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I received my MBA from the Cox School of Business in December of 1993, after completing the three year part-time program. Business school was a challenging and rewarding experience for me, as I learned a great deal and was able to spend time with so many wonderful people. The Associate Board Corporate Mentor Program was very helpful as it enabled me to meet with high-level executives in the Dallas area and gain a unique perspective on different businesses that were of interest to me.
Most importantly, upon graduation in 1994, my MBA enabled me to get a fantastic job in a management development program at a highly regarded real estate company called Security Capital Group (SCG). The company hired approximately ten MBAs from top-tier schools into this program each year. I had no prior experience in real estate, so this was a great opportunity for me to work exceptionally hard and learn the business quickly. The company was growing rapidly, which enabled me to obtain a significant amount of financial experience in a very short period of time. In 1998, I became the Chief Financial Officer of Archstone Communities, an affiliate of SCG which became Archstone-Smith (NYSE: ASN) when we completed a $3.7 billion merger transaction in 2001. ASN is a recognized leader in apartment investment and operations. With a current total market capitalization of $11.0 billion, the company has 240 apartment communities representing 82,892 units, including communities under construction.
I have had a successful and enjoyable business career since I graduated from SMU, which clearly would not have been possible without my MBA from the Cox School of Business.
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