Soon-to-be PMBA graduate leverages class presentation to land Hyland Software position

Ellie Koewler did it, and you can too. Land a job before even graduating from Ohio University’s College of Business Professional MBA program (PMBA), that is.

As a working professional, Koewler started job searching shortly before graduating from the program. She had an interview with Hyland Software in Cleveland, Ohio, after learning about the job from an OHIO alumnus via LinkedIn. Her second interview required a presentation on any kind of technology.

Koewler chose Robotic Process Automation (RPA), a productivity technology that automates standardized, repeatable processes (such as processing payroll, filling out forms, and performing calculations), something she learned in Lori Marchese’s Strategic Use of Information Systems class (PMBA 6360).

In the class, Koewler’s team presented on RPA, so she felt comfortable enough with the technology to talk about it in depth. She tweaked that presentation and used the demo she and her partners made, and she got a job offer. As of Nov. 30, Koewler is a sales support representative at Hyland Software. Come December, she’ll be an official graduate of the PMBA program.

“It was great news thatElliewas able to use what she learned immediately,” Marchese said. “The Strategic Use of Information Systems class in the PMBA provides experiential learning with the goal of leveraging the lessons learned in the workplace.”

Koewler said the class was valuable because it allowed her to understand technology from a strategic perspective — how it can be used to create value for businesses and customers, and how technology can be a competitive advantage (or disadvantage).

“When pivoting from a career in international education to a sales role at a technology company, these lessons were invaluable because I was able to showcase a depth of understanding of technology that is essential to sell effectively,” Koewler noted. “You not only have to know the features and the functions of a technology, but how to communicate the value in a way that is clear, meaningful, and strategic for their business’s goals.”

The PMBA coursework and cohort model exposed Koewler to various careers and considerations as she was deciding to pivot fields. It provided a business foundation that she leveraged to secure a new position in a new industry. All of her business knowledge prior had been learned “on the job.”

Because of the program, she felt prepared to change careers and look forward to leveraging her PMBA coursework even more as she moves into higher level roles in the future.

“All the professors were available, flexible, and experts in their fields,” she added. “They recognized everyone in the program was a working professional and ensured assignments and reading were relevant.”

For more information on the program, visit this link.