Kevin Scott, Senior Vice President, Merchandising, The Home Depot

Kevin started at The Home Depot in high school and has had a successful, 28-year track record in progressive roles including as an executive over store operations, merchandising strategy, and merchandising execution in all U.S. stores. He was already an outstanding leader, with equal performance in different areas of business such as operations management, human resources management, product innovation and strategic planning, and portfolio management.

"At the level I had attained at The Home Depot, the competition was fierce; I was looking to gain an advantage among my peers, and the Modular MBA for Executives Program answered that need."

Leadership skills are critical to his success and that of his business, and he wanted to make sure he created an atmosphere where employees could thrive and do their best. I had demonstrated leadership to good ends, and in a number of challenging situations, in my business; however, the Modular MBA for Executives Program gave me the means to understand leadership from the ground up. its academic, experiential, and reflective components such that I now have a deeper, broader understanding of this quintessential skill."

Kadri Ozen, Vice President and Head of Global Affairs, Merck

With a journalism and medical background, Kadri had experience working with Fortune 500 companies managing public affairs and communication around the world. He had always traveled internationally for work and managed various global businesses. However, he knew an MBA would catapult him to the next level and chose the Modular MBA for Executives Program because of its flexibility with his schedule.

I was representing my company in more than 90 countries. With such a hectic travel schedule, a flexible MBA program wasn't a desire; it was a necessity. With nicely scheduled residency terms every eight to 10 weeks, I knew when I should be in Atlanta and was able to plan all my work-related travels and commitments accordingly. Despite frequently having a seven-hour time difference from the rest of my classmates, the blended learning format enabled me to be a strong contributor and fully utilize the collaborative nature of the program.

Not only was Kadri able to gain a business perspective, he was also able to share his global perspective with his classmates. Even while jetting across different time zones, Kadri was able to complete his MBA as well as the Business of Healthcare Seminar Series, an optional concentration available to healthcare professionals. In this way, he embarked on a new chapter in his career as vice president, Global External Affairs where all his skills came together.