Motivation Case

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT: REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT X-571

DATE: MARCH 5, 2011

First and foremost I would like to thank you, Professor, and the KD team for such a wonderfully challenging week. The week not only reinforced my motivation to get my MBA at Kelley but, it also confirmed why I am actually working towards this degree. The biggest gap between my undergraduate education and my professional role currently is my tunnel vision. Being an accounting and finance undergrad major and having worked in “back-office” functions since graduation, I have always been very detail oriented and focused on the minutia of operations. As I progress on the career ladder, I want to develop a more holistic view of the business place. I know the Kelly program can develop the view for me. I want to advance my strategic skills, marketing skills, negotiating skills, and especially forecasting skills. I have realized I have difficulty seeing the big picture and that is necessary in management. My realizations were solidified when I took part in the Granola Project. During the project, I was very comfortable with taking on the financial analysis portion of our report/presentation. However I found that I was resistant to taking on a leading role, besides support research, in the other aspects. Since my overall goals are harder to measure, the gaps that I discovered while being involved in the Granola Project can be converted into more measurable and specific goals.

One such goal is to be promoted to manager around this time next year. Currently I have the technical skills, but I would like to enhance my managerial capabilities. I find myself resistant to want to embrace the soft skills side of business. I am hoping the Kelly program will broaden my horizons and give me the tools I need to be able to see the big picture. I know the Kelly program will give me the opportunity to use my talents and my skills to their full potential. I would like to develop the know-how and think outside the paradoxical accountant’s box to provide full financial solutions including negotiating, budgeting, forecasting, and strategizing. My current work involves dealing with many personalities, especially in Academics this aspect of the job brings along with it many challenges. Yet, I know these challenges seem harder to me because I allow myself to get intimidated or frazzled. I think developing those negotiating soft skills will really come in handy and help me take controls of difficult situations or individuals that have challenged me before.

Another goal of mine is to develop my Project Management skills. Thus, through Kelly I want to gain a firm