Ann Phillips
Class of 2016
Hometown: Annapolis, MD
Residence: Norfolk, VA
Undergraduate University: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Major/Minor: French Language and Literature
Current Employer: Department of Transportation
Position: Maritime Administrator
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA after completing your military service?
I wasn't sure what I wanted to do when I retired, but I kept coming back to school as an option. I didn't have a master's degree, having been on active duty. I settled on an MBA because it was a piece of my professional background that I felt was very much absent. I had no real exposure to the business community. I went to a program day for the Executive MBA at William & Mary, and I was so impressed by the quality of the professors and their willingness to engage and learn more about me personally that I applied to the program.
How did you apply your MBA to what you did in your role for the state of Virginia, and how do you think you will apply it should you have the honor to be confirmed as Maritime Administrator?
I used it every day working for the Office of the Governor. It continues to be tremendously valuable. In some cases, it reinforces knowledge, skills, and abilities brought with me from my 31-year Navy career, including collaborative leadership and building consensus among disparate individuals and groups with different opinions and objectives. William & Mary, Mason School helped me to think differently about the challenges to help me engage in the many facets of my role as Maritime Administrator, should I have the honor to be confirmed.
What value has your Executive MBA brought to you personally and professionally?
I learned a lot about myself going through the EMBA program. The academic foundation and in-depth exposure in the complexities of the business world I acquired through the program gave me confidence to take on new challenges. William & Mary has a tremendous reputation both within Virginia and beyond Virginia. There are alumni spread out across all kinds of unique industries, and I've found the fact that I am an alumna of the school serves as a conversation starter. It's a tremendous advantage to hold a degree from an institution like William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business, and I am proud to represent Mason School as an alumna!
