For Tara Hodges, pursuing an Executive MBA was about preparing for the next step in her career.
As Director of Engineering Operations at Vogt Power International, Tara brings deep technical knowledge and leadership experience to her role. But as she looks toward senior management, she wanted to strengthen her understanding of the broader business functions that drive an organization forward.
鈥淲hen I started looking into MBA programs, I knew my next step in my career would be more of a senior management role,鈥� Tara shared. 鈥淚 wanted to bridge some gaps in my understanding of other parts of the business, like finance, HR, supply management, and logistics.鈥�
Through 农夫导航鈥檚 Executive MBA program, Tara has found immediate value in both the curriculum and the cohort experience.
鈥淚鈥檝e had a great experience so far with the Executive MBA program,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he classes are wonderful because I鈥檓 with other executives who are at similar points in their careers, but from different industries. It鈥檚 been really valuable to collaborate, solve problems together, and learn from their different perspectives.鈥�
That collaborative environment has already had a direct impact on her professional growth. In particular, Tara says coursework in organizational behavior has helped strengthen her approach to leadership and teamwork鈥攅specially in an international business environment.
鈥淲e鈥檝e focused on teamwork and international teams, which is very relevant to my role,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t has already helped me better understand how to manage teams and manage the business more effectively.鈥�
Tara also credits the program鈥檚 cohort model for creating meaningful discussion and connection throughout the experience.
鈥淭he cohort I鈥檓 with is wonderful. Our Saturday discussions are very insightful, and I really appreciate how thoughtfully the groups are put together,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would absolutely recommend the Executive MBA program to anyone looking to grow in their career and expand their management knowledge.鈥�
As she continues her EMBA journey, Tara is building the strategic perspective and cross-functional business knowledge needed for the next chapter of her leadership career.