Master's in Technology Management Program

Marketing Executive of GoTab Inc. Empowered by Technology Management Degree

Jennifer Anzaldi — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 17:25:20 +0000

Marketing Executive of GoTab Inc. Empowered by Technology Management Degree Jennifer Anzaldi Fri, 06/17/2022 - 13:25

Patricia Mejia

For professionals interested in switching careers or advancing in their current field, ��ӽ紫ý’s classrooms are open. Already an accomplished marketing executive, Patricia Mejia, returned to Mason to attain the master of science in technology management, graduating in 2012. She had previously acquired her master’s in public administration from Mason in 1996. Mejia is now the chief marketing officer at GoTab Inc., which provides food and beverage establishments with e-commerce solutions, a service increasingly in demand. “This position here is what I have always wanted in bridging together my passions for marketing and technology,” she says.

The route to where Mejia is today was strategically mapped in terms of both the companies where she chose to work and the higher education courses she enrolled in. “I wanted to be more effective as a marketer by increasing my knowledge of what I was promoting,” says Mejia. “The technology management program gave me the framework of understanding the technology life cycle and how GoTab fits in the landscape of competition.” Returning to school to study technology management helped eliminate blind spots and improved her ability to communicate with colleagues, partners, and clients. “The CEO of the company where I worked at during the time of my program was about to establish GoTab and he was looking for a team,” she says. Mejia was in an ideal position to later join him to lead the marketing efforts.

Lacking a strong technical background, Mejia benefited immensely from being surrounded by classmates who had that expertise, and, in turn, they learned from her own perspective as a marketing expert. One of Mejia’s fondest memories and proudest achievements was winning the program’s Capstone competition. The topic was technology approaches in the restaurant space, which would prove useful in her transition to GoTab.

Experiencing the rapid evolution of technology and the marketing that needs to keep pace, Patricia Mejia is a great example of why continuous learning in critical to anyone’s career. She advises students and aspiring marketing executives to focus on understanding the data, analytics, and buzzwords of their fields. “At the top of the list, I think they should understand artificial intelligence, what it is and how it can be applied,” she says. Mejia’s work ethic of upskilling, pride in helping colleagues develop personally and professionally, and being a well-rounded leader enables her to help establish the company’s brand in a new and exciting world. For her, another challenge is another opportunity.

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Master's in Technology Management Program

Technology Management Student Builds Virtual Community with Classmates

Jennifer Anzaldi — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 17:56:37 +0000

Technology Management Student Builds Virtual Community with Classmates Jennifer Anzaldi Tue, 06/07/2022 - 13:56

Rishi Vajpeyi

Due to the pandemic, virtual learning has helped the ��ӽ紫ý School of Business meet learners where they are. For some, the increased accessibility and convenience of the online format are difficult to resist. Others, however, have concerns about the perceived lack of engagement often associated with virtual learning. Does a virtual program still have a sense of community? Are professors still accessible? We spoke with Rishi Vajpeyi, a student in the ��ӽ紫ý School of Business’ online master's in technology management program (MSTM), about his experience.

Vajpeyi, Head of Public Sector Solutions at Medallia, started the MSTM in January 2021. However, when Vajpeyi initially considered the program classes were still being offered entirely in-person. While he did have some concerns about studying completely online, he conveyed that his “interactions with clients and acquaintances who have graduated from Mason showed [him] that the program provided quality education, insightful interactions and experiences, and a strong network.”

Vajpeyi says he was pleasantly surprised with the community built around the virtual synchronous format. He and his classmates developed a rapport online, which led to meetups at coffee shops and other local venues. For class, he set up two screens, one for course content and one a view of classmates and the professor. He believes this setup, and the fact that all of his classmates kept their cameras on, kept him more engaged than if he were sitting passively in an in-person classroom. Vajpeyi believes the MS in technology management lends itself particularly well to the online synchronous format, due to the nature of the classes and the accessibility of the professors.

According to Vajpeyi, virtual synchronous classes have benefits that some may not consider. He says he was able to earn his master’s while staying present with his family. The online format cut out the lengthy commute between Fairfax and Arlington, which meant he both saved time and was not subjected to the whims of traffic in the Washington, D.C., area.

Now graduated, Vajpeyi hopes to leverage his new degree into pursuing a senior leadership role in digital transformation and technology sales. The MSTM program has equipped him with the skills and capabilities to be successful in this pursuit. “This program has helped me grow both professionally and personally. Professionally, the experience has helped me use data to drive decisions, be a better leader, work effectively in a team, and turn mistakes into opportunities to learn. Personally, the program has expanded my network with people who have done remarkable things and succeeded in many ways.”

The master’s in technology management is a 36-credit program designed to help you further your technology leadership career and excel in today’s dynamic business environment. The program is offered entirely online, providing anywhere learning, same time engagement. Applications are accepted for both fall and spring semester starts.

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Master's in Technology Management Program

The Value of Preparation

Marianne Klinker — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 20:57:29 +0000

The Value of Preparation Marianne Klinker Thu, 11/18/2021 - 15:57

If there’s one thing that stuck with Ola Sage, MS Technology Management ’99, from her time studying at the School of Business, it is the importance of preparation. Preparation is what her intensive workload came down to—preparation for her career, preparation for each class, preparation for any possible scenario. More than two decades later, she continues to prepare herself, her clients, and the next generation. As a business leader strongly invested in the community, Sage hopes that underrepresented demographics, especially African Americans and women, feel encouraged by seeing her as a role model and that they too prepare to prosper.

Ola Sage

Sage wants her clients to be as prepared as she is. Her career has been dedicated to assisting organizations in identifying and avoiding cyber threats and disaster. As CEO of CyberRx, she works with private sector companies in assessing and mitigating their cybersecurity risks. CyberRx is the second company she has founded since graduating from Mason. Almost immediately after receiving her master of science, Sage started and grew a government focused information technology professional services company, for 18 years until she sold it in 2018.

The rewarding experience she had as a student has brought Sage even closer to Mason as an alumna. For more than 15 years, she has served on the panel of judges at Capstones for students pursuing the master in technology management. “I find it incredibly fulfilling to give students constructive feedback to help them reach their potential,” she says. Additionally, she leads by her representation on the Dean’s Council and the Government Contracting Advisory Board. Clearly influenced by her growth as a School of Business student, Sage is inspired to give back to her alma mater in many ways.

Sage is here to help all Patriots, but the impact of being involved as a successful Black businesswoman is not lost on her. “When I was younger, I was inspired whenever I saw women of color really make it in the corporate world,” she says. “Now is my chance to pass encouragement along to others.” Sage, who received the Prominent Patriots award in 2013, knows that the school’s talent is the cream of the crop. In 2016, she hired Ingrid Shipton, MS Management of Secure Information Systems ’13, as the director of cybersecurity for CyberRx. “Ola is an inspiration. She takes her role as a leader and mentor to heart,” says Shipton. “More than anyone else I’ve ever worked with, she is very deliberate and thoughtful about how she mentors and coaches me.”

Staying close to the school has been a way for Ola Sage to give back. But she has also gotten back a lot in return. Besides the feeling of fulfillment, she has built up a remarkable professional network of fellow alumni and industry friends of the school. Surrounding herself with industry leaders gives Sage that extra edge to push even further. “I know I represent many people who don’t feel they have a seat at the table, and I don’t take that responsibility lightly,” she says. “But, most of all, I hope that young Black people can see that business is a world they can thrive in as well.”

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Master's in Technology Management Program