Basil Newburn, current student of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School, recently talked about his goals as a student at the school.
He expects to graduate in 2018, and he has received this year’s Advisory Board Merit Scholarship. In today’s world of virtual connection, his perspective is refreshing. “I usually do my best thinking when I step away from my screens and work on paper,” he says. “On paper I am not constrained by a keyboard, a mouse or the particular design features of an application, and I find that linking my mind with my hands opens up more creativity.”
Newburn is a finance consultant with LeighFisher, a boutique management company that focuses on the aviation industry,
He said in a recent profile, “I have loved aviation since my father, an Air Force pilot, introduced me to it as a child. A few years after earning my own pilot’s license, I found an opportunity that combines finance, consulting and aviation in one career, a unique combination that suits my skills and interests.”
Newburn continued, “The MBA program at SCU is designed for working professionals like me. I was able to start classes shortly after applying, select a course schedule that allows me to meet my work commitments and adjust my plans as necessary. The SCU community was also very welcoming to me from the start, and I have been able to access all of the resources necessary to accomplish my business and educational objectives. I was looking to stay in the San Francisco Bay area, and the beautiful campus doesn’t hurt, either.”