Why a Food Scientist Chose Business

Edward Orzechowski joins the program as a Food Science major from the University of Delaware. Below, he shares his thoughts on why he chose to complement his degree with business skills:

"I am often asked why I didn’t pursue higher education more closely related to my field. Sure, getting a more advanced degree in Food Science or Public Health / Policy would have added specialization into a particular area of food science. I, however, wanted to broaden and diversify my skill set rather than refine and narrow my skills. Walking out of undergrad, I had the technical skills to work in a lab, but I didn’t know how to bring my skills into the boardroom where big decisions are made.

One simple fact changed my perspective on what next education I would pursue: anywhere I work, no matter if it is a large corporation, a non-profit, a government agency, or a start-up, will be run as a business at its core. Most scientists don’t know how to read an income statement or how to properly manage employees when entering the workforce. This means that when it comes time to use those skills, either, they don’t have them, or they don’t know how to use them successfully. Learning those skills now, in a controlled environment, allows for growth when risk is low. When is it better for the health of your career to fail? Just in an operations management simulation or group project, or when you first advise your management team to make decisions that have financial implications? In the time that peers will be learning business principles on the fly, you can then be focusing on solving the problem at hand.

Business skills are not only a means of personal growth and knowledge. In some parts of the industry, there are instances of disconnect between the sides of science and business. Take when a food company develops new products. Some companies will have their marketing team come up with what new products they think will do well and then task their food scientists to make it work. Other companies will have their new product development scientists come up with novel products, then task their marketing team to make it work. Now imagine having the skills to bridge that gap and the usefulness it lends.

When meeting someone I respect professionally, I always ask about the steps they took to get where they are because no two people have the same path to success. Looking at different perspectives and the lessons people learned along the way helps you take calculated risks on your own path. Be open to different paths and you will find success in the end. When I find myself doubting the path I chose, I remember the helpful advice I received from a mentor: 'an object in motion stays in motion.'"

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Measuring Success: The American Dream

Erin Cavalier, MSBA '18, joined the program as a Politics major with the understanding that "a degree in politics has a very important and permanent place in the business world." Below, she writes about how success and the American Dream are connected:

"Success. Most people strive to be successful, but few know what it looks like.

In the United States, success is measured by one’s ability to achieve the “American Dream.” The notion dates back to the country’s founding and the Declaration of Independence. Simply put, the American Dream is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is the ability to build a successful life through hard work and individual initiative.

Every generation has a different perspective on how exactly to achieve success and now, and as a millennial, we are building our own version.

My parent’s version of the American Dream includes happiness, home ownership, debt-free living, and a comfortable retirement. While all of this plays a large part in what success means to me, I believe there is more to it. Success to me is the ability to travel and explore the world’s cultures. Success to me is the understanding and execution of a healthy work-life balance.

Success is unique to each person and it varies among and within generations.

Although the parameters of the American Dream change over time, the fact that is used as tool to measure success does not."

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½ Cup of Engineering and ½ Cup of Business: A Recipe for Success

Christine Awad, MSBA '18, joins our class as a Mechanical Engineering major from Purdue University.

"After all my undergraduate experiences, I have come to realize I have acquired numerous insights and skills that are extremely critical in the business world. First, I have learned how to problem solve using research methods and analytical tools. Knowing how to handle data and information will allow me to generate innovative ideas to produce goods and services for any organization. Second, I have learned how to communicate material effectively and efficiently. I will be able to add to an organization’s continued growth by appropriately communicating to all its stakeholders. Lastly, I have mastered the art of teamwork which is the epitome to solving business problems. I can work with individuals of all personalities to devise solutions that meet customer needs.

Now, I am currently focused on becoming a well-rounded professional by continuing my studies in The Catholic University of America’s Master of Science in Business Analysis program. Having technical and business focused backgrounds will surely help me tackle any challenges the technical/business world throws at me!"

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Do I Dare Disturb the Universe? The Importance of English Majors in Business

Miguel Hernandez, MSBA '18, graduated from CUA as an English major. Below, Miguel writes about the value of his degree and how business skills can complement his studies:

When I tell people that I majored in English, the usual response I get is; "Oh! Do you want to be a teacher?" My response is always; "No, I actually want to go into business." I'm then given a bewildered look followed by an empty; "Oh, that's nice." I understand why people are confused that I chose English as my major even though I wanted to go into business, but for me, the decision was crystal clear.

What makes being an English major so great is the opportunity to see the world through different perspectives. By simply opening a book, and reading what the author has to say, I'm allowing myself to be fully engrossed in the author's thoughts, experiences, and emotions. By doing so, I'm gaining experience myself. I'm able to see the world through a different mindset, the author's mindset, and connect that to my life.

You might be asking; "where is the value in that?" In business, CEO's are faced with dilemmas all the time. Their problem-solving skills have to be top-notch in order to fully run a successful business. CEOs don't have the same solution for every problem, instead they see things through a different perspective, offer a solution that no one has thought of, or recognize an appropriate solution by someone other than himself/herself. I believe that's what makes businesses so great. The ability to adapt to any situation has become a necessary characteristic for a company to survive in any industry. English majors are trained to analyze and deconstruct situations, regardless of the environment. Yes, we are also great writers, but the ability to think critically is what makes us an intangible asset to any company.

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A Beautiful Collision: Liberal Arts Education and The Business World

Leah Sophia Szews, MSBA '18, is a Communications Intern at Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. Below, Leah discusses the overlap of her undergraduate degree in Media Studies and business:

"The mingling of the business world and a liberal arts education is not always the happiest of marriages, but when it works, it becomes an elegant union of thoughtfulness and effectiveness.

During my undergraduate studies, I was searching for a degree that would balance the practicality of business and the creativity of a liberal arts education. This was a defining consideration point when I chose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications Studies at The Catholic University of America. By offering challenging courses that developed my ability to communicate effectively, write cohesively and think analytically, the major offered a valuable skill set and the balance that I sought. My internships have exercised the skill set garnered through my undergraduate degree. Whether it was partaking in the editing and content development process of a newsletter, planning, and promoting an event or managing telephone communications for an office—the skill set of communicating effectively, writing cohesively, and thinking analytically emerged as a crucial components to finding success in the office.

While a liberal arts education and the business world may seem polar opposite, I urge you to take a closer look and consider the potential of such a beautiful collision."

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MSBA Alumni Success Spotlight: Eve Zhu

Eve Zhu, MSBA '16, is a Client Operations Associate at Community Brand. Below, she shares her experiences of the program, and how it has helped her in her career so far.

Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

It has the ability to get you ready to compete in the business world in a short period (9 months). We all know time cost is important in business. The learning curve rises quickly in these 9 months. I had a very good experience with the MSBA Program.

Q: What company do you work for, and what is your title?

Abila (now Community Brand) as a Client Operations Associate.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

I work for a software company, and I started as a management intern. A lot of the initial work when I was an intern was analytics. This was similar to the work I experienced in my Field Team Study project: trouble shooting, finding gaps/issues and providing practical solutions/suggestions. I like it when people give me a mess and I provide them with a solution.

Q: How did the CUA MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

I was an international student and the MSBA Program really helped me understand that the business world has a different culture. It helped me to quickly adapt to work life.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field?

I think the Field Team Study is one of the most important. Since I am now working in the IT field, I think data analytics, operation management, quantitative analysis, business research, accounting/finance are the courses that have been most helpful in my current job.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

There are too many! The Orientation, NYC trip, field team study, thirty Thursday, midterm review, etc. were all very special.

I think what makes this program great is knowing that our professors/director/career counselor are always there and willing to help at anytime.

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MSBA Student Success Testimonial Series: Mary Wiles

Mary Wiles, MSBA '17, will be working at HITT Contracting Inc. as a Pursuits Associate. Read about Mary's experience with the MSBA Program, and how it helped her know that she wanted to pursue a career in marketing.

Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

There were many deciding factors on why I choose the MSBA program.  The main factor was that I felt that the program itself offered many great resources and opportunities. At the time of my acceptance, I recently graduated from CUA and I received my B.A. in psychology. With graduation approaching, my plans for after school were not quite finalized and the MSBA program was always on the back burner.  I ultimately knew I wanted to go back to school, but not particularly sure when, or most importantly for what.  I was also not certain on what career path I wanted to take. I love psychology, but I wasn’t sure if that was the route for me.  I was lucky enough to have that summer to decide if the MSBA program was for me.  Through countless conversations with Professor McHie, my parents, and a supervisor at my internship at the time, I decided that the program would be very beneficial. The program opened a lot of windows of opportunities for me, and allowed me to explore some of strengths I was unaware of.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be working at HITT Contracting Inc. as a Pursuits Associate. My position is a part of their marketing department at their HQ office. My main role will be managing, creating and prepping the proposals and interviews for their Atlanta office.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work? 

This year during the program I learned a lot about my strengths and discovered new things about myself.  I’ve always been a visual learner and what you would consider a “poet.” I always knew that being analyst or someone working with numbers 24/7 was not the career path for me. During the program, I was always interested in our marketing classes and projects. My internship at Patriotic Millionaires allowed me to explore and work with their communications team. This led me to the self-discovery that I like being involved with the creative, strategic side of a business.  My current position gives me the best of both worlds of being the strategic, creative mind.

Q: How did the CUA MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

The MSBA program allowed me to really discover what my strengths and interests were, as well as give me the confidence I need to achieve what I really wanted to do.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field?

The Field Team Study really helped me prepare for my career, and any work environment in general. I was a consultant for GloveStix, which is an athleisure deodorizer product. This 5-month project taught me how to work with a team, a client, and on time management. My main role for this project was to work on the marketing portion, which reassured me this was the career I wanted to get into. Also, the GloveStix founder and president, Krista Woods, is such an inspiring individual. She was a great client to work with which really helped made my project a pleasure to work on!

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

There are so many! From attending all of our outings and field trips, to great professors and classes, I honestly had such a great experience with the MSBA program. I especially enjoyed spending time with my classmates every day!

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