Richard Lindeman

The University of Texas at Dallas, Jindal School of Management

“I’m a Tennessee native now living in Dallas, Texas, solving supply chain challenges at PepsiCo.”

Age: 32

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Fun fact about yourself: I am the captain of the Frito-Lay cycling team, the Cheesy Riders.

Undergraduate School and Degree: BBA in Supply Chain Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Where are you currently working? Senior Manager in Supply Chain Strategy at PepsiCo Frito-Lay

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I was awarded the Circle of Leadership in 2018 for improving service in my department by over 20%. This is awarded to 3 select people each year out of hundreds of candidates in Supply Chain. While I enjoyed the recognition of my performance, it ultimately gave me the confidence to excel in my career going forward.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? UT Dallas has a top ranked Supply Chain Management program that fits my need for rigor and flexibility.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? I travel quite a bit for work and pleasure, and the online format allows me to stay on top of my classes from anywhere. Additionally, UT Dallas allows online students to participate in international study abroad trips. Last spring, I joined the study abroad trip to Dublin, Ireland, where I spent the week learning how international companies excel at supply chain management. This year I am joining the trip to Stockholm, Sweden to learn about international sustainability efforts in business.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? I’ve had to become more disciplined to stay on top of my studies because many of my classes are not at a scheduled time.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? There are many similarities in terms of how courses were paced and structured; however, more so there are stark differences. The online format has allowed me to work around my full-time job and handle my part-time course load in the evening.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? My advice is to find a schedule of working on your course load each day and have the discipline to stick to that schedule. It is easy to let the course work build up, but it is much more manageable to pace it out.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? My courses have been directly applicable to my current job, so I have been able to apply learnings from every class to work. It has given me unique perspective and insights that would have taken me years to get natural exposure to over the course of my career.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? I was promoted from Manager to Senior Manager halfway through my MBA program. It is incredibly important to balance work and school so that one does not detract from the success of the other.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential program? I am on a great career track at work, and I did not want to pause my progress. Pursuing an online MBA program has allowed to me continue my career growth at work and accomplish my MBA goals simultaneously.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 10 hours per week. I am disciplined to work on my academics from 5-7 PM each weekday.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term professional goal is to run my own company. Attaining an MBA has exposed me to all functions of business, which will be critical to me reaching my ambitions.

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