Colorado Tech Online Students and Alumni
Meet Michelle Lea Zamora
BSBA with a concentration in Marketing - Graduate
Executive MBA – Current Student
Michelle Zamora believes self-discipline is the key to success. Her achievements since graduating from Colorado Technical University provide a great testimonial to that. "Not everyone has the self-discipline to get an online degree. The same self-discipline that helped me get my degree through Colorado Tech Online helps me in my career every day."
Self-discipline and the flexibility of online learning through Colorado Tech Online have helped Michelle overcome adversity, continue her education in difficult circumstances and pursue new goals. "I decided to go back to college after I had raised my two sons. I was a stay-at-home mom and had dedicated myself to my family for almost 8 years. When my sons were finally in school I decided I needed to set new goals and to reach for new heights. I am proud of my decision to go back to school. The fact that I went back to school while I was raising two children and going through a divorce makes my situation unique. I have achieved a new level of self-respect and people in my life have recognized that. I held on to my dream no matter what was going on around me. Despite it all - I did it!"
Michelle currently works under the Commercial department of Capital One, a Fortune 500 company. She has a dual role as a Treasury Management Advisor and Merchant Advisor in the South Texas Region in charge of the needs of 16 branches. "I was hired by Capital One because of the BSBA degree with a concentration in Marketing that I earned through Colorado Tech Online. I did not have to prove myself by starting at an entry level position. I was chosen over other candidates that had banking experience because I have a degree. The fact that my degree came from an online university made me stand out even more. The nature of my position requires me to be self-motivated, independent and have sharp critical thinking skills. Online learning helped me improve these skills, which help me perform better in my new position."
Thanks to earning a degree and her personal initiative, Michelle feels she is in a position to take her career to new heights. "An Executive MBA through Colorado Tech Online and a promotion to upper management is now within my scope. My supervisor told me that although I am not the person with the most experience, I am the person with the most drive. He realized that when he discovered that I am an online student."
Michelle is continuing her education and is enrolled in the Executive MBA degree program through Colorado Tech Online. She believes earning an MBA can help her achieve her long term goal of a promotion to upper management. One of her short term goals, however, is to set a higher standard for herself and her associates in her present position by coaching, teaching and leading a team through example. Michelle has found some of the knowledge and concepts she acquired in her courses immediately applicable to both of her goals. "I am part of a rapidly growing department that is going through a lot of changes that affect the stress level of employees. There is a real potential for the decrease in the level of customer service that I am responsible for maintaining. I have been able to immediately apply the concepts of change management and use the knowledge I acquired through my Organizational Behavior Principles course to address potential problems and cultivate relationships with associates. I highly recommend Colorado Tech Online, because it can fit into your family life and can be a great asset for your career."
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