Thomas Korenak works as an engineer and is an MBA candidate at the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. Korenak, who plans to graduate in 2022, shared his experience choosing Lerner graduate programs and how it has impacted him both personally and professionally.
Lerner: Why did you go back to pursue your graduate degree? Why did you choose the Lerner College for your studies?
Korenak: The Lerner MBA opens a lot of career options, and helps me see the full picture of the business environment I operate in.
Lerner: What did you learn through this opportunity that you wouldn’t have learned anywhere else?
Korenak: Linear programing, the financial and economic side of the engineering as well as business operations.
Lerner: What is an example of a course or concept that you were able to apply directly to your life and/or career?
Korenak: Linear Programming with Dr. Bintong Chen. His class directly applied to processes that could be improved at work.
Lerner: Can you describe an important connection you have made through your graduate program?
Korenak: My mentor through the Lerner Executive Mentorship Program
Lerner: If you were to describe your classmates in one word, what would that be?
Korenak: Motivated.
Lerner: Fill in this sentence: “My graduate program helped me become…”
Korenak: a more rounded professional.
Lerner: What was the most impactful hands-on project or case competition that you were able to participate in?
Korenak: Linear programming class with Dr. Bintong Chen
Lerner: What are your plans or next steps for the future?
Korenak: I would like to move to management within my company and start affecting larger decisions. I am currently in a tactical, operations support role. I would like to work on something longer-term.