Susanna Toomey is a leader, but she’s not the kind of leader who hopes for a big office on the 11th floor. Her goal is to build connections and trust, and to ultimately set an example and inspire.

However, this Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native didn’t even think she would find her way to a college degree, let alone develop her own leadership philosophy. 

Strategy and tactics – what’s the difference? Many people assume that goals and strategic thinking are the same as tactical planning and will use the terms interchangeably. However, the concept of strategy is very different than the concept of tactics. As a student pursuing a Master of Information Systems Management degree, you’ll gain a better understanding of these concepts and prepare for an advanced career in the field of IT.

Strategic planning is an essential, daily component of business, as companies must continuously evaluate themselves and their competition, while working to exploit strengths and minimize weaknesses. 

The same strategic planning method used by companies large and small – the SWOT analysis – can also be applied to your personal life, and you may be surprised to see how some self-analysis can allow you to make better decisions and see the opportunities available to you.

Having a strategic plan can answer questions that include:

Ten years ago, when Stacey Metzler finished up her undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences at a different college, she moved from Texas to California to pursue a career in biotechnology and healthcare. Her first job was a perfect fit for this animal lover – a laboratory tech at the San Diego Zoo. However, once she received her state licensure, Stacey moved on to work with humans, eventually finding her niche in oncology as a Senior Clinical Laboratory Scientist.

If you have the opportunity to get to know Shanekia White, you will hear in her voice the strength, resolve, and confidence earned as the sum of the challenges she’s faced and overcome. Starting in her early life and continuing through her career as a student at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC), Shanekia has faced grief, financial struggles, and the daily trials that come with motherhood. It’s been a tough road, but now, she’s getting ready to graduate from college. 

When Robert Duval Del Rosario enrolled in Ashford University’s* Master of Arts in Health Care Administration program in 2018, he felt like he was going to college for the very first time. He wasn’t, but after 20 years out of school, taking classes again (and this time online) felt like an all-new experience.  
 

For Ashford* doctoral student Michael Turner, the city of Flint, Michigan feels like his hometown. Although born in Texas, Michael came from a very poor background with a childhood that was a bit tumultuous. At times, he found himself bouncing between states, homes, and even living situations — sometimes ending up at the Salvation Army or women’s shelters.

If you have the opportunity to speak to Joe Karpinski, Jr., a theme will arise. While his accomplishments are great, longevity as a student is notable, and his professional career has no lack of high points, his true motivation comes from serving others, teaching others, and knowing that he’s made an impact. 

He says he cares deeply about helping others forge their own path and hopes that sharing his experiences may provide a path for them.

Jodi Raymond knows what she wants out of life.
 
Getting to that place has been anything but easy. Even before Jodi enrolled at Ashford University* (now the University of Arizona Global Campus), she developed a deep understanding of how life’s experiences – “the school of hard knocks,” as she says – shape the trajectory of a person’s path. The way we respond to hardships, and the decisions we make when staring down our own personal tragedy can determine the direction of our lives.

For college students returning to school after a long hiatus, algebra can seem as foreign as online learning itself.