Dennis Docherty

MBA for Executives, Weekend Class of 2005
Group Director, Customer Marketing
John Deere Company
Cary, North Carolina

Career Goal

"My goal is to continue to develop and progress at Deere. In addition to getting a great education, Deere sends high performers through an executive MBA program to stretch their managers. They watch how you handle your business and empower your staff while going to school because it gives them insight into your management potential. So when my senior managers asked me to consider getting an MBA, I took that as a positive sign."

Why UNC?

• Collaborative environment: "My UNC experience was one of the most challenging experiences of my life – and one of the most rewarding. The folks at UNC understand that business is about managing relationships. Beyond the academic rigors, the faculty and staff know that it’s the ability to form strong networks and build teams that helps us advance our careers. Everything they do is focused on making sure we’re successful."
• Convenient commute: "Before graduation, Deere offered me a promotion that required me to move my family from Raleigh to Atlanta. The commute to Chapel Hill for weekend classes was easier than I expected. I’d fly in early Friday morning for class and return home Saturday afternoon."

Career impact

• Business knowledge: "The depth I gained in finance, strategy and analysis amazed me. Instead of looking at decision from just a marketing perspective, I learned to think through the impact on the whole organization and our marketplace."
• Teaming and networking: "At work, I’m usually the person leading the team. However we’re all peers at school, so I learned the importance of being a contributing team member also. My team members came from different industries, disciplines and work styles, giving me appreciation for functional skills, like finance, that I lacked before. Now I know what to look for when pulling together my own cross-functional teams at work – and I’ll be a better leader."

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