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. She also served as vice president of finance for a $700M division that develops software solutions for the airline industry. Before joining Sabre, Hagan was an auditor with public accounting firm RCO. She earned her BA/Accounting at The University of Texas at Arlington, and is a CPA. Omnitracs is a global pioneer of fleet management, routing and predictive analytics solutions for private and for-hire fleets with almost 1,100 employees.
Tell us the highlights of your professional career.
Prior to joining Omnitracs, I was with Sabre Corporation and one of my proudest achievements was playing a key leadership role in Sabre’s successful IPO in 2014. I was also recently nominated as one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Next Gen in 2015.
What brought you to UT Dallas?
I was looking for a highly ranked local university to pursue an Executive MBA while continuing to work full time. My CEO at Sabre was Sam Gilliland, who is also a graduate of UT Dallas’ Executive MBA program. I had also heard about the valuable network of alumni of the EMBA program and wanted to be a part of that network as well.
What is your favorite UT Dallas memory?
During the program, we took an international trip to Hong Kong and Shanghai. The corporate visits that were arranged for us were phenomenal. I also greatly appreciated our cohort class. For the first time, I was surrounded by peers who were leaders in their disciplines and brought varying views on business issues. It was very powerful and enlightening to be surrounded by such diversity.
What was your favorite class and why?
The Organizational Design course was invaluable to me. I had grown up and spent my career in the finance world; however, this course required us to twist our brains and think of leadership in new, innovative ways. The professor encouraged us to really look at the psychological reasons behind why organizations were successful or not.
What’s the best advice you have received?
Jump first and find your parachute on the way down. Sometimes, you’re going to have to be a trailblazer, so don’t doubt yourself. You must believe in yourself.
What advice do you have for current students hoping to succeed in the business world?
My son started as a freshman at JSOM this past fall. I would advise him and others to not chase titles or money; look for experiences. Decide where you’d like to ultimately end up and build a resume and toolkit over time to be the best candidate for that position in the future. Also, stay in touch with your alma mater. Your relationships and network with fellow alumni are very important. Come back to campus often, whether it’s to speak in a class or volunteer your time. Share your experiences with the future generation of business leaders.
What makes an effective leader?
Respect for others and their varying ideas and viewpoints; Foster a collaborative work environment, and; High integrity and honest communication
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love to travel, especially with my family. Most recently, this summer, we celebrated my son’s high school graduation with a trip to seven cities in Italy.
