Alison Casler

Why she chose WashU’s Executive MBA program

Casler has worked for Drury Hotels for 16 years, climbing the corporate ladder from guest-service agent to vice president of human resources. She pursued an Executive MBA degree to “remain competitive, add value, and become a more effective leader.”

“Olin was the only business school I considered,” she says. “I knew the EMBA program would be tough, but I figured I’d rather be a B or C student at WashU than an A student elsewhere. That’s how strong the university’s reputation is.”

Impact of the program on her family

“I struggled with the distraction of being a student and its effect on my family. But my experience showed my kids that when I start something, I finish it. And that not everything in life is easy. My husband is a middle-school teacher. Both of us believe in making sacrifices for education.”

Personal and professional takeaways

“I proved to myself that when I put my mind to something, I really can do it. No one can take my MBA diploma away from me. I earned it and worked my tail off for it. I also learned I could handle more than I thought I could previously. I’m in control of my time.

“From a business perspective, I have more tools in my toolbox to analyze financial reports. I know what questions to ask, and I can use the numbers to tell a story of performance.

“In addition, the EMBA classroom mirrored boardrooms. Many of my fellow students had the same personality. We’re driven. We like to win. The Leadership Residency taught us how to navigate the strong passions, opinions, and personalities that often are present in the C-suite.”

What surprised her most about the program

“The intensity of the program surprised me. We put the pedal to the metal for 20 months and discovered so much about ourselves in the process.”