Q&A with Yaeka Katsuta, TMMBA Student
In her final quarter before graduation, Yaeka Katsuta shares her experience in the Technology Management MBA program.
Current position: TMMBA and the Foster School introduced me to many Seattle startups through guest speakers in courses as well as events on campus. Over the course of the program I worked at an early stage healthcare startup and later this spring I’ll be joining another startup, Azuqua, in a Customer Success role.
Why did you choose the Technology Management MBA program at the Foster School?
After learning about TMMBA through alumni, I realized an MBA was what I needed to advance my career. These alumni loved their TMMBA experience and spoke of how the program built their professional networks, developed their management skills, and prepared them for the roles they were seeking. I compared other MBA programs before making a final decision, but it was clear from the beginning that TMMBA was the program for me. The technology focus, 18-month format, and supportive staff and professors made it realistic to both work full-time and complete my degree.
Could you describe the classroom environment?
One thing I will miss after graduation is the classroom experience. It’s not often you get to sit in a room with such a diverse, smart, and engaged group of people. Classes range from being lecture based, debate and collaborative group analysis. The professors do a great job of structuring classes and topics to invite discussion which enhances what and how we learn.
Outside of classes, which TMMBA programming have you participated in? Please describe…
I really enjoy the Tech at the Top series to meet local leaders in tech as well as the Tech Treks which give an inside look at local companies. To name a few, I visited Apptio, Fred Hutch and met execs from Booking.com and F5. Participating in the Foster Business Plan Competition is a really fun opportunity to apply everything we learned in the program, particularly the entrepreneurship quarter. Lastly, playing with the TMMBA ultimate Frisbee team “Business Time” is a great reminder that smart business leaders also know how to have fun.
How has the TMMBA program had an impact on your career? TMMBA helped develop my business acumen, gave me the skills, experience and confidence to be a lead candidate in roles I’ve been seeking. Class projects and opportunities like the Business Plan Competition have been an effective way to explore and practice skills, which then could be applied to my current role. Applying what I was learning in both school projects and at work, gave me tangible examples of my skills which strengthened my resume. This, coupled with the connections I made through the TMMBA alumni network and Foster career events opened new career opportunities for me.
