Kayla Dube earned her Accelerated MBA in 2015 and, while at SCU, served as a member of the Council of Graduate Students in Business.
Why did you choose SCU to further your education?
Growing up in the Bay Area, I knew that Santa Clara University was the college to attend if you were going to be successful. After completing my degrees at De Anza College and San Jose State University, I realized earning my MBA at SCU in Silicon Valley added even more value than just the SCU name. The hustle and bustle, entrepreneurial emphasis, and vast networks and opportunities, sealed the deal that SCU was where I wanted to be.
What attracted you to the Accelerated MBA (AMBA)?
I wanted a cohort environment. I wanted to experience the camaraderie and soak in the knowledge of those around me. I could not be happier with my experience so far.
Although some of the original cohort have left due to job and life changes, each one of them have left a huge impact on me. We chat everyday—not kidding—via Groupme. The cohort and our significant others are going to Tahoe during winter break. We have played kickball games, held holiday parties, birthday parties, and “Man Showers” (a baby shower for Dad), celebrated new jobs, and designed cohort T-shirts and jackets—so much more than I expected. This group has become my family.
What challenges did you face in the program?
I think those around me were more nervous for me than I was for me. The idea of working full-time, being a wife and mom of two, at 26, taking on an ACCELERATED program at SCU, made people a little wary, but I thrive when others are cautious. I knew that Santa Clara’s AMBA program was right where I needed to be.
Being a working mom and being in AMBA was not much of a problem for me. I balanced school and home and work. I tried to coordinate and be efficient, stay organized and keep plugging along.
What joys did you discover in the program?
The great thing about the AMBA program is the diverse coursework. I am happy that I did not need to pick a concentration! I love learning all about management. The best class obviously was our trip to Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I like that business is general—I was attracted to the field for that reason initially. The more I learn, the more intrigued I am with people’s minds and business dealings—for example, customer analysis and employee motivations and behaviors are fascinating!
How has your career changed as a result of coming to Santa Clara?
When I applied for the AMBA program, I was an environmental services supervisor for Kaiser Foundation Hospital, in my first role in a management capacity, supervising more than 100 people. Hospital Operations was not something I saw myself doing for the rest of my life, but I wanted to experience everything there was to know about the hospital business.
Shortly after starting AMBA, I realized with my undergrad degree and my management experience, I now had the opportunity to learn more at SCU, to put it all together. I wanted to utilize what I had learned thus far and apply the tools I gained in the AMBA towards something new. I was selective in seeking my next venture, and I am glad I was. Currently I am the administrative services supervisor for The Permanente Medical Group, overseeing staff in the departments of Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Neurology, Spine Surgery and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The more I learn at Santa Clara, the more value I am adding to the Kaiser Permanente organization. Now I impact seven departments and then some! I get to combine my academics with work that I love, leading people.
How do you think things will change for you once you've completed your degree?
After I complete my degree I believe that my sense of accomplishment will skyrocket. I also believe that attaining my MBA will open many doors for my career. The sky is the limit.