To W&M by way of Iraq
Robert Russell served for five years in the U.S. Army before starting college. Transferring recently from a community college, he's already made a big impact on the Undergraduate Business program, as well as Business making an impact on him. How does his IPS compliment the skills he learned in the military?
About Me
I'm currently finishing up my senior year at the College of William & Mary, majoring in Process Management & Consulting with a concentration in Management & Organizational Leadership. I'm also pursuing a minor in Economics so that I may try and understand the external forces that affect business and consumer behavior. I feel privileged to be at a college that has given me the opportunity to design my own program to fit my career goals.
My journey to the College was different from most students. I transferred in after acquiring an Associate's Degree in Business Administration from one of Virginia's outstanding community colleges. I chose this route because I spent almost five years serving in the United States Army before starting my college career, and I didn't want to jump right into a rigorous curriculum without some preparation. While in the Army, I was stationed in Germany with the 1st Infantry Division, and I served 2 deployments: one to the Former Yugoslavic Republic of Macedonia and one to Iraq. These experiences have shaped who I am in many ways, giving me the drive and passion to achieve anything I set out to do.
Currently, I'm involved with William & Mary Consulting as an Executive Board member which has been great for networking and learning about the business community. I participate in the William & Mary Veterans Society as well, which focuses on veteran support and philanthropy. I also love to play golf, and I'm really looking forward to playing on some of the beautiful courses in Williamsburg!
Highlights
I've enjoyed many things about the Business School so far... I really like the way my classes are set up, affording me many opportunities to work on teams and engage with other students. I think I can learn a lot from other students and improve my soft skills, as leadership styles in the military differ from those in the civilian world. I'm continuously learning about the way others interact and react to each other, and I know this will be very helpful moving forward in life. I benefit from the talented student body I work with everyday, simply by being around them here at Mason.
Another important aspect of my experience here at Mason is the type of work I've done inside and outside the classroom. The faculty has done a wonderful job of putting together real world projects for us to work on and learn from. In Prof. Scott McCoy's Strategic Analysis & Consulting class, I worked with an organization in the Williamsburg community to help improve their business model. This project combined the unique team experience I mentioned above with skills learned in class in a way that has allowed us to actually make a difference in someone's business. It's been stressful at times, but it is a rewarding experience that I'm excited to be a part of.
Defining Moment
My defining moment was my final round interview with Colgate-Palmolive for an internship. After completing a preliminary interview through William & Mary's excellent Career Services Office, I was selected late last fall to interview with them again in New York City in mid January. They flew me from Newport News to La Guardia, and as I exited the plane I was greeted by a gentleman with my name on one of those white signs you often see in movies. I felt immense pressure, excitement, and motivation... It was just one of those moments in life that you think about a lot, and when it finally comes it's a little overwhelming. I guess it just felt good to finally feel like I'm getting on my way in life. They put me up in a hotel in downtown Manhattan, and I spent the evening out in NYC for the first time in my life. It was amazing.
Future Plans
While interning at Colgate-Palmolive Company this summer, I made the decision to start looking into pursuing a Master's degree in Business Administration. I am going through the application process now, and I expect to commit to a school by the end of March, 2011. The Mason School of Business Undergraduate Program has set a pretty high standard with its great curriculum, wonderful faculty and staff, and excellent student body. However, I am confident I will find a MBA program that will give me everything I need to build upon what I have learned while attending William & Mary. I look forward to the next challenge life has to offer, bring it on!
