Roslyn Layton
OneMBA Class of 2007, RSM
Klean, Denmark
Senior Director, Marketing Analytics
Expanding career goals
I was ready to make a career shift when I started looking at MBA programs. I was working for myself in California as a consultant to nonprofit organizations, but I found that in addition to the fund development assistance I provided, my clients needed consulting in organizational design and information technology. The two latter disciplines appealed to me, so I decided to look for a global IT company where I could learn on the job and get an MBA.
OneMBA helped me make a career change almost instantly! Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is one of the many leading companies who parter with the OneMBA, and they recruit graduates. I joined TCS, and worked with the multinational IT company both in the Netherlands and in India. Thanks to OneMBA, I have a truly global career. OneMBA gives you the knowledge, the network, and the experience. I have worked in the US, Japan, Netherlands, India, and Denmark, and travel to many countries to work with customers.
Why OneMBA?
I had always wanted to experience what life was like to live in Europe, so I figured why not earn an MBA and work on the Continent? I heard about RSM in the Wall Street Journal. During a school visit, I discovered OneMBA and the school’s Women in Business scholarship – a big plus since I would be paying my own way. I was impressed with OneMBA’s global breadth with five schools representing four continents.
Global teams
OneMBA provided real-world global experience that I built into my resume. I learned to manage the cultural and logistical challenges of complex global team projects. I also practiced new leadership styles, improving my listening skills and flexibility. These skills have helped me manage cultural differences as a Caucasian woman working for an Indian company.
Professional development and career support
The Personal Leadership Development Program (PLD) at RSM helped me stay on track with my career change; I found the exercises and one-on-one coaching especially helpful. During the School’s lecture series, a TCS executive spoke about the company’s R&D program. What he shared was so compelling that I walked up afterward and asked how I could join their team. I wasn’t a typical hire, an American coming aboard an Indian company in the Netherlands, but with patience and TCS support staff who knew the work and immigration requirements for the Netherlands, I started work five months later. My OneMBA and cominbed work experience in the USA was judged to be worth 13 years of value to the company, even though I had worked just 10 years.
Global networks
Creating global networks is at the core of OneMBA. I now have professional colleagues all around the world. Students come from diverse backgrounds, so if you have a problem or want to change careers, there are people to talk to – and they want to talk to you.