Executive Education Voices

executive education students networking in the jindal student lounge

Get to know Executive Education from the voices of the people who know best.

What better way to see how Executive Education at UT Dallas can help you achieve your goals than to hear directly from the people who have experienced it themselves. Executive Education alumni and current students, as well as faculty and staff members, have a lot to say about what you can expect from becoming a part of an Executive Education program, working hard with your classmates and finally walking off the stage, diploma in hand, ready to advance in your career.

Student Experiences

Current Executive Education students and alumni share their academic experience, outcomes, and insights. Read their stories and discover how Executive Education programs have made an impact on their professional and personal lives.

Tyler Hanson

The Transition From Surviving To Thriving

The “reshaping” process

The first semester brings the heat that softens your current form to allow for reshaping. As you progress, previous course content is skillfully woven into the curriculum, providing you with a sense of comfort while at the same time, slowly building confidence.

Vijaya Ramireddy

My Experience Going Through the EMBA Program

What has your ROI been?

I am able to make better strategic decisions, both professionally and personally. I can clearly and critically assess problems and have found the courage to make the tough calls. I now prioritize my work and can motivate the team towards a common goal.

The Academic Experience of a Lifetime

Experiences as an EMBA student

The classes expose students to many topics that you may not think about every day. I have been able to apply theories and practices from every class I have taken in this program to my job. I am very pleased with the program and the confidence it has given me.

How the Executive MBA Helped My Career

Investing in my future

At work I’ve acquired a new professional certification and been allowed to completely re-write my job description into one that fits who I am and rewards me for all the effort I’ve put in, both at work and at school. Next step – here I come!

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Student Testimonials

Executive Education students, alumni, employers and partners talk about their invaluable academic experiences at the UT Dallas Jindal School of Management, providing advice, perspective, and vision.

Bill Disario

I can confidently say that earning my MBA in Supply Chain Management at UT Dallas later in life has strengthened my business knowledge base, even after working for several decades in mid-level operational and supply chain roles. In addition, having a specialized MBA has enabled better promotional and advancement leadership roles as well as higher level compensation opportunities. I would highly recommend this program for anyone looking to take their Supply Chain career path to the next level!
Ben Richard

Ben Richard, EMBA ’20

Director EPMO and Operational Excellence

By learning about NPV, IRR, and cost of capital, in Financial Management with Dr. Reichert, I have greatly improved my ability to pitch ideas and speak with the CEO, CFO and SVP of Strategy (a former CFO). This has helped me secure a promotion to the “Director – EPMO and Operational Excellence” which is responsible for leading all enterprise projects and process improvement for my entire company (a Fortune 400 company).
Curtis Clark

Curtis Clark

My experience during the Supply Chain EMBA program was very rewarding, both professionally and personally. I experienced a terrific camaraderie with my fellow classmates who shared a desire to learn. Dr. Rajamani has a passion for what he teaches and for helping students realize the difference they can make in the workplace. With students from many different industries and cultural backgrounds, I was able to broaden my perspective on the global nature of supply chains. I made this investment in myself.
Tamer Elshamy

Tamer Elshamy, GLEMBA ’19

Sales Director, Fawry Banking and Payment Technology Services

An exceptional experience mixed with both cutting edge knowledge and great personal skills improvement.
Karthik Jacobs

Karthik Nandula, EMBA ’20

Program Management Center of Excellence, Jacobs

The UTD EMBA is a program that prepares you for a C-suite executive and entrepreneurial lifestyle. It simulates a powerful environment where you can boost your performance, learn business skills, and practice the attributes that characterize an inspirational leader. This was an evolutionary experience that propelled me outside my comfort zone and helped elevate my thought process and executive presence.
Kilynn Sommer

Kilynn Sommer, EMBA ’15

Strategic Demand Generation and Marketing Communications Leader, Mitel

The UT Dallas Executive MBA program has helped me grow substantially in my role in leading a multicultural task force. I have been able to foster the respect, trust and engagement among disciplines that don’t typically intersect with one another. The disciplines now see the value in ‘the cause’ in their respective roles and also for the patients.
Vinay Rao

Vinay Rao, EMBA 2021

ERP Specialist Advisor NTT Data Services

As an engineer, who made decisions mostly based on data, I was most impacted by courses like organizational behavior, c-suite leadership, and performance transformation. I also enjoyed all the finance and economics classes. These topics helped broaden my perception of what I can do for my company and community.
Khaled Hallak

Khaled Hallak, EMBA 2021

Bank of America, Officer, Syndicated Loan Closer

I joined the EMBA program at UT Dallas with aspirations to hone my business acumen and skillsets gathered from academia and real-world experience through both entrepreneurship and large corporate ventures. The EMBA program did not polish my current understanding; they shattered my foundation and rebuilt my business knowledge with the most cutting-edge academics through a prestigious curriculum and world-renowned professors. Throughout the rigors of this program, I quickly learned the importance and power of my cohort. With an ocean of information flowing towards you, it is impossible for one person to absorb and process on their own. I formed a tight bond with some of the brightest executive minds across an array of industries. In this program, we did more than just dissect and examine case studies from historic events; we were able to consult with real corporations in efforts to aid with ongoing and current issues. Our impact was evidenced when select corporations successfully implemented our recommendations. This program is far from easy, it will push you to new heights and you will need to reintroduce yourself to your family and friends upon graduation. On the bright side, the leaders of this program, Pamela Brady (Program Director) and Connie Imhof (Program Manager), are such genuine and caring people, you will feel like a part of a new family throughout the duration of this program. If you are looking to expand your knowledge and grow your network, the EMBA at UTD comes highly recommended.
Holly Martin

Holly Martin, GLEMBA ’19

Customer Experience Manager, J.B. Hunt

Because of this program, I was able to present within my organization to five different groups, which led to a promotion, an invitation to assist with three special projects as a new manager, and an appointment as a co-chair to lead professional development for an internal employee resource group.
Andy Miller

Andy Miller, GLEMBA ’16

IT Operations Manager, Splunk

The GLEMBA program’s focus on global business challenges was vital in helping me to understand how my company can grow and succeed in a globally competitive landscape. The courses, interaction with peers and the exceptional faculty have empowered me to analyze and solve problems differently – essentially the program has enabled me to become a better leader.
Varun Gadhok

Varun Gadhok, EMBA

Senior Director – Information Systems, Tenet Healthcare

After an exhaustive national search for EMBA programs, I chose UT Dallas due to their outstanding reputation, cultural fit and academic rigor. I am pleased to report that the coursework lived up to my lofty expectations of an executive program and has yielded a positive return on my investment. The collaborative group studies and presentations boosted my confidence, refined my delivery and left me with a lifetime of fond memories in and out of the classroom.
Mo Katibeh

Mo Katibeh, EMBA ’11

Chief Operating Officer, Ring Central

UT Dallas helped round out specific skills sets that I needed to move to the next level of my career. With a broad operations and project management background, the financial, organizational architecture and executive leadership projects at UTD were immensely helpful. They immediately helped me when I was promoted to manage the Northeast Mobility Construction and Engineering organization.
Alexander Moeller

Alexander Moeller, EMBA 2017

Quality Director, Diodes Inc.

Coach Mario helped me transform into a more effective and self-aware leader. Using the syllabus and coaching guide provided by UTD as a basis to conduct our sessions, Mario was always very flexible in adjusting the content of our sessions. He thoughtfully summarized the key topics that we discussed during each session and sent them with action items we had agreed on for the following month.
Darrick Fitzgerald

Darrick Fitzgerald, GLEMBA ’18

Managing Consultant – Supply Chain Management Reverse Logistics Team, Verizon Wireless

GLEMBA was not just a learning experience, it was a life experience. GLEMBA was not a career pursuit, it was a life pursuit. Even today, tenets from the program impact how I think, how I approach a problem in my career and how I craft my emails. Was I promoted after I finished my degree? Yes.

Daniel Hendrickson, EMBA 2022

VP, Sr. Financial Analyst, First United Bank

The EMBA cohort means being a part of an elite group of individuals with similar drives, intelligence, and upward mobility ambitions. As a member of the cohort, I have benefited from my fellow members’ experience and industry knowledge. The EMBA program is competitive, but the cohort is out for its members’ well-being and improvement.
Business Economics has been my favorite class so far. Professor Kiser’s wealth of knowledge is absolutely world-class. Economics is not an easy subject, but he has the ability to take complex concepts and make them easy to understand.
I would recommend the UTD EMBA program as they create an environment to focus on your professional development and advance it for decades. The material and classes are fantastic, but the quality of the cohort is even more impressive.
Alberto Gutierrez-Algren

Alberto Gutierrez Algren

Immediately after graduating, I was able to transition to higher position. I am very certain that without the MBA and PLSCM expertise gained through UTD and this program, I would not have had these opportunities for advancement. Additionally, I was able to utilize that knowledge, to become part of two start-up business opportunities, which I would not have even considered for fear of the unknown before earning my MBA.
Denis Zub

Denis Zub (EMBA 2022)

Just one year ago, when COVID-19 have not even appeared in top-1000 Google searches and flying anywhere on Earth was a five-minute decision, I was sitting in my chair thinking of the next career steps. The only thing I knew then was that I needed inspiration, rethinking, rebooting if you will. Boiling in your day-to-day problems, solving your pre-determined pattern of tasks, and being eventually stuck in your narrow life-box with a boring forward-looking prospect was not the life I wanted to live.
Jake Henne

Jake Henne, EMBA 2021

World Wide Technology, Client Manager SLED

As a military veteran who spent 7 years as an active duty Army officer, serving exclusively in light infantry units, I had a lot to learn as I transitioned to civilian life in June 2018. I undertook immense self-study and networking primarily via LinkedIn, but I ultimately knew that I would need to refine my business skills and prove myself. Earning an MBA was always something I was interested in, even while on active duty. However, after leaving the Army, that desire heightened immensely. I was fortunate to be accepted in to the UTD EMBA program and will be forever grateful. It has been challenging in many ways, but I have learned so much about how to think about and analyze the bigger picture, and how to communicate and collaborate with professionals from all walks of life. As a type-A personality, the EMBA program has truly challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and grow both personally and professionally. #UTD #UTDEMBA #Veteran #JSOM
Tu Huynh

Tu Huynh

The Executive MBA in Product Lifecycle in Supply Chain Management has been a tremendous value for me. The knowledge and insights that I gained from the program have helped me be confident in evaluating new business opportunities and understanding supply chain risks in order to maximize the return on investment on our project portfolio. The Executive MBA in PLSCM improved my ability to make many critical decisions for my role in the Digital Business Transformation Office where I am interfacing with many business partners and suppliers on behalf of Comerica Bank.

Vinesh Reddy

Vice President, Business Process Offshore, Bank of America

The executive coaching experience was transformational. I was analyzed by my coach and was provided great recommendations to improve myself from where I was before the coaching to where I am now. I found the experience to be valuable to me personally and professionally.
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Executive Education Alumni Spotlights

Read the success stories from JSOM alumni who earned their degree from the Jindal School of Management. These alumni are current professionals who share their insights about their experience and life after graduating from UT Dallas.

Will McIntosh

Will McIntosh, EMBA’06

Senior Manager, Advisory Services, Ernst & Young LLP

McIntosh, a senior manager in Advisory Services at Ernst and Young’s Dallas office, measures his success by the quality relationships he has developed with clients and coworkers throughout his 15 years in the management consulting and financial services industries. He assists leading banks and lenders in solving various management problems and improving their operations in order to better serve customers and meet the demands of other key stakeholders.

Charles Gillis

Charles Gillis, MBA’04

Executive Director, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, PC

Technology and an evolving mindset about work-life balance is completely changing the legal services profession.

Sid Keswani

Sid Keswani, MBA’09

President, Pandora Americas

As president of the Americas region, Sid Keswani is responsible for PANDORA’s markets in North America, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Sara Hagan

Sarah Hagan, EMBA’11

CFO, Omnitracs

Hagan, a Dallas resident, joined Omnitracs, LLC, in April 2016, after a successful 11 years at Sabre Corp., where she held senior leadership positions in accounting and finance.

Darla Ripley

Darla Chapman Ripley, EMBA’97

Associate, Dave Perry-Miller & Associates Real Estate

Darla Ripley places a lot of importance on maintaining all networks, regardless of industry or location.

Joseph James

Joseph James, MBA’10

Enterpreneur

James, who completed his Executive MBA degree in 2010, manages two startup businesses. At 2020 Commercial, he provides commercial real estate sales, leasing and development services. At Mango Farms Digital Marketing, he and his staff provide web and mobile application development and manage digital marketing for clients.

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Executive Education Articles

Discover how Executive Education faculty are researching, publishing, speaking and engaging in the business community. The authors of these articles also include accounting students, staff and friends.

Jackie Kimzey leading a class

The Importance of a Relevant Curriculum

Curriculum is key for students

Creating and maintaining a relevant curriculum is key for students to achieve the maximum return on investment (ROI) in an executive MBA program. Emerging technologies are becoming an integral part of our business environment..

professors discussing what makes a good emba candidate

What Makes a Good EMBA Candidate?

An Excellent Career Investment

When I am asked what makes a good executive MBA candidate, several thoughts come to mind. I’m looking for mature working professionals that are ready to invest in accelerating their career.

Difference Between EMBA and PMBA

What is the difference between EMBA and PMBA?

UT Dallas offers five paths to earning an MBA. Each MBA requires 53 credit hours to complete and all are accredited by AACSB – the gold standard for business schools. Tuition, curriculum and admissions are different, however, for each of these MBA options.

how to write en essay for the executive mba

How to Write an Admissions Essay for an Executive MBA Program

The power of your personal story

Each individual has a story to tell, yet when it comes to the admissions essay, many essays fall short because the applicant fails to effectively convey their story. The beginning of the essay should capture the reader’s attention.

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