A Completely New Experience
As she moved into her new role, she noted the robust background of her colleagues, many of whom graduated from some of the best universities around the world. Norma saw the new experience as an important opportunity to grow and was inspired to continue with her professional development. While she had always wanted to study abroad, she had yet to do so, and gaining that wider perspective was calling to her. She began researching executive education options that would afford her that opportunity.
But she had one strict requirement: Norma needed courses that would teach her something she could use right away. “I wanted tools and frameworks that I could take and use quickly, because, as a finance person, I need to see the return on investment very quickly.” For her, simply sitting in a classroom and absorbing theory doesn't work anymore. “The world changed. I was looking for a different approach to continue with my professional development. I’m not a student in a college anymore. I wanted to build a good base of knowledge but, more importantly, I wanted learning that I could apply in real life. I wanted to be challenged to do things differently and know how to influence others to think differently, too. And, of course, I wanted to be endorsed at one of the best schools around the world. You can get all of that from MIT.”
Studying Abroad with the Global Executive Academy
That’s when she discovered MIT Sloan Executive Education’s Global Executive Academy (GEA), an eight-day management and leadership program for experienced executives across the globe. The program is taught in English and materials are translated into multiple languages, with UN-style simultaneous interpretation offered for executives who prefer to participate in their native language. However, unlike the majority of her fellow students, Norma decided to take the course in English rather than Spanish. “As a native Spanish speaker, I was impressed with the quality and support for those participants in other languages. As an English speaker, I was sometimes the connector between the Spanish-speaking participants and the different activities, providing reassurance to my classmates that they indeed understood everything perfectly.”
"The faculty are globally-recognized subject matter experts who are there to give you more than a tool or a theory. They provide a new way of thinking."
“GEA helped me develop a variety of skills — both “soft and functional” — which I definitely apply every day in my current role at PepsiCo.”
For Norma, GEA would be the first step on the path toward an Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE). The ACE is a special Executive Certificate for participants who attend 25 program days and complete at least two programs from each Executive Certificate track within a four-year period. Along the way, Norma earned her MIT Sloan Executive Certificates in Management and Leadership and Strategy and Innovation.
“Throughout the many courses I took, I especially loved the different exercises we performed,” she says. “Besides the amazing networking these interactions provide, they are really helpful to reinforce and apply course learnings in a controlled environment and with mentorship from the professors. On top of that, these exercises can be leverage in the workplace. I have conducted the same exercises with the people on my team to help them to improve their leadership skills.”
Norma said courses at MIT also helped her understand how to define the real problem in a given situation. “The faculty are globally-recognized subject matter experts who are there to give you more than a tool or a theory,” she says. “They provide a new way of thinking. I definitely consider this experience as a life changer, one that makes you into a different person, especially in the way you interact, solve problems, and build for future. It’s a change in your mindset.”
A Personal Gift
Norma’s husband (Andre Llamas) is also pursuing his ACE, with a focus on innovation. While originally planning to travel back to campus thus month, he will be completing his requirements with live online courses.
“My husband is the IT innovation leader for PepsiCo Latin America business,” explains Norma, who considers him a life-long learner. “He is getting a lot of support in his role at PepsiCo because of what he’s learning at MIT and applying at the company. For instance, he’s currently working with senior leadership to implement Industry 4.0 principles in Latin America and also revitalizing their digital business model based on takeaways from his programs and the network he has been building throughout.
MIT Sloan Executive Education is an investment in the Castillos’ lives and profession that they are happy to make. “We use our vacation time and our resources for education. It’s a personal gift to ourselves, and it’s totally worth it.”