M.A. Organizational Leadership Courses Help Highmark Employee Grow as a Team Leader Friday, March 15, 2013
Meet Kara Jones
Job title: Senior Marketing Operations Services Analyst
Employer: Highmark Inc.
Degrees earned: Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Leadership Development, Point Park University; M.B.A., Robert Morris University and Bachelor of Science in Business with concentration in Marketing, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Graduation years: 2012, 2009 and 2008
Hometown and current residence: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Hobbies/interests: Cooking and golfing
Why did you choose Point Park's M.A. in organizational leadership program?
I was looking for a master's program that offered a variety of courses in leadership. After doing some initial research, I learned that Point Park had the perfect program to fit my needs. I really appreciated the flexibility the program afforded, with evening classes that fit into my schedule. I was able to work full time and complete the M.A. degree simultaneously.
The organizational leadership courses are designed to complement one another, which allowed for a well-rounded educational experience. The course assignments in all of my classes really helped me to grow as a leader.
What are your key responsibilities as a senior marketing services analyst for Highmark?
My team at Highmark manages the intake of all new marketing requests and the traffic management of each project from start to completion. I work to manage projects and gather resources from multiple departments. Once a new project is presented to my team, I manage the execution of project deliverables and ensure that each project's expectations and deadlines are met. I also work to develop new processes for the team and the integration of new departments into the marketing process.
What was one of your favorite experiences at Point Park?
I really enjoyed the "Team Building for Leaders" class. While every course had a component of team building, this specific class really enabled me to work closely with others. In the first class of the semester, we formed a team and continued to work as a team throughout the term. We worked together to accomplish class projects and meet team goals. I found this to be a very beneficial learning tool relevant to the real world. There are many times throughout our professional and personal lives where it is important to have the ability to work in unison with others. Challenges and tough times are inevitable. However, working as a team provides the ability to be successful in problem solving. I felt that this class afforded me the knowledge required to do just that!
What are your future career goals?
I plan to continue to persevere and advance to a management position. I enjoy taking on leadership roles and working with others and I think that it is very important to help cultivate relationships based on trust.
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