OSU alumnus Matt O’Brien shares with graduate students about managing careers

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

This past Friday, Oklahoma State University’s Watson Graduate School of Management students learned about career management and leadership from OSU alumnus Matt O’Brien.

O’Brien graduated from OSU in 1983 with a Master of Business Administration. After a 30-year career, O’Brien retired in 2012. He was recognized during the OSU business school’s 100^th anniversary in 2014 as one of the “Spears School’s Tribute: 100 for 100” honorees.

In his presentation to the graduate students, O’Brien educated students on the importance of goal setting by using the S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound) acronym. He explained to students that setting goals is essential in the advancement of careers.

O’Brien also reminded students that a lot of tasks are accomplished in groups or with the help of others.

“You don’t do it (accomplish tasks) alone; you learn that you succeed by other people trusting you and assisting you,” said O’Brien.

To explain leadership, he used what he called Matt’s leadership story model. This model was displayed with a pyramid structure. At the base are qualifications and leadership foundation. The next levels of the model consisted of core values, full spectrum leadership, and striving for the best.

He told students that their base qualifications come from the education they receive at OSU. “Thirty years ago, OSU gave me that and it’s giving you the same thing now,” said O’Brien.

First-year MBA student Nicholas Perez was pleased with O’Brien’s presentation.

“It was great,” said Perez. “His influence and his background really spoke to a lot of the class. Overall it was awesome and I really enjoyed it.”

“We are very proud of what he has achieved as an alumnus,” said Ajay Sukhdial, professional development professor. “He is a person who has achieved so much and our students are in the same seat he was in a few years ago.”

For more information on OSU’s Watson Graduate School of Management, visit http://watson.okstate.edu/ or call 405-744-9000.