Kelly Snyder got a foretaste of the Vanderbilt Executive MBA experience when she attended a lecture by Professor David Owens. “His passion,” she says, “was evident, which made the lecture extremely engaging.”

But the caliber of the faculty was far from the only reason Kelly chose Vanderbilt after she decided to pursue a graduate business degree. When she joined DCI Donor Services in 2009, she was responsible for patient safety and for ensuring that the organization’s Tissue Bank complied with all applicable standards and regulations. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the accreditation committee of the American Association of Tissue Banks.

But with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s in biotechnology, Kelly saw she needed to expand her knowledge base if she wanted to expand her responsibilities. Vanderbilt’s “prestigious reputation and program ranking” stood out to her, and she was drawn by the opportunity to apply what she learned in a capstone project, and to work with classmates as part of a C-team.

“My C-suite team,” Kelly says, “consisted of an engineer, trader, IT expert, lobbyist and me. Our diversity allowed us to bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. I believe I learned as much from them as I did from the professors.

“For me, the Executive MBA program has been an exciting learning process. In addition to providing the tools I needed to advance my career, it also pushed me to learn more about myself and what I am capable of achieving.”

Just as she hoped, Kelly was able to apply her new skills on the job immediately, in ways that paid dividends for her and DCI. In fact, while she was still in the program, she was promoted to Interim Executive Director of the Tissue Bank.