October 2008
For Neil Kimber, the next logical step in his career was rising from director of technology for TalentQuest to CTO of the company. He knew he'd need a solid business education to take him there, so he enrolled in Georgia Tech's Executive MBA in Management of Technology Program."I'd reached a natural point in my job where my technology background would only get me so far," Kimber says. "I needed to understand business and enhance my management skills in order to continue moving up."
Mission Accomplished
A little over a year after enrolling in the 17-month Executive MBA program, Kimber fulfilled his goal of promotion to CTO of TalentQuest, a provider of talent management solutions.
"I believe that our CEO has seen a difference in the way I operate," he says. "The program has helped me reevaluate how to make strategic business decisions. I have already created value for TalentQuest with the new skills I've gained. We have definitely seen a good return on the investment."
Competitive Advantage
Designed to prepare leaders to excel in the fast evolving world of high-tech business, the Executive MBA in Management of Technology teaches students to leverage technology for competitive advantage and manage innovation.
Kimber says that the program has helped him expand his thinking beyond the technical function to the financial and business aspects of the company. He has been able to take advantage of the program's focus on the product lifecycle, and he better understands the business process from start to finish.
Put to the Test
"I've found the capstone project to be the most rewarding aspect of the program thus far," says Kimber. "My team is working on an electronic solution to replace a paper calendar that will synchronize to keep all family members on schedule. It's helping us tie all of the different aspects of the program together and putting our teamwork and people management skills to the test."
Kimber recommends the program to others looking to break out of their technical silos. "If you have a technical background, or you work in a technical industry, and you have reached a point in your career where you are successful, but you need to understand business to get to the next step, the Executive MBA in Management of Technology is perfect," he says.
