The W.P. Carey MBA program required us to self organize into cross functional teams and to leverage the latest technology to collaborate in real time. Learning to recruit XF teams, to communicate and build consensus across diverse viewpoints are skills that bring value in business and more generally in life. Staying abreast of and utilizing the latest in communication and collaborative technologies has become essential in today\'s new hybrid work environments. Teams must be able to collaborate in real time with geographically dispersed colleagues and clients. W.P. Carey prepared us well for these work environment realities.
Throughout my time at W.P. Carey, I was apart of multiple groups in various classes. Working in groups allowed me to learn both how to lead and be apart of a team. It also allowed me to learn about my personal strengths in groups, and how I am able to bring my best to the table. This has been such a beneficial skill to have in my career, as I am constantly working with others to bring my company\'s mission and vision to life. BS in Marketing 2020
Bringing data and facts to support your argument or message is obvious. But the ability to sew facts together into a cohesive message and storyline is a key skill to hone—it brings context. Not only will your audience leave convinced of your point, but they will be clear what is was and why it’s important for them. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I practiced this often at W. P. Carey—in the classroom, class projects, as a student orientation leader and in many other instances.
Versatility has been the most helpful skill I developed while shifting from undergrad to the professional world. Possessing a diverse skillset in today’s competitive job market allows for three important things: heightened productivity, growth, and creativity. Throughout my time at Arizona State, I invested in sharpening my level of knowledge in various areas of marketing. Being able to spot and adjust to your team’s needs, potential challenges, or weaknesses is vital in order to carry a project to completion. My commitment and passion for learning new skills has afforded me to work autonomously on high-impact projects, as well as opportunities to grow and elevate myself into different roles within my current company. Paige Parker B.A. Sports Business Graduated in 2019
As students, we are generally curious and eager to learn new concepts. Don’t lose that curiosity to learn after you have graduated from college. As you grow or become an expert in your career, maintain this desire to continue learning, step out of your comfort zone, and challenge status quo. This ability will help you grow professionally in building stronger relationships as well as pave way for new innovations and advancements in your career. -Gayatri Diwan, MBA \'2014
In my current and most of my previous roles, networking was a non-spoken requirement for success. I currently work with individuals from across the organization and externally to get my job done, so building rapport and relationships with these subject matter experts pave the way for successful collaborations moving forward. Networking can be as simple as adding someone on LinkedIn to build familiarity or as complex as scheduling a one-hour informational interview to gain insight into a person\'s day-to-day job function. It can feel uncomfortable at first, but as you practice and learn how to engage individuals from different industries, cultures, and backgrounds, you\'ll grow more confident in your connection attempts.
An organization is complex, with different departments, skillsets, and individuals. My MBA education enabled me to work cross-functionally within a large organization like Zappos.com or an emerging growth company like brite.co. Learning the high-level strategy and operational basics of marketing, finance, technology, and supply chain allows me to understand the impact of each function on any project. The teamwork required to work with diverse individuals within the W.P. Carey was great experience for similar real world functional projects.
W.P. Carey’s team assignments instilled in me the need to learn to influence others where I had no authority. When you leave ASU and the Carey school, your roles will demand this skill set of you within months, if not immediately. The ability to clearly articulate a shared goal, manage to that goal, and influence others (who do not report to you) is a core competency of most positions you will have, until that day when/if you make it to the c suite. Honing and refining this skill early in your career will help you, your teams, your clients, and your career immensely.
"Networking", aka the "ability to develop valuable professional relationships" is the most important transferable skill I developed in the ASU W.P. Carey MBA program. I met so many professionals from multiple industries who I still keep in touch with today. I even continue to receive HR Consulting business referrals (www.skyehrconsulting.com) from W.P. Carey Alumni. I am so grateful for the professional relationships I developed during my time in the ASU W.P. Carey MBA program.