Wendy vander meulen, b.b.a.'05
It all came full circle for Wendy Vander Meulen.
After graduating from Western Michigan University back in 2005, Vander Meulen made her way to Chicago to join the corporate world as a buyer for an international distributer. But after moving back to Kalamazoo, Vander Meulen learned of an opening at WMU and just couldn’t say no.
We had the opportunity talk with Vander Meulen about her journey back to WMU, how she’s using her education to lead and how her strong Bronco roots pulled her back home.
How did you get to where you are today?
After I graduated from WMU, I had the chance to work as a buyer for Anixter Inc., a wire and cable distribution company north of Chicago. I spent 12 years with the company in various positions and also attended DePaul University in Chicago where I received my MBA.
My husband and I ended up relocating back to Kalamazoo after he was offered a new job and I was able to work remotely for Anixter. In 2017, I learned about an opening at WMU for the director of logistical services. I wasn’t actively looking to change jobs at the time, but it seemed like a great opportunity. Now I’ve been with the university over a year, and I couldn’t be happier.
What is the most interesting experience that you have had in your career thus far?
Coming to work for WMU after having been a student here and working in the private sector for so many years, was such an interesting experience. I’ve loved seeing how much has changed on campus since I was here last. It has also been a great learning opportunity to be a part of all the work that goes into running an entire University.
What do you see as the biggest challenge in today’s business world?
Keeping up with change. A conference speaker recently said that the change we are experiencing in today’s world is the slowest rate of change we will ever see—it only gets faster from here. There is so much truth to that.
We live in a time of constant advancement and changing expectations. Organizations are challenged to keep up while dealing with limited resources. It is increasingly important to spend time learning about new tools and for organizations to make a commitment to invest in resources to actively explore new opportunities, technology and advancement.
What excites you about your work every day?
No day is the same and certainly no day is ever boring! I truly do learn something new every day. I also really enjoy the opportunity to use my experience and knowledge to make a positive impact to the University.
How do you describe your leadership style?
My style is really situational. It’s important to understand what makes each organization unique and to take into account the culture of the team to determine the appropriate style.
Here at WMU, I have a more experienced staff, so I take a more democratic approach while still challenging the status quo.
In my experience the most important characteristics of good leaders are
- Communicating a clear vision
- Honesty and integrity
- Commitment to the organization and its employees
What has been the hardest lesson you have had as a business professional? How did it make you stronger?
Handling decisions I did not agree with has been the most challenging aspect of my career. In a public company, I quickly realized there was a focus on short-term gains to meet quarterly goals, which often (in my view) came as a detriment to long-term results. Sometimes these decisions put my team in a difficult position to meet customer expectations.
Looking back, it taught me how to handle challenging situations and how to have difficult conversations. It also taught me to pick my battles, and in situations I felt strongly about how to present a strong case to influence the outcome. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was to never criticize a decision without offering a solution or alternative in its place.
What is the professional accomplishment that you are most proud of?
There are a lot of accomplishments I am proud of, but the most rewarding accomplishment has been the success of my employees. I spent years managing a young workforce of mostly recent college graduates. Much of my time and energy was focused on coaching and mentoring them in their position as well as their careers. I am very proud to have had a small impact on the success of those individuals.
What is the most important thing that current students can do to prepare themselves for success in the business world?
Students should gain as much real-world experience as possible—whether through classroom projects, internships, part-time jobs or job shadowing.
Not only will these experiences give you a much deeper understanding of the concepts you have learned in the classroom, but they fill your resume before you even graduate, which gives you more confidence going into a professional position.