Laura Page: MBA Sharpens Graphic Designer’s Leadership/Management Skills

How did you find AU? 

My sister and I went to an event at the TD Convention Center in Greenville. We both noticed an Anderson University booth there. I told my sister I was interested in getting my MBA and she mentioned she was too. We went over to the AU table, got more information and that's how it started. We ended up graduating from the MBA program together. 

How did you become a graphic designer? 

Growing up, I was always very creative and interested in art. I loved to play computer games back then, so my mom suggested mixing my two hobbies and going to college for Graphic Design. 

Describe what you do at Progress Lighting. 

(During my undergrad work) I started getting interested in packaging design in school and one of my professors introduced me to someone at Hubbell Lighting, who owned Progress Lighting at the time, and they had an open internship program. Progress creates packaging for retail stores like Lowe's, Home Depot and Walmart, so graphics is something I could work on there. I interviewed, became an intern, and the rest is history—I've been there my whole career. 

What are some of the joys and challenges of your work? 

I’ve been there 12 years, so my role has changed a lot throughout the years, helped by my degree from Anderson University. I started as an intern and went up the ranks as graphic designer, senior graphic designer, and then as I got into the business a little bit more, I became interested in more of the business and marketing related roles. That's when I started looking into a master's degree in business administration. When I got my master’s, my company paid for it, which was great. I went to my manager and expressed my interest in marketing roles—project management and things like that. With the help of my MBA, I was eventually able to move into those marketing roles. 

Hubbell sold Progress Lighting, so we are now an independent company. I was identified as a key person to Progress Lighting brand, so I joined them in their stand-alone company. Currently, I am more focused in a senior graphic designer-creative design manager role, so I'm more back into the graphics world. I’m still doing a bit of marketing project management as well, but I’m mainly focused on completing all the graphic design projects for the brand—anything from retail packaging, brochures, flyers, catalogs, and everything in between. I've been there for many years, so I've enjoyed getting fully immersed with the products and the brand as a whole.  

What are some ways your MBA has helped you in your work? 

My background is in graphic design, so when I decided to pivot into some marketing roles, my MBA definitely helped by giving me the business experience that I didn't get as a graphic design major. I never took those courses in my undergrad program, so learning things like how to work with people, how people digest information and how to communicate with them was very helpful. As I moved into management roles and having direct reports, my MBA has helped me to communicate and manage them in a way that is effective for both of us.  

What are some things you appreciated about your MBA program? 

I did a little bit of a hybrid schedule. Our office is in Greenville, so it was convenient for me to go over to the University Center, but it was also nice to be able to take some classes online. I liked having the flexibility to take those more challenging classes in person where I could ask the professor questions if something came up. 

The professors were always very helpful and willing to answer any questions I had. I enjoyed being able to take classes in person with other people going through the same program and getting their perspective on things. It was really like a little community, which has stood out to me in my experience.  

And you also taught adjunct at AU. How did that happen? 

One of my professors, Evie Maxey... We had a project in one of her classes and me being a graphic designer, I had to design a brochure for the project. I think maybe that just stood out to her. There was a need for an Intro to Graphic Design for Marketers course. With me having the background in graphic design and marketing, she reached out to me and asked if I'd be interested in teaching the course and talked me through the role. Then I met with Joe Spencer, who was my mentor through the teaching process. From there I taught two semesters. It was an evening course, and I was still able to work full time and be able to teach the course. It was once a week and it was four hours long, but it worked for my schedule. The second semester I taught, I was pregnant with my second child and then after she was born I took a break from teaching to focus on my family. 

When you’re not on the job, what do you enjoy doing? 

We have a great neighborhood of families. We're outside constantly with them. My husband works for Anderson University as a maintenance technician, so I guess you could say we’re an AU family now. We go to different sporting events, take walks on the trails near AU, and attend other events around campus. I also enjoy doing crafts and designing invitations in my spare time. 

What advice would you give to somebody who is considering a role similar to yours? 

Have your career goals in mind. It can be small short-term goals, or long-term goals. Always be working towards something. Tackle your goals, little-by-little from there. Whether it's getting more training on a certain skill, going back to school like I did, or having mentorship programs. Don't be afraid to go after whatever goal you have, big or small. Reach out to people for help. Find a good mentor who is there to answer questions and help get a feel of what you want to achieve.