As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ Class of 2022, Jill Charlton, an MBA graduate majoring in strategic leadership from Churchville, Maryland, has not had the typical student experience at UD due to the coronavirus pandemic. Charlton, and her entire class, have shown incredible resilience, maturity and spirit while adjusting to the many unexpected changes that they have encountered as students. Each installment of this series will profile an outstanding member of this class, showcasing their achievements, experiences at UD and what it means to be a Blue Hen.
Charlton was nominated for this series by UD Associate Professor of Marketing Michal Herzenstein, who said, “Jill works for one of the local big companies and I love how she priced gaskets and based all assignments on her knowledge from her company.”
In this profile, Charlton shared her favorite UD memories, how she has changed during her time at UD and her plans following graduation.
Lerner: How have you grown from your first year at UD to now?
Charlton: I am a better leader now than when I started the Lerner program. I reinforced my foundation in hard skills, from accounting and economic analysis to creating and empowering strong teams. I have a much better understanding of how to partner with financial analysts in our businesses to develop and assess justifications for new endeavors.
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Charlton: Being a Lifelong Lerner is synonymous with being a lifelong learner. My time at UD allowed me to step away from the day to day of work to revisit core skills and view our business, and my place in it, with a wider lens. The coursework at Lerner gave me frameworks and models that can enhance my leadership and my team’s performance. I will always be grateful to the collaboration and engagement that I felt as part of the Lerner community.
Lerner: What was the most memorable course that you took at Lerner?
Charlton: My most memorable course was managing the global enterprise. This course laid out the tools and structure to create an effective organization, from strategy development to marketing strategy and with consideration of global financial systems and organizational structures. Leading an enterprise requires assessment of the whole system. This course considered the traditional structure of multinational enterprises and the shifts that may need to happen in light of born-global companies and advancement of digital capabilities.
Lerner: What was your favorite UD experience?
Charlton: My favorite UD experience is just being on campus! I have driven through UD for nearly 20 years while working nearby. Now I feel like an included part of the UD community. It has been a pleasure to explore and understand the many resources available.
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Charlton: I plan to continue implementing my knowledge into my everyday leadership commitments at W.L. Gore & Associates, headquartered here in Newark, Delaware. I will advocate to my peers and mentees, and any associate who wants to develop their knowledge and business acumen, to join the Lerner programs.