“The EMBA community saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. I was held to a higher standard than I had been previously, which led me to take more initiative.”
What she took away from the EMBA program
“The EMBA program helped me find my voice. I acquired the confidence to speak up during District Petroleum board meetings, where I was the only female member. More important, I was able to state my opinions without burning any bridges.”
Schlicht says her negotiation skills improved, guided by a new, win-win mindset. The program also strengthened her leadership skills and understanding of financials. “I came away with qualitative and quantitative knowledge that aligned with my intuition.”
Her concerns about enrolling in the program
“I didn’t know if I could keep up the rapid pace of the program. I hadn’t been in school for 20 years. I had no computer skills. So I took advantage of tutoring options and caught up on Excel.
“I also changed my internal dialogue and started telling myself, ‘You can do this.’ My actual mantra was, ‘I’m committed to stretching, growing, and creating value by building a skill set that sets me apart and enriches every area of my life.’”
EMBA professors reassured her, too. “My accounting professor picked up on my anxiety and told me there were no wrong answers. His encouragement allowed me to open up in class, take additional risks, continue putting myself out there, and trust myself.”
What surprised her about the program
“The EMBA community saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. I was held to a higher standard than I had been previously, which led me to take more initiative.”
Advice for other professionals who are considering the program
“I’d say, ‘You’re never too old to start over again.’ For me, the EMBA experience was exhaustive but exhilarating. It kept my mind busy for almost two years, brought a spark back to my life, and taught me I could do so much more than I thought I could previously.
“In addition, the program provided a support network I can call on anytime to discuss my business issues.”
Sandra Schlicht
Owner, District Petroleum, Inc. and Wagner Development, LLC
Previous Employment
RN, St. Louis University Fusz Pavilion
RN, The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis
RN, Missouri Baptist Medical Center
Background
Education: BSN, Missouri Baptist Medical Center; BA, psychology and sociology, Bowling Green State University
