Chris Kadel

Pursuing business without blind spots

Kadel started his own business in 2008. “I had no supervisors, no feedback, no formal marketing training, and no professional network. Basically, I was guessing, testing, and trying to make it through the school of hard knocks.

“The EMBA program was a whirlwind of learning. In addition to knowledge and skills, I gained mentors, customers, and a foundation for growth. Since I enrolled in the program, we’ve doubled the size of my operation.”

Why he chose WashU

“I had to think long and hard about what I’d get from an Executive MBA program. Faculty accessibility and lifelong learning were huge for me. After I moved from Chicago to St. Louis, I researched WashU’s program and found it’s where people who run St. Louis go.”

Expanding his leadership profile

“I’ve always been big on work ethic. Preprogram, I’d hit a ceiling, though, and thought, ‘I’ll always be the guy who works 70 hours a week to get what I want done.’ I knew leadership was about empowerment, not command and control. But the program taught me that authenticity is what gets people to follow other people. Through coaching and mentoring, I became a kinder, gentler, more patient Chris. And I helped my organization align around larger goals—a more-effective approach than working harder and harder by myself.”

Real-world application of course content

“My study group used my firm for a marketing strategy project, and I actually executed the plan we developed. In my corporate finance course, I learned how to value other companies and initiatives, which enabled me to ask the right questions during two equity opportunities for Polaris Solutions.”