Alumni Connections  /  Everyone Has a Story
  • Companies & Organizations
  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • Alumni
Home // Programs & Centers // Undergraduate Business // Our Community // Meet Our Students

Taking the Road Less Traveled

Before attending W&M, Nicole Spaeth joined the United States Air Force and got married. Now with a double major and part-time job, how is she applying what she's learned in business school to the real world?

Nicole Spaeth joined the United States Air Force before coming to William & Mary.
About Me

I seem to always take the road less traveled. For instance, I started college at the age of thirty.  Although I joined the United States Air Force after high school, I always knew that if I returned to school I wanted to go to William & Mary and here I am. I have been married to my husband Jeff for seven years, and I even persuaded him to attend William & Mary's EMBA program. Together we have four dogs - two golden retrievers and two red toy poodles.   

My Individual Program of Study (IPS) was inspired by my work at the industrial heat exchanger manufacturing facility, where I have been employed for the past eleven years.  I have had the opportunity to work in various positions in manufacturing - from working in production as a copper brazer, to being involved in the design of the product as a drafter/designer, to overseeing the quality and safety programs as the Quality/Safety Coordinator. Now as the part-time Environmental/Safety Coordinator, I ensure that we are in compliance with state and federal safety and environmental laws. 

Nicole Spaeth with two of her four pet dogs.It was from working in these different positions that I realized that I like business in general, specifically helping to implement systems and processes, such as quality systems.  This influenced me to pursue a degree in Process Management & Consulting.  I added a secondary Economics major, not only because I find Economics interesting, but also to further develop the analytical skills needed to be successful in the consulting field.

Impact & Engagement

I have recently been elected as Secretary of the Non-Traditional Student Body, which is an organization that provides resources to non-traditional students like myself.

Commuting from Richmond makes it difficult to become really involved on campus. However I love the mission of Net Impact, and I introduced the Do One Thing (DOT) idea to my boss, the Director of Operations.  He in turn suggested that our company participate in a DOT-like campaign at a corporate-wide sales meeting. This campaign encourages employees to "Do One Thing" for sustainability.

Nicole Spaeth has been able to apply what she's learned at the Mason School of Business to the real world.Highlights

One of the highlights of my business school experience was being involved in an actual consulting case, as part of my Strategic Analysis and Consulting course with Prof. Scott McCoy.  It was a semester-long project, in which groups competed to provide the best solution to a problem faced by a local business.  The project allowed me to apply the skills I learned in the business school to a real world situation.

The Organizational Behavior & Management course with Prof. Robert Solomon was another highlight of my Business School experience.   Having been in a business environment for some time now, I found the information presented in this class to be extremely beneficial and important.  I learned a lot about leadership and decision-making, particularly how a manager's style of motivating and including employees can affect the whole culture of an organization.

Next Steps

My plan is to use the skills acquired here at the Mason School of Business to work in the consulting field, specifically in litigation or management.  After a few years of consulting experience, I am going to apply to law school to pursue my ultimate goal of practicing corporate law.