Diane Whelan-Thomason Diane
Whelan-Thomason received her undergraduate degree in pharmacy studies and has
worked in client service for Walgreens for 19 years. When DePaul University’s
Kellstadt Graduate School of Business partnered with Walgreens to offer an MBA
to employees at the pharmacy chain’s Deerfield, Ill. headquarters,
Whelan-Thomason jumped at the chance to enhance her knowledge and skills in
business. In this Q&A, Whelan-Thomason tells us more about the benefits of
enrolling in a DePaul corporate-based MBA program.
What do you do at
Walgreens?
I
lead a team of client services professionals who provide operational solutions
to support our clients, including payers such as employers, health plans and
pharmacy benefit managers.
What attracted you
to DePaul’s program?
First
and foremost, DePaul’s reputation attracted me to this program. The partnership between DePaul and Walgreens
was also a component that was intriguing to me since Walgreens contributed to
the development of the curriculum for this program.
Describe your
commute to class. Is it beneficial to
attend a program at your workplace?
The
distance from my office to the classroom is about three miles and is about a 10
minute drive. Driving home after class
is much faster than my normal commute since rush hour has passed….This program
could not be more convenient from a location perspective.
What are the
benefits of studying with a cohort of coworkers?
There
are many benefits of being part of a cohort of coworkers. I have had the opportunity to meet some truly
outstanding individuals within Walgreens who I may have never worked with. My network has expanded significantly. There have been instances where I needed
support for a work project, and I knew a contact from my cohort who could point
me in the right direction. I have
learned more about our company and different areas of our business that I have
not had experience with. While we bring
different education and experience to the cohort, we all have Walgreens in
common.
How would you
describe the quality of the faculty?
The
faculty have been truly outstanding. The
professors seem very excited to be part of this program at Walgreens. Overall, I have noticed that our professors
have really taken an interest in the members of our cohort. They want us to succeed both in and out of
the classroom. They have helped me to
feel part of the DePaul family.
In what ways have
you been able to apply what you learn in class to your job?
There
have been many items that I have learned in class that I can apply directly to
my role at Walgreens. In general terms,
I have applied different strategies for problem solving and relationship
building to my work. Also, as I have
built my knowledge and skills, my confidence has increased which has improved my leadership ability.
Obtaining
an MBA will provide more career opportunities to me as I have increased my
ability to think and act strategically.
To find out more about DePaul corporate education opportunities, contact DePaul’s Corporate and Employer Outreach (CEO) initiative at (312) 362-6911 or corporatepartnership@depaul.edu.