Meet the 2021-2022 Hybrid MBA Student Council

Student council members together

Second Year Student Council Members, Fall ’21

The Hybrid MBA student council works collaboratively with the students, staff and faculty to ensure that student input is an integral part of the Hybrid MBA program. They plan networking and career events, run student groups and provide valuable feedback on the Hybrid MBA curriculum. Read about each individual on student council to learn about their current positions, why they chose the Hybrid MBA, their hobbies and what advice they have to give to prospective students.

 

Elaine Baik – Student Council ChairElaine's headshot

“Hi I’m Elaine! I am currently the Student Council Chair and thrilled to lead within the Foster community. It is such an exciting experience to learn with a diverse group of leaders and faculty, and the flexibility of the Hybrid MBA program is the best of both worlds. It enables students to continue embarking on their professional journeys with virtual classrooms combined with enriched opportunities for in person connections. Foster is an inclusive, collaborative environment and the insights learned can be applied to any personal or professional level. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to staff or current/former students if you have questions or curious about the program as everyone is welcoming and always willing to help. Outside of work and class, you can find me exploring the outdoors – playing tennis, golfing, hiking in the scenic PNW, traveling, or finding new coffee spots!”

Kallie Hinton – Vice-Chair

“Hi! I am Kallie Hinton, I am an Employment Brand Strategist and I live on Bainbridge Island, WA. I am serving as the Vice-Chair. I chose the Hybrid MBA and Foster because Hybrid is an inclusive format. It works for students at many stages in life wherever they might reside, and students can apply their learnings from day one. Foster thinks about business in a holistic way. It’s not just about the quantitative stuff, it’s about helping to create leaders who can see the big picture and are socially responsible stewards. Extracurriculars have been a little truncated during my first year of grad school and the pandemic. However, I enjoy reading about food, eating good food, and thinking about my next meal. I’m sub-par cook though! My recommendations for the Hybrid MBA program are to – Go for it! If you’re curious about the program, don’t be shy about asking questions to the program managers or current or former students. Everyone at Foster has been open, transparent, and welcoming.”

Evan Kim – JEDI Representative

“I’m a Seattle local working in product management and stepping in as the next JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) representative. Growing up here, UW has always loomed large in my life and I’m stoked to be part of the Foster School community! With the Hybrid MBA Program, I think you get the best of both worlds; connecting with cohort-mates across the country (and world!) while also tapping into the awesome faculty, staff, and community of Foster. When I’m not neck-deep in studying or work, I like to surf, sail, hike, or bike. Besides that, eating, cooking, and traveling take up the remainder of my free time.”

Miya Dotson – Events Representative

“Hi everyone! My name is Miya and I’m currently working for Lululemon as IDEA Lead and in brand and products. I chose Foster school and the Hybrid MBA program because of the proximity and flexibility. I’m certainly hoping the diversity of racial background and life experiences improves over the coming years for faculty and students as the program grows. Outside of work and school I teach fitness at the Bar Method, train for half marathons, hike, camp, travel, and shop A LOT. If you’re looking to apply to the program my advice is to believe in yourself and never let anyone or anything make you feel like you can’t cut it in this program, because you can, and you will. Stay in your lane and remember that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Your cohort is an opportunity for everything to come together. You owe yourself the learning of it all.”

Dave Reid – Curriculum Representative

“My name is Dave Reid, I’m a Customer Success Director at TeachBoost and I am the curriculum representative. I don’t live in the Seattle area, but I grew up there and always loved the UW. When I decided to pursue my MBA, I knew I wanted the highest quality education so I was thrilled to learn that the Foster School offered a Hybrid MBA. The hybrid model allows me the flexibility to pursue my education while living out of state, working full time, and building deep relationships with my peers through immersions and the cohort model. Outside of work and class I love spending time with my kids and family, irrationally rooting for Seattle sports teams, and tinkering around home improvement projects. If you’re interested in the Hybrid Program, set goals for yourself around what you want out of this experience on different levels and approach how you might reach those goals with an open mind.” 

Anton Fedoseev – Engagement Representative

“My name is Anton, I’m a 2nd year HMBA student and I currently work as a Sr. Learning Strategist at Autodesk responsible for employee training programs. Prior to that I spent 13.5 years in different roles related to customer success. I decided to join the Hybrid Program because I believe it offers the best balance of convenience and learning outcomes. It combines the quality and network of the in-person format with the ‘learn anywhere, anytime’ promise of elearning. The Foster school was my first choice as the best program in the northwest and one of the best in the nation. Between work, school, and family, there is not much free time left, but I try to spend those rare moments doing sports (martial arts, cycling, running, yoga), crafting (mostly 3D printing and milling), and photography (including my new interest – astrophotography). As anyone who is about to spend significant money and time, I had hesitations about my decision of starting an MBA program. One year later I have just one regret left: why I didn’t do it earlier! Time flies very fast with all the great classes and interactions with my teammates. Money investment has already proved itself after getting a promotion at work and nothing can compare to the feeling when you understand financial news, economics, and you become a better leader at work and at home too. I can’t recommend UW’s Hybrid MBA highly enough!”

Kevin LaJudice – Career Management Representative

“Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a medical device sales representative in the ear, nose, and throat space and I manage a territory of hospitals and surgery centers covering Washington, Alaska, and Northern Idaho. I chose Foster school because it’s a great business school with a robust alumni network and a respected brand. I chose the Hybrid MBA because it was a perfect fit for my work situation and for what I wanted out of my MBA experience. I was looking for a part-time MBA program that I could do while continuing to work. With the exception of the COVID lockdown, my job typically involves a lot of travel, so, I couldn’t reliably commit to being on campus each week. But having some degree of on-campus experience and getting to interact in-person with my classmates was a non-negotiable requirement for me. The Hybrid MBA checked every box. Outside of class and work I love hiking, cross-training for an annual Mt. Rainier climb, spending time with friends in Seattle’s many great parks, exploring the city’s restaurant scene, and reading. If you’re thinking about the Hybrid MBA you’ll want to do research into all the fantastic resources at the UW. Interested in a job change or negotiating a promotion? Check out the Career Management events and sign up for one on one coaching. Thinking about entrepreneurship? Attend some of the Buerk Center events. Interested in non-profit or consulting work? Apply to the Board Fellows program and get placed as a non-voting member.”

Stephanie Antonietti – First Year Student Representative

“My name is Stephanie Antonietti and I am a Quality Manager at SkinnyDipped, where I support our coated nuts manufacturing. I am supporting the student council as a first year student representative and supporting program social media. I have wanted to attend the Foster School of business as long as I have considered obtaining an MBA. The Hybrid program is great for me in that I am able to experience all of the benefits that the program has to offer, while simultaneously directly applying my learnings working full time in my industry. Since my job does require some travel, this program has enabled greater flexibility. When I am not studying or at work, I enjoy spending time with my pets, socializing with friends, and exploring the greater Seattle area. Time management is a crucial skill to be successful in the program! Although most of the program is online, it is still a full-time program and some time sacrifices will likely be required. That said, the elements of the team-based model of the program has been a great resource in adapting to the adjustments of being a student again!”

Nilesh Dixit – First Year Student Representative

“I am an engineer at heart but a nature-loving educator by profession. My peers also call me a “Lego Scientist” due to my diverse educational background. I am currently working as a faculty at Northern Kentucky University, teaching Earth Sciences courses and offering research opportunities to undergraduate students. As a first year student representative on the student council, I am responsible for serving as the link between my cohort and the student council to share any concerns or feedback through positive, streamlined communication. I chose this program because, unlike other online MBAs, the Foster Hybrid MBA offers smaller classes taught by world-class faculty, in-person immersions each quarter with bonding and networking opportunities, and a high-quality peer environment with access to business professionals from world-renowned companies. UW Foster also has a dedicated program staff and career experts who help students achieve their career goals by providing extensive career coaching and support on a personalized level. The Foster Hybrid MBA program was, therefore, the top choice for me. My advice for prospective Hybrid Students: I would say take advantage of all in-person and virtual information sessions the program offers to prospective HMBA students. These sessions are fantastic opportunities to get inside information about the Foster MBA experience directly from the program staff, current students, award-winning faculty, and alumni. Also, make sure that you do your homework before attending the session to get the best out of it.”

 

Meet more UW Hybrid MBA Students through our Hybrid MBA Student Q&A blog posts.

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