Loyola Maryland MBA Grad Discusses Sellinger Mentoring Program
Elizabeth Dodson graduated from the Loyola Maryland Sellinger School of Business with her MBA in 1997. Today she is the Co-Founder of HomeZada, an online and mobile home management portal that helps homeowners manage their largest asset—their own home.Since graduation, Dodson has been actively involved in the Sellinger Alumni Mentoring Program. This program pairs a current or former MBA student with a seasoned professional MBA graduate for a six-month period of insight and guidance. This program is beneficial to all involved: mentoring gives Sellinger alumni the opportunity to stay connected to the university and counsel a student or alum, while protégés gain personal career consulting.
In a recent interview with her Alma Mater, Dodson discussed her MBA experience how her time working with the Sellinger Alumni Mentoring Program has shaped her since finishing her degree.
Why did you want to get your MBA?
“I love to learn and because I love to learn, I wanted to add more value to my career. I received my BS in Business from Stevenson University, and an MBA was a natural progression to educating myself and providing me with additional experiences and knowledge that could be used in my career. The added benefit is that my MBA provided more value to my personal life by helping me focus on time management, team and communication skills.
The Sellinger MBA program offered the most amount of flexibility because I was working full time and also offered an experience to connect with other business professionals. Not to mention, it is a reputable MBA program.”
Why did you decide to take part in the mentoring program?
“I wanted an opportunity to give back to a university that provided me a lot of skills, knowledge and confidence. Mentoring gives me the opportunity to help others identify their potential. Living in California, far away from Loyola, I looked for an opportunity to give back to the university and remote mentoring became the best opportunity.
My mentor/protégé relationship is very important to both myself and my protégé. We communicate via Skype using video technology to share experiences as if we are in the same room with each other. We speak once per month for about 1 – 2 hours each time and focus on details from the previous time together and what assistance is necessary to move through any particular challenge.”
What advice would you give those considering becoming a mentor in the program?
“This is a great opportunity to connect with others to share individual experiences that could be helpful to the success of others. And as a mentor, you may learn new strategies, industries and techniques that could also be helpful in your current role”
You can read the full interview with Sellinger here.
About the Author
Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
