Paulina Lee
MBA 22
Sales & Marketing Director
Procter & Gamble
"What I’m learning in class comes to life on the job week after week. I’m really enjoying the side-by-side growth trajectory in my MBA studies and in my new role at P&G."
Taking a ‘test and learn’ approach
After eight years in a sales organization, my skills in accounting, finance, and economics had fallen by the wayside. Refreshing them gives me a broader skill set which will make me a more versatile and effective leader.
Our Accounting and Finance classes focused on how to read financial statements for insights into a firm’s upcoming strategies. That has helped me contribute more when we do competitive analyses at work.
Taking classroom lessons into the workplace is giving me the confidence and the vocabulary to ask the right questions.
Career guidance for internal growth
P&G is such a large company with lots of opportunities for leadership and development. Having an MBA in my back pocket is a real advantage in considering where I can add the most value.
My career at P&G has been filled with ‘white space’ roles, where I could define my responsibilities and influence. As I rise in my career, honing my leadership skills, especially in the areas of innovation, will help me enable P&G to pivot quickly as the economy shifts and shoppers change their habits.
Self-reflection and leadership
All of my classes, from Finance and Accounting to Economics and People Management, include self-reflection on the skills and frameworks you need to be a leader.
As a leader, I see myself first as a coach. I want to help others find their own process and grow. I value the Haas emphasis on self-reflection and use it in my own process.
Leadership Communications, a two-day intensive experience early in our first year, was incredibly insightful. Working in small groups and being pushed out of your comfort zone gave you a safe space to reflect on your own leadership story and style.
I love my cohort. We have built a really strong culture of inclusion. I’m impressed by the caliber of people; everyone has such different life and work experiences. We push each other to be better people and leaders.
PREVIOUS DEGREE
BS, Business Administration
Central Michigan University
ON HAAS CULTURE
For me, the MBA is more than just getting As. It is more important to really grasp the subject matter and apply it in the real world, especially on topics where I have a lot to learn.
WHAT SETS HAAS APART
The integration among all of the MBA programs sets Haas apart. When it comes to electives and extra-curricular activities, students from all of the programs mix and learn from each other on study and project teams.