{"id":41211,"date":"2021-06-29T10:13:11","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T08:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/?p=41211"},"modified":"2023-08-11T14:31:35","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T12:31:35","slug":"meet-tim-corey-student-success-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/meet-tim-corey-student-success-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Studying Strategic Change Management Enhanced My Ability to Make an Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2013 Tim Corey, Account Executive and Cloud Evangelist, Oracle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vast number of data centers located in Ashburn, Virginia, means an estimated 70 percent of the globe\u2019s internet traffic flows through the American city.1<\/sup> It\u2019s no surprise, then, that it\u2019s considered the data capital of the world. It\u2019s also a fitting hometown for Tim Corey, whose day-to-day role at a leading cloud database company involves introducing new clients to the platform and familiarizing them with its processes and capabilities. In time, Tim realized that he wanted his responsibilities to evolve and be impactful on every level of the organization. The first step to achieving this was to complete the Kellogg Executive Education at Northwestern University\u2019s Strategic Change Management<\/a> online program.<\/p>\n

Now, he shares his experience of studying online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing a program that drives change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the COVID-19 pandemic propelled the workplace online, the ability to create strategic change in any context was brought to the fore. \u201cBefore, you could [wield] that influence in an office where you see the same faces and have those interactions. And you can say, \u2018Hey, I’m going to take this team to lunch, and we’re going to talk about this,\u2019\u201d Tim says. He then goes on to mention the serendipity of studying when he did. \u201cIt was apropos… the timing of when I took [the program] because I’m able to utilize these skills in a virtual environment, which is even more necessary right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cI started studying before the pandemic and was actually traveling and seeing customers in person,\u201d says Tim. \u201cI would do some of the coursework in the hotel [or] I\u2019d do it in the airport. Once we transitioned, I would do it in the morning before I started my day, [and] on the weekends I could do three or four hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studying online was a no-brainer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although this wasn\u2019t Tim\u2019s first time studying online, the experience was, in his words, \u201clike night and day\u201d. When asked what stood out to him during the program, his answer was simple: the level of production that went into it. \u201cToday, [studying online is] a no-brainer. We [still] had interactions with the professors and students \u2013 it was easy to engage. There was a [Success Adviser] that was available. The [facilitators] were available. My fellow [classmates were] so easy to engage with; the experience was seamless.\u201d In fact, the chance to engage with professionals from around the world was a key reason for Tim choosing to study online. As he explains, \u201cIt’s a very international business \u2013 the cloud and digital transformation \u2013 so hearing from [students] that were from other parts of the world had a much greater impact [on] me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Learning was the real motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n
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For Tim, it was about the journey rather than the end result. \u201cWhat really motivated me was that I wanted to use what I was learning. It wasn’t one of these things where I just wanted to get a certificate. I want to be as impactful and valuable as possible to my company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A changed mindset has the most impact<\/h2>\n\n\n
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As well as gaining practical tools specific to the Strategic Change Management<\/span><\/strong> online program from Kellogg Executive Education at Northwestern University, Tim found that the most important outcome of studying online with GetSmarter was a new way of thinking: \u201cThis program has impacted my career in that I’m thinking differently when bringing ideas to the table.\u201d And what\u2019s Tim\u2019s advice to future students? \u201cIf you want to formulate a strategy for change, first understand where your organization is now. Something I learned is that you have to get really clear on what your definition [of change] is, and how that aligns with the [goals of the] company, and come up with a formula. Then you can go back to the drawing board on it multiple times and iterate on that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Study further to challenge the way you think about strategic change<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View the brochure<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Register now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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