As a proud son of Michigan, raised in Farmington Hills in a family of eight children, and a Michigan State University alum with a Bachelor\u2019s in Business Administration, Steve Deighton made the \u201ceasy choice to return for my graduate degree.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 100% online Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership<\/a> (MSMSL) program made that \u201creturn\u201d to MSU possible for Steve, as he and his family live in Virginia, where he works as a professional recruiter with Legacy Care of Virginia Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Steve was initially attracted to the MSMSL program for its holistic and balanced approach that is \u201cmore specific than a traditional MBA,\u201d the program\u2019s online convenience and flexibility would prove invaluable as life began throwing one disruption after another at the Deighton family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In March 2020, much of the world moved online for school, work and even shopping for life necessities as the coronavirus outbreak triggered an initial wave of business shutdowns and civil lockdowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If anything, the online MSMSL program was one of the constants for Steve that didn\u2019t change, allowing him to stay consistent in his studies, even in the face of the unexpected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was used to working through the online curriculum, so the stay at home order did not change anything for my last two courses,\u201d he says. Steve completed his Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership in the spring 2020 semester and \u201cwalked\u201d in MSU\u2019s first-ever virtual commencement on May 16, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy family and I watched the commencement, which I streamed live to our large screen TV,\u201d he says of the family celebration. \u201cMy teenage son, James, is proud of his old man, and my hope is that he will consider Michigan State when the time comes for him to go to college.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A virtual commencement with no on-campus ceremony or the graduate luncheon MSMSL grads are usually feted to was certainly different this year, some might even say disappointing, but the Deighton family had much to celebrate and remember that May day, even from the confines of home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy wife, Gwen, served as my motivation and inspiration. She battled cancer while caring for her Mom and Dad,\u201d explains Steve. \u201cHer Dad also had cancer at the same time and eventually succumbed to the disease. Through it all, she had a much tougher time than I did, and I drew upon her strength to stay focused on my coursework.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Steve did step away from his studies, taking the summer 2019 semester off to focus on Gwen\u2019s health, he was able to seamlessly step back into the program the following fall, thanks to the support of MSU faculty and program facilitators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy guidance counselor, Danny Oliver, was there for me throughout\u2026\u201d says Steve. \u201c[He] always was positive and kept me focused on achieving my 4.0 GPA.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But according to Danny Oliver, Senior Student Success Coach, focus and positivity come naturally to Steve Deighton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can\u2019t speak enough of his unwavering optimism, persistence, and can-do attitude\u2026and from my first conversation with Steve, I knew that he was a special guy,\u201d says Danny. \u201cDuring my calls with him, [I\u2019d] routinely ask and joke, \u2018Are you still 4.0-ing it?\u2019 Steve regularly shared his class experiences with me\u2026He looks for opportunities to recommend the program to others who are looking to further their education and are interested in the [online] learning format.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI highly recommend the curriculum to anyone considering a graduate degree in business,\u201d Steve says of the MSMSL program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And while those looking for a graduate program in business might automatically think MBA, Steve sees the MSMSL program\u2019s equal emphasis on leadership and strategy alongside business management to be a huge program differentiator and benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy most valuable takeaway from the program is the knowledge gained in understanding how intertwined strategy and culture are in every organization,\u201d explains Steve. \u201cCulture is vital in driving the buy-in from employees to achieve the strategy. I keep this in mind in my day-to-day work, especially when onboarding new employees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those desiring program courses<\/a> on hard-hitting business topics, look no further than one of Steve\u2019s favorite classes: \u201cOne that I enjoyed greatly was Business Negotiations as I learned several aspects of negotiation that I apply in my work every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the online flexibility of the MSMSL program made graduate school possible for Steve, he cautions anyone who thinks that online flexibility makes for an easier program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a world-class university offering a world-class curriculum taught by experts who are recognized throughout the world for their achievements and expertise,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That means bringing a world-class level of work ethic to make the most of the MSMSL experience, including the \u201csignificant reading of articles and chapters of text,\u201d explains Steve. \u201cBalancing the reading with work and family life was not always easy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the challenge of graduate school met and his degree firmly in hand, Steve looks forward to networking \u201cto stay connected with current, past and future students\u201d and \u201ccontinuing to advocate for the program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to promoting the MSMSL program to those considering their Master\u2019s degree, Steve echoes the words of Gambrel Family Endowed Professor in Management Don Conlon<\/a> (and that well-known shoe company): \u201cLike they say at Nike, \u2018Just Do IT!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As with any investment in your future, the results all depend on what you put in. From Steve Deighton\u2019s perspective as a Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership graduate, \u201cit may be the best value of any program in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n See how you can invest in yourself as a leader in MSU\u2019s M.S. in Management, Strategy and Leadership program.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinding Inspiration in the Face of Disruption<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Challenging Curriculum with Valuable Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust Do It\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n