Janette Barnard

Why an MBA?

After getting my undergraduate degree in Agriculture Economics I worked for 4 years in Agribusiness, doing sales and account management for Elanco Animal Health (a division of Eli Lilly). In the account management role I was stewarding the business relationship with customers that were large, complex organizations and I found myself needing a better understanding of the different functional parts that make up a whole organization. My interest in entrepreneurship also drove me towards an MBA.
The Texas A&M MBA

The Aggie Network is exceptional and I wanted to be a part of it. The culture of the university was a draw for me as well as the shortened program length. One of the key assets of Mays is the small program size, something I couldn’t fully appreciate until the program started.
Life as a Texas A&M Student.

This is a high impact program for many reasons but most important is the people. Dr. Berry’s services marketing class changed the way I view how a company operates and interacts with its customers. Group projects transformed my view of teams and what it really takes to get great results – the real “aha” moments come from brainstorming and kicking around ideas with people as you push through to learn together. MBAA events and interactions across the Aggie Network continue to reinforce that the Aggie family is real and invaluable. Leadership discussions in John Krajicek’s class grounded us in the role of self-awareness and why it matters as a leader. The list goes on, but people are at the heart of what makes this program great.

Your future?

I plan to use what I’ve learned through the people and classes in the MBA program to pursue a career in entrepreneurship by creating organizations that impact lives. I have no doubt my lessons, experiences and people from my time at Mays will be the cornerstone of this pursuit.