\n<\/p>\n
Alumni Share Insights on Gies College of Business iMBA Program<\/strong><\/p>\n Graduates of the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are sharing how the online MBA program, known as the iMBA, has enhanced their business skills and professional knowledge. In today\u2019s competitive world, effective leadership demands more than just business acumen; it requires wisdom, strong communication skills, and the ability to build meaningful relationships.<\/p>\n Three alumni from the program reflect on their experiences and the practical lessons they’ve learned that contributed to their success.<\/p>\n For Samantha Dascomb, networking used to feel like a task; something to do only when she needed help with finding job opportunities or seeking favors. However, her experience in the iMBA program transformed her perspective. She learned the importance of valuing relationships for their intrinsic worth, rather than just for what they could provide.<\/p>\n \u201cNetworking isn\u2019t just about advancing your career; it\u2019s about exchanging ideas, creating valuable connections, and nurturing a wider professional community,\u201d Dascomb explained. She took the initiative to seek mentors and reconnect with former colleagues. Collaborating with classmates from various backgrounds, including engineering and management, helped her establish long-lasting partnerships. \u201cThese connections will be crucial as I expand my business,\u201d she added, noting their mutual support for each other’s growth.<\/p>\n Jakob Wiig faced a challenge when he discovered that the cleaning company he hired was overcharging him. Rather than becoming confrontational, he applied the negotiation skills he acquired from his iMBA studies. Wiig adopted a collaborative approach, effectively communicating expectations and sharing competitive pricing data. This strategy not only saved him money but also built a stronger relationship with the service provider, resulting in improved service quality over time.<\/p>\n Rawan Elshair found that working on group projects with peers from around the world was one of the highlights of her iMBA experience. Learning from classmates with diverse backgrounds enriched her understanding and inspired her to consider new perspectives in her career. \u201cBuilding connections across different industries and cultures has been invaluable,\u201d Elshair noted, adding that she plans to maintain these relationships long after graduation.<\/p>\n Effective negotiation isn’t just about making your case; it starts with listening. According to Dascomb, before pursuing her MBA, she focused mainly on sharing her story but often missed the mark in persuading others. One key lesson she learned was to prioritize understanding the other party\u2019s needs and motivations. In a situation where a client struggled to grasp how drone technology could benefit their business, she shifted her approach to focus on listening and problem-solving. This change in strategy turned the client’s initial skepticism into enthusiasm.<\/p>\n Dascomb emphasizes that negotiation extends beyond salary discussions; it\u2019s an essential leadership skill used to influence teams and resolve conflicts in a manner that aligns the interests of everyone involved. By balancing assertiveness with patience and strategic communication, she believes successful interactions are achievable.<\/p>\n For more information about the iMBA program at Gies College of Business, interested individuals can explore further.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Alumni Share Insights on Gies College of Business iMBA Program Graduates of the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are sharing how the online MBA program, known as the iMBA, has enhanced their business skills and professional knowledge. In today\u2019s competitive world, effective leadership demands more than just business acumen; it<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[9955,9956,9957,9958,9959,4279,9960,9961,9962],"class_list":["post-8871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business-news","tag-building-better-career-success","tag-graduate-certificate","tag-higher-education","tag-imba","tag-masters-degree","tag-mba","tag-online-continuing-education","tag-online-mba","tag-workforce"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8871\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Building a Professional Network<\/h3>\n
Mastering the Art of Diplomacy<\/h3>\n
Gaining Global Insights<\/h3>\n
The Importance of Listening<\/h3>\n