MBA Reflections

By Kevin Chambers

It has been a long two years, but I have officially completed my MBA from Willamette University. When Tom and I started on this adventure, neither of us knew what to expect. We were excited to learn and try to apply our classes to our company. The goal was to gain experience and knowledge to help us transition into leadership and ownership roles at Headwater Investments.

My program was an MBA for professionals, meaning my cohort was composed of women and men working full-time jobs. Through my course work, I was excited to learn as much from my fellow classmates as I did from my professors. Many of them are working in the fields or disciplines we studied and could offer first-hand industry knowledge.

Reflecting on the experience, I realize it is not new facts or specific tools that I mastered in the program. Instead, my biggest take away was learning how to approach problems from different sides. The two years taught me how to think differently. Search for solutions using different lenses and mindsets. This culminated in my capstone project which I presented at the end of the program. I was able to take my classes and condense them into actionable strategies for our company going forward.

Finally, I want to thank Scott, Tommy, CB, and Ginger for their support through the last two years. I especially want to thank my wife, who is excited to finally have me home for dinner Monday and Tuesday nights. I look forward to using the skills and lessons I have learned to make a difference in my company and community.