learning is highly relevant to our everyday responsibilities. And my classmates share their on-the-job experiences, so we’re also learning a lot from the action-learning experiences of our program peers.”
National Origin
Japan
Current Location
New York City
Industry
Technology
Education
Math; Public health
Rora Tanaka
Founder and CEO
RORA Client Systems
Biography
The founder of her own legal technology firm, Rora Tanaka began her career at Morgan Stanley developing trade clearing and P&L analysis software applications. She served in several international positions over the course of her 15 years at the bank, ultimately heading legal technology strategy for global operations before founding her firm in 2008. Recognized as a thought leader across areas, such as risk mitigation, spend management and litigation preparedness, Rora cofounded the Financial Industry Peer Group and often speaks at global legal and compliance seminars.
Why This Program?
“I didn’t need an MBA for my career, but rather wanted the education to further myself intellectually so I was looking for a general management curriculum. And as an entrepreneur, I wanted a program focused on innovation that attracted out-of-the box thinkers who have taken chances in their careers. MIT Sloan’s EMBA program has exceeded my expectations with its entrepreneurial spirit that celebrates each student’s unique perspectives and experiences.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Cambridge, MA
Industry
Pharmaceutical
Education
Chemistry/microbiology, Molecular & cell biology
Cathy Thut
Director, Strategic Alliances, Ophthalmology
Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
Biography
With a doctorate in molecular and cell biology, Cathy Thut is part of the ophthalmology leadership team at Novartis where she is responsible for developing the group’s external partnering strategy, identifying partnerships that fit this strategy, and generating support from stakeholders and senior management for these opportunities. She also collaborates with negotiation, legal and finance teams to structure and negotiate contracts. Prior to joining Novartis, Cathy worked at Merck, where her role quickly grew from managing a small team of scientists to leading the Ophthalmology Department and developing the strategic vision for Merck’s ophthalmology research efforts.
Why This Program?
“When I am contemplating partnerships with outside companies, I want to have a better understanding of their financial and strategic pressures so that we can develop deal structures that will benefit both parties. A business education is critical to gain the tools needed in this area as well as to develop more insights into building external and internal strategy. I wanted to get that education at MIT Sloan because it is a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship and the EMBA program is data-driven, which are all incredibly strong draws for scientists. An added bonus is the degree of collegiality of my classmates. Everyone really wants to help each other.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Boston
Industry
Internet/E-Commerce
Education
Marine Science
Erik Waal
Senior Director of Global Systems, Storage and Backups
Monster Worldwide, Inc.
Biography
Erik Waal brings extensive experience with Internet technology companies to his leadership role at Monster where he is building and maintaining Internet data centers for software as a service providers as well as Internet portals and destinations. His team is responsible for systems, storage and backup efforts in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, China, India and Malaysia
Why This Program?
“I wanted to be involved in much larger business discussions outside of my respective area at my company, but to do that I needed to gain new tools and frameworks to have better insight into how businesses work. The MIT EMBA program has provided an immediate awakening to the different ways to look at business issues from interpersonal communication to larger macroeconomic trends. There are a lot of pieces at play and I’m learning how they all interconnect.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
Boston area
Industry
High tech
Education
Business
Ed Walsh
VP of Strategy and Growth Initiatives
IBM
Biography
Ed Walsh is a new technology executive with 23 years of senior management experience in public, private, and venture-backed firms. Walsh came to IBM through the acquisition of Storwize Inc., where he was CEO. Prior to Storwize, he was CEO of Virtual Iron (now Oracle OVM), VP and GM at EMC, CEO of Avamar (now EMC/Avamar), SVP at CNT (now Brocade), and cofounder of Articulent (acquired by CNT).
Why This Program?
“This program is an essential mid-career recalibration. I’m here to broaden and deepen my skill sets, to dig deeper, to look at things more analytically, and to extend my network beyond my industry. The innovation and technology cups are overflowing at MIT, and the community is exhilaratingly synergistic. I am meeting amazing people within the program and across the Institute.”
National Origin
United States
Current Location
New York City
Industry
Engineering/Construction Management
Education
Finance/Business Law
James Walsh
Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
AECOM Technology Corp.
Biography
As senior vice president and CTO for AECOM Technology Corp., James Walsh is responsible for leading the development of client and market facing services based on global operational standards and technical solutions. He focuses on creating new client value, driving business results and shaping the market. Prior to his role at AECOM, he served as group vice president and general manager for Fair Isaac Corporation/Braun Consulting as well as in senior leadership positions for eLoyalty Corp., AT&T and Johnson & Johnson.
Why This Program?
I want to broaden my perspective in order to eventually run a technology company or move into a functional leadership role. MIT Sloan was the right fit because of its focus on training technical people to become business leaders. Also, I’ve had many positive experiences with the institute during my career. I’ve been involved with MIT’s Center for Information Systems Research and MIT’s Industrial Liaison Program, which gives AECOM access to MIT research across all of the schools. I felt no other school would provide the balance of business and technical understanding than MIT Sloan’s EMBA program.
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