Spotlight on Laurie Allen

Laurie Allen
Laboratory Coordinator
Columbus State Commmunity College
MBA

My path to earning my MBA was pretty straightforward. I obtained a job in which I was put in charge of more than 15 laboratories, which meant I had to manage a number of people. And although my resume capitalized on my bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with work in a variety of analytical roles such as Quality Assurance Chemist, I had few professional skill sets from which to extract leadership abilities. I lacked the confidence, tools and resources necessary to empower others.

Being the mother of two daughters, one teen and one young adult, I found myself drawing from my well-developed parenting abilities in an effort to effectively lead my new staff. Needless to say, leading my children is in a completely different ball park from that of leading adults in a professional environment!

Realizing that I needed to rely on more than just my knowledge of being a good parent to help me be a good manager, I looked for a program that emphasized leadership while complementing my previous education and experiences. Franklin University’s Vantage MBA^® Program was perfect. The classes were held one night a week, which I found manageable given my work and family schedule. The curriculum addressed many of the areas in which I needed help, such as strategic thinking, determining various personality types, how to communicate effectively, manage finances, and work in teams. Plus, I loved the fact that I could finish in just 17 months.

I chose to take my classes online. This meant that I spent a lot of time each evening in front of my computer– 25 hours a week or more– researching and writing papers and meeting in class chat rooms with my team or professor. Yet I really loved the online experience because it still allowed me time with my family.

Prior to the Vantage MBA Program, I would classify myself as a manager as opposed to a confident leader. Now, according to my supervisor, the Vantage MBA Program has taken me from a very rigid leadership style to a more adaptive and creative management style. I now favor a team approach and better understand how to work with people to assist them in transitioning into the environment.

One of the many tools that has transformed my way of thinking is the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI). It has taught me to utilize my “whole brain” when making decisions and communicating and interacting with others. Also, through the Vantage MBA Coaching Program, I’ve learned to develop my “followship” abilities by apprenticing under a working professional with real-world business experience.

There is no way I can quantify the enormous value Franklin's Vantage MBA Program has brought to me. I only know that the confidence and knowledge I’ve developed because of it are positively reflected in my work, my home life, and even in my physical appearance. My daughters, Varsey and Bianca, and my husband Darik, are proud of my accomplishments and are empowered in their own ways through my example. They each are stepping out of their comfort zones and taking action by either furthering their education or venturing toward teaching initiatives.

Do I recommend Franklin University? Absolutely! With my whole heart– and my whole brain.