Valerie Keiter: Mentorship, motherhood and the MBA

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—“A degree alone is no longer enough.” 

This comes from Valerie Keiter, who is in year two of the Western Michigan University MBA program, and fueled by a drive to gain relevant experience, hone specialized skills to advance her career and set herself up to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in the future. 

Delving into data analytics and in-depth exploration of topics like enterprise resource planning (ERP), Keiter has enjoyed these technical areas in the program. “The assignments in my ERP elective course were challenging, like complex puzzles that were incredibly rewarding to solve. I also found my data analytics courses exciting, especially MBA 6003, where I learned Tableau. Tableau’s ability to transform data into powerful visualizations resonated with my analytical side.”

Fortunate to have several incredible mentors throughout the program, Keiter feels supported by faculty, staff and her supervisor. “Ren Phillips, director of graduate programs, helped me navigate my MBA journey while balancing a new full-time job and the unexpected news of becoming a first-time mom. Dr. Marcel Zondag, associate professor of marketing, taught me valuable skills in survey creation, which helped me make important innovations in my professional role, and he supported me when I worried about keeping up with his course while expecting my baby. He reassured me and followed through, making adjustments for me as needed. I’m also very thankful to my supervisor. She has been a mentor and champion, allowing me to apply the skills I’ve gained through the MBA program in my role as business manager associate.”

Heading into her final semester of the program, Keiter is achieving her goals while balancing her life’s responsibilities. “Maintaining a 4.0 GPA in the MBA program is something I’m incredibly proud of. Continuing my education despite any initial doubts has been a transformative journey. I’m excited to become the first person in my family to earn a master’s degree and to share this milestone with my daughter as a testament to perseverance and the value of lifelong learning.”

Keiter doesn’t know exactly where the skills she has developed in the MBA program will lead her, but she cites the confidence she has gained as a significant benefit. “I’ve learned that I’m far more capable than I give myself credit for. Each semester, I experience self-doubt but soon adapt to the workload and meet my goals. Earning my bachelor’s and master’s degrees has shown me that this is just the beginning of my learning journey, and that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.”

Working in higher education, Keiter knows that giving back is essential. “Many students struggle financially, and while not everyone can contribute monetarily, we can all mentor, support and uplift others. Whether through resume building or interview preparation, helping a fellow student can be life changing. As a full-time employee, student and new mom, I’ve found the MBA program at WMU challenging yet achievable with determination and support—and I aim to provide support to others in my educational journey and beyond.”

To learn more about the MBA program, visit the website.  

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