MBA at the American Graduate School of International Management: Interview

Learn more about the Thunderbird School of Global Management

Elyse Leeds chose to do her MBA at the American Graduate School of International Management. Here, she tells TopMBA.com what influenced her choice.

Career history

After college, Elyse Leeds became the Manager of eSolutions for Bernard Hodes Group, an Omnicom boutique agency. When she decided it was time for a move, she chose Thunderbird to give her the skills, knowledge and credentials she'd need to develop an internationalcareers.

Broader horizons

I had been working for the same company for over six years and had advanced rapidly. Although my career path was promising, I felt there was something missing. My top two priorities, I realized, were to solidify my Spanish language skills and to work and travel internationally. I had a lot of practical experience, but to make the transition in today's competitive environment I would need technical training plus the credibility of an MBA. After considering some international programs offered in Spain, Israel and the United States, I applied to my first choice school: Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management.

Truth in advertising

Thunderbird advertises a global program, and that's exactly what they deliver. Fluency in at least two languages is a core requirement to earn a degree. The student population comprises more than 60 percent non-U.S. citizens and it's not only the student population that is diverse-the faculty is an amazing collection of talented, creative and intelligent people from all over the world. Spending time in other countries as part of the program is encouraged and facilitated. Almost every class includes small group work, which allows students to put the theories of cross-cultural communication into practice. Plus, in-class participation offers great depth, as each student brings a fascinating range of languages, cultures and professional experiences to the discussion.

I spent my first trimester on the main campus in Glendale, Arizona and my second trimester in the Thunderbird program on the campus of the Universidad Autonoma in Guadalajara, Mexico. I decided to complete an internship during my third trimester in Havana, Cuba. Only at Thunderbird would this have been possible for an American graduate student. Once I decided to pursue the position, key faculty and staff were 100 percent behind my efforts. I was able to spend four invaluable months working for an Internet company operating in the free trade zone in Old Havana, learning an entirely different way of doing business. I witnessed first-hand how a tenacious entrepreneur can be successful in an incredibly difficult business environment.

Developmental process

My background is in the area of marketing and communications, so I needed the MBA to provide me with serious financial understanding and capabilities. In order to succeed as a manager, one must be able to study a company and offer value to analysis and decision making processes across the business. Classes I attended in Mexico such as Profit Planning and Control and Accounting for Managerial Decision Making were excellent, with class sizes of only 10 students and professors dedicated to our mastery of the subject matter.

An unparalleled experience

As hard as T-birds work, we never forget to keep a balance. Campus life is rich with opportunities to network, make friends and share experiences outside the classroom. In addition to my studies, I am active on campus as the President of the Thunderbird Yoga Club; Chair of the Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) Mentoring Program; and teaching assistant to Dr. Carmen Vega-Carney, helping plan, organize and lead educational trips to Cuba.

Follow the light

The MBA program at Thunderbird has completely redefined the scope of professional opportunities available to me and increased my confidence level. I look forward to beginning my second career and know that the business and interpersonal skills I have acquired will open many doors. As with anything in life, what you put in will determine what you get out. Thunderbird has given me the opportunity to achieve my goals and change my life for the better. If you always set your sights high and refuse to give up, success will surely come.