Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business Graduate Jim Scholefield- now the Global Chief Information Officer for Nike, Inc.- recently spoke with interviewers at Scheller to offer advice for students and reflect on his experience at Georgia Tech.
“This really helped me out early on in my career at P&G where I worked in business intelligence and developed forecast models,” Scholefield said of his Georgia Tech degree. “It also equipped me for long-term success because I understood the importance of entering the workforce with the right level of preparation. My managers immediately knew what I was capable of and could add the right responsibilities to grow my career accordingly.”
When asked how his Georgia Tech degree influenced his later career, Scholefield discussed the importance of a strong first impression for overall professional growth. While in the Georgia Tech MSM program- the precursor to an MBA at Scheller- Scholefield was able to obtain the necessary background to both understand the business side of technology, as well as shape him into the kind of person able to easily translate that information into workable solutions.
Scholefield goes on to discuss the importance of all managers having technical experience. With several industries being impacted, and even put out of business, by up-and-coming technology organizations, it is more important than ever that upper management be aware of and up-to-date with new trends in technology. He further recommends that students find internships that will allow them to hone their craft while narrowing down the type of role they would like to focus on after graduation.