Chad Passman
Program: Evening
Graduation: MBA 2013
Organization/Current title: John Deere, Manager, Product Line Information
Q: Why did you choose the NC State Jenkins MBA program for your graduate education?
A: I was living in Raleigh and wanted an on campus experience with flexibility, if I were to move.
Q: How did your experience in the program contribute to your professional achievements and successes?
A: The educational content the I learned during my time at the Jenkins MBA Program has been applicable in my career positions and helped me advance within my company.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your time in the Jenkins MBA Program?
A: I enjoyed the cohort experience. I have since taken additional graduate classes at University of Iowa in a non-cohort style and found shallower relationships & team project effectiveness.
Q: What do you miss most now that you have graduated?
A: Looking forward to my next class! I do miss the campus & Raleigh area.
Q: What are a few of the most impactful classes/lessons you learned during your time at NC State?
A: Managerial Econ helped shape my macro level thought processes from a academic perspective. The MBA program also taught me a great deal about leadership within a team, how to leverage each other’s strengths, and how to accomplish a common goal in a team of very different personalities.
Q: What are your lasting impressions of the Jenkins MBA program?
A: All positive. I recommend this program all all the time. The cohort was the best way to go through a program. The facilities were great and the staff were positive, approachable, and very well versed in industry.
Q: What advice would you give for prospective and current students who are interested in your industry/profession?
A: My advise would be to learn more about your classmates companies and career backgrounds as this helps re-frame much of what you do everyday in your own company. The program is chance to learn from other industries and how they are tackling the same/similar problems.
Q: What advice do you have for prospective Jenkins MBA students?
A: Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Enjoy your time in the program and learn as much as possible. It will go by quickly and in my industry, all the tangible & intangible principles will come into play. The more you learn the better base you will have to be successful.
Q: What do you believe is your most interesting accomplishment since graduation?
A: To many professional accomplishments to count. But most is starting a wonderful family. To name my most interesting career one, the fact that I now lead an international team across two continents. That is probably most interesting to the masses.
Q: What are your goals and plans for the future?
A: Continuous education (I have since gained a graduate certificate in finance form Iowa) and continue my career path into the Senior Officer level of my company.