Curtis Sachse
Class of 2024
Hometown: North Attleboro, MA
Undergraduate University: Bucknell University; Old Dominion University
Class Year: 2005/2016
Major/Minor: Economics, International Relations/ Civil Engineering
Employer: Naval Facilities Engineering and Systems Command
Position: Senior Construction Engineer
Why did you pursue an MBA?
I have a deep passion for learning and wanted to enhance my ability to motivate and influence others toward productive goals. At a point in my personal and professional life when I was ready to embrace the additional commitment of an EMBA, I seized the opportunity to take more control of my career. Observing how many people can become stagnant or lose direction mid-career, I was determined not to let circumstances restrict my future opportunities. The EMBA program provided a crucial boost of knowledge and enthusiasm, fueling my drive for ongoing growth and development.
Why did you choose William & Mary's EMBA program?
William & Mary's EMBA program fit my lifestyle because it allowed me to attend classes in person on weekends while maintaining the flexibility to balance my responsibilities of work, parenting, studying, housework, and trying to stay fit. The benefits of the class size and structure were very apparent when I came to sit through a class before making my decision. The students I witnessed had impressive and diverse career experiences. Due to the intimacy of the atmosphere, the entire class was engaged and participated in the discussions, allowing the opportunity to hear many different perspectives. From the start of the first residency week, it was apparent my cohort would be no different.
What were some highlights for you during the EMBA experience?
I still remember the first hour of the first day of our first residency. My classmates and I were a little unsure but excited and welcoming. The bonding from that first week carried throughout our program, enabling us to feel comfortable enough to make comments in class, laugh at ourselves, dig deep into emotional content when necessary, and challenge each other to grow personally and professionally. This mutual growth occurred before we traveled to Greece for our Global Business Immersion, reinforcing the trip's life-changing experience. My cohort is a special group of people that will cherish forever.
How have you applied what you learned in the program to your work?
I brought technical skills and experience leading small teams in technical environments when I entered the program. While I was adept at reading between the lines with stakeholders, I relied more on instinct than logical analysis. The organizational development and communications classes gave me a deeper understanding of why group friction occurs. This knowledge has enabled me to address and communicate these issues with my teammates more clearly and proactively. I've often heard that a well-run organization experiences minimal drama, which is challenging to quantify. However, the program has significantly enhanced my ability to foster a more efficient and harmonious workplace environment.
What impact did the MBA degree have on your career?
The EMBA degree expanded my knowledge of what is possible to achieve in any organization. It helped me understand the technical merits of different corporate functions and how these perspectives inform differences in approach between functions. The EMBA has sharpened my vision to see these intricacies, enabling me to help teams behave more collaboratively. The lessons I learned were essential to my success when coaching a team during a leadership transition process at one of our field offices. In this application, I was able to internalize the value of coaching as I witnessed how it truly has a trickle-down effect on organizational culture.
