Student Profile: Chris Hughes
"LFGSM has given me broad exposure and practical experience."
At Lake Forest, we believe in providing our students new insights, tools and techniques they can apply directly to their current work. Schaumburg student Chris Hughes, Purchasing Manager for Motorola's Parts Division, Radio Products and Service, has truly embraced this philosophy.
Even with over 20 years of experience in purchasing with Johnson & Johnson, Hughes Aircraft, and Avery Dennison, Chris constantly finds innovative ways to approach his current projects. By combining new skills with his current expertise, Chris magnifies the impact of his classroom learning. "The whole progression of courses at Lake Forest has given me broad exposure and practical experience working with new ideas from other business areas," he notes.
How Chris put the learning he received in Professor John Hanson's Managerial Accounting course to work is a good example. "You'd think it would be a dry subject, but John riveted us with real-world examples of how accounting can make a real difference in company performance. He showed us how smart decisions come from good analysis, and gave us practical tools for measuring value."
Using newly acquired techniques, Chris challenged his staff to eliminate every activity that didn't add value. His team recorded impressive productivity and customer service gains and was empowered to tackle even more challenges. Chris was even able to share his results with his classmates before the ten-week session ended.
Similarly, using techniques from his Research Methods course, Chris designed a survey to better understand the needs of the internal "customers" his department serves, and then reorganized his department to serve them more effectively. He used techniques from his Financial Management and Investment Theory courses to assess the financial health of potential suppliers, achieving smarter vendor selection. And, he's now in a better position to execute Motorola's growing Asian sourcing strategy due to insights gained from his International Management course.
"In evaluating MBA programs, I wanted real tools I could apply right away," Chris explains. To him, an MBA is more than just a credential. "I aim to get the most from the process itself." Indeed he does!