Eric Ortman
MBA 09
MBA 09
Manager, Litigation Support
Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics
San Francisco, California
Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics
San Francisco, California
When his wife Sarah went into labor three hours before his Operations final exam, Eric Ortman learned firsthand how hard Haas strives to accommodate the extracurricular needs of EWMBA students. "I got on the phone with my professors and put 'Plan B' into action," he recalls. "They all said 'just let us know when you can get back to school', and we worked out a new exam schedule."
When eight-month-old Nicholas was teething, it was dad—who was typically up studying—who soothed his son when he fussed at midnight. Ortman's wife earned her MBA a few years ago, so she understood the pressures. Ortman says they both recognized the opportunities and value his degree would add to their lives over time. "Having her full support was invaluable," he says.
So was the support of his Haas classmates. "Three of the five of us in my Entrepreneurship class study group were parents. We scheduled meetings and phone calls after the kids were in bed. We all felt accountable to the team and worked hard not to let each other down. My classmates were honest and hard-working, good people, and were very generous with their time, their knowledge, and their creativity."
Ortman compliments the Haas staff for being "cheerleaders, always urging us on when we thought we'd hit a wall. They offered such terrific support to EWMBA students." Much to Ortman's dismay, one of the few things Haas doesn't supply is a dog walking service. "My beagle Kiki probably suffered the most. Since I've been in school, she hasn't been on nearly enough long walks."
