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MBA Alumni Spotlight

Karunaker Molugu (Executive MBA)

  Current Position: Sr. Manager, Marketing & Data Analytics
  Current Industry: Utilities & Retail Segments
  Educational Background: MS in Computer Science, WMU, Kalamazoo, MI
      and BS in Electronics & Communication, India

Why did you choose the Executive MBA format?

  • The EMBA program provides flexibility to balance family, work, and school activities;
  • The EMBA program offers exposure to interact with 35+ industry professionals with rich experience from all disciplines; and
  • The EMBA program's cohort and pre-defined curriculum takes away the uncertainties about classes, groups, etc. and lets you focus on school work.

I was able to achieve this degree with the incredible support and encouragement from my wife and two beautiful daughters.

How did the MBA program change you as a person and/or a professional ?

I think getting an MBA was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Personally, EMBA helped me expand my knowledge about business strategies, functions, and processes which helped me make the transition from Technology to Marketing. In addition, the program helped me build the confidence and knowledge to accept more responsibility, to adapt tools to help make critical business decisions, and to lead teams and organizations.

What advice would you give to an aspiring MBA student?

Aspiring for an MBA and/or starting an MBA program is an achievement in itself and let me first congratulate you. Getting an MBA is a personal commitment and you have to take it seriously. Define your short-term and long-term goals during the early stages of the program. Plan how you would leverage your education, knowledge, and connections to grow. This will enable you to focus and will steer you in the right direction in selecting the learning tools that are required to achieve your goals.

What are your current interests and hobbies?

With work-life balance, I spend more time with my family, and have picked up a couple of hobbies which include photography and racquet ball.

What blogs, magazines or newspapers do you read to stay up-to-date?

As a technology and marketing individual, I am always looking into continuous improvement of business processes to define solutions to solve business issues. For me, the best way to learn is to participate in discussions and forums and I participate in blogs and discussions on LinkedIn and Harvard Business Review groups. Some topics and articles I follow include:

  • eCommerce & digital marketing
  • Direct Marketing Association news
  • Entrepreneur Magazine