Dallas Business Owner Offers An Ocean Of Insight In Returning To School
Mike McKenzie was working as an oceanographer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) when he decided to change careers. He earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University and his master's from Texas A&M at College Station. He then decided to return to school to earn his master's in business administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. McKenzie now heads Pierce Decorative Hardware and Plumbing, a company that provides high-end faucets, doorknobs, etc. to customers who are building or remodeling their homes. He shares his insights on adjusting his sails and charting a new course in world of business.
Why did you pursue a master's degree?
"Having spent my undergraduate and initial graduate studies focused on becoming an oceanographer, the decision to move my career in a different direction dictated a return to school. I clearly needed a new set of tools and way to think about things. The problems were changing, so new solutions needed to be developed. The finance, marketing, organizational behavior, technology and business law was not something that I had learned in my initial studies. My MBA program gave me the tools to be successful in my new business."
What would you tell someone who is considering returning to school to earn a master's degree?
"Trust your instincts and if they say it's the right thing to do, get started – the sooner, the better."
What was the biggest challenge you faced when pursuing your master's degree?
"Going back to school at night while working to take the required prerequisites – accounting, economics, and finance. It was a new world with a new vocabulary. Thankfully, even scientists have to tackle statistics as undergrads, so I didn't need to do that again."
What was the biggest reward for earning the master's degree?
"Being able to make a career course change and, ultimately, lead a company and see it grow into something meaningful for the company's employees and create an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for those employees."
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com