Matthew Kirby Galliger

Arizona State University, W. P. Carey School of Business

“I am a down-to-earth intellectual who believes you have to work hard to play hard.”

Age: 25

Hometown: Bowling Green, Ohio

Fun fact about yourself: I took Bachata dance lessons while I was in Singapore for work training. I also met my Fiancée during that same trip.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Ohio State University, BS in Chemical Engineering

Where are you currently working? Company: KLA, Title: Ramp Manager

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m most proud of transforming my team from a group of individuals into a true team. When I was first hired in my current position, it was every person for themselves. Through leveraging the skills I learned in my organizational behavior and strategic management course, I was able to achieve the required level of buy-in from my fellow team members and develop that trust that truly transforms individuals into a member of a team.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? I chose Arizona State University because they offered a unique dual master’s degree program where I was also able to pursue my Master’s in Industrial Engineering concurrently. When I applied COVID was in full swing, so I knew I was going to have a lot of free time on my hands. The decision made sense economically and I was able to learn a lot of additional analytical and problem-solving skills. I specialized in Corporate Finance in the MBA track and Engineering Logistics in the Engineering program. The program prepared me for a post-pandemic world, where several of our supply chain weaknesses were highlighted. I feel that I am equipped with the proper knowledge and tools to tackle the big issues facing our ability to meet demand around the world, especially in the semiconductor industry.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? My favorite part about being in an online MBA program was the flexibility it offered. In my current job I’d often have to work 55–60-hour weeks where I wouldn’t get home until 8pm. It was nice not having to worry about missing class because my lectures would be right there waiting for me whenever I did get home.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? I was most surprised about how much I got out of the whole experience. A lot of times online programs have the stigma of not being the real thing or being easier than the equivalent in person program. I couldn’t find this further from the truth. The flexibility an online program provides through allowing you to learn on your own terms drastically increased my retention rate of the material. Being able to rewind lectures and watch them as you please are invaluable assets that typically only online courses possess.

What would you change about an online MBA Program? I really enjoyed this program. The classes were a good length and the material covered was relevant to modern problems faced in industry.  he only thing I could possibly think of would be the timing of some of the live sessions were during work hours/workdays, which made it hard to attend.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? My online education did a great job of preparing me for working on difficult projects with a fully remote team. In my current role, there is a lot of coordination with moving parts all around the World. Working with team members located all around the world was a great entry experience in scheduling around time zones, providing detailed pass downs to ensure smooth transitions, and getting exposure to different working cultures from different countries.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Yes, at the beginning of the program I was a customer service engineer supporting microchip manufacturers. Last month I was promoted to Ramp Manager at my current company. I now oversee the installment and distribution of capital assets in value of over 150 Million dollars.

Did you earn a raise during the online MBA program? Yes

Number of Hours Per Week Spent On Online MBA: 15-20

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My ultimate long-term professional goal is to work my way up and become the Chief strategy officer in my company. I want to leverage the skills I have developed in my two programs to create sustainable supply chains, provide mentorship to management, and instill an employee-centric culture.

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