Jessica Hutchinson, Director, Organizational Change and Project Management at Univar Solutions
McLauchlan Fellow Jessica Hutchinson credits the Jenkins Online MBA program with helping her land a promotion to a director role at Univar Solutions – and with accelerating her personal and professional growth.
Get to know Jessica
Program: Online MBA, Business Leadership Certificate
Start date: August 2022
Anticipated graduation date: May 2026
Current location: Greensboro, NC
Life before Jenkins
Work experience: 20 years
Industries: Upholstery (1 year); printing (12 years); chemical distribution (7 years)
Roles: Senior organizational change manager, director of organizational change and project management, process excellence manager, customer service manager, production manager, quality and planning manager, sales manager, account executive
Fields: Transformation, sales, customer service, manufacturing operations
Undergraduate education: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, B.A. in Communication Studies
Career goals
Eager to position herself for career advancement opportunities and earn a reputation as a leader in her field, Hutchinson decided to dive back into the world of higher education and earn her MBA. “I felt that not having an advanced degree was a barrier to progressing in my career. I saw a series of promotional announcements touting career highlights and higher education and I felt I needed the latter,” she says.
In addition to becoming a leader in her field, Hutchinson hopes to teach in the future. “My long-term goal is to gain enough clout and experience to teach at the university level for the last 5-10 years of my career,” she says. “Beth Ritter and Chris Hitch inspired me to focus on making the jump from corporate leadership to academia. It is refreshing to learn from people who have been successful in business in the Jenkins MBA program.”
Daily life
In addition to pursuing her MBA degree through the Online MBA program, Hutchinson leads a team of program, project and change managers at Univar Solutions, a chemical and ingredient distribution company. “We were a Fortune 500 company that was recently purchased by a private equity firm, so our organization is undergoing a tremendous amount of change – and my team is involved at the heart of all of it,” she says. “Three months ago, I transitioned from leading change management for the cost-savings work to growth-focused program management, and it’s been an exciting change. It’s always more fun to focus on ways to make money than on ways to save it.”
Beyond her work and studies, Hutchinson’s family also keeps her busy. “I am married and a mother and step-mother of two girls, both 11 years old. We are a blended family and they are six weeks apart in age – and they both start middle school this year!”
What makes it great
As a resident of Greensboro, N.C., Hutchinson appreciates the flexibility of the Jenkins Online MBA program as well as the opportunities the program provides to connect with faculty and peers in-person – such as PACKed Saturday classes.
Most of all, Hutchinson has enjoyed participating in the McLauchlan Leadership Series. “The program challenged me in the best way possible. It provided a safe space to be vulnerable and grow as a person and a leader. The world-class instructors were incredibly engaging and there was never a dull moment. We laughed, we cried, we cheered, we did things that scared us, we solved problems and we invested in each other,” she says. “It was truly transformational and I can’t recommend it enough. I ‘think and do’ differently as a result and I’m forever grateful to the McLauchlan family, Leigh Shamblin and all of the faculty members involved in the program for the gift of confidence they’ve inspired in me.”
Career impact
Less than two years into the Jenkins Online MBA program, Hutchinson was promoted to a director role at Univar Solutions. “I believe my investment in myself through the Jenkins MBA program helped me get there,” she says. “Some organizations give out titles like candy, but that doesn’t happen in mine. This is a huge accomplishment for me and a significant increase in responsibility.”
In addition to helping her land a promotion, Hutchinson says the Jenkins MBA program has increased her visibility. “I’ve been receiving a lot more attention on LinkedIn and have had a lot of opportunities outside of my organization. I feel valued where I am and love what I do, so I have not had a reason to make a professional change, but it has been amazing to see the attention I’ve been getting as a result of the Jenkins MBA program and the work we did in the first residency to revamp our profiles and create our personal brand.”
“My advice to anyone considering the program is to not wait – just do it.”
Final thoughts
Reflecting on the personal growth and career advancement she has experienced as part of the Jenkins MBA program, Hutchinson recommends the program to anyone eager to grow. “In the first residency, Leigh Shamblin told us that we would not be the same person when we finish the program. I’m only halfway through and I’m not the same person now,” she says. “I’m investing in myself and it feels like self-care. As a working mother who generally works at least 50 hours a week – and balances that with evening and weekend activities for my children – this is the first thing I’ve done that is completely for me in a long time. My sense of self-worth has increased tenfold.”
“My advice to anyone considering the program is to not wait – just do it,” she continues. “There will never be a ‘good time.’ If the cost is a barrier, check to see if tuition assistance is available through your work and talk to a program advisor at NC State to understand what scholarships, grants and financial aid are available. Where there is a will, there is a way.”
Get in touch
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn or at jwhutchi@ncsu.edu.
Learn more
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