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ADMISSIONS: STUDENT & ALUMNI PROFILES
Learn about what our students and alumni have to say about TGI...
Fusun Atik, TGI '03
Sean Hemingway, TGI '01
Sunil Nadkarni, TGI '98
David Travis, TGI '00
Fusun
Atik
Planning Expert
Department of Food and Agriculture, Turkey
TGI Class of 2003
I work as a planning expert in the Turkish government’s Department of Food and
Agriculture, where I implement projects related to the agricultural industry and
prepare long-term strategy plans. I went to TGI because I wanted to complement
my technical knowledge with technology-based management experience.
TGI’s real-world focus and industry-savvy professors were vital aspects of the
program. The professors’ work experience was invaluable. They didn’t just
present theories; they offered real-life solutions and talked about how they
solved them.
I also enjoyed the teamwork challenges at TGI. I learned how to communicate with
others and find common ground on a problem. I also gained unique perspectives on
issues by combining my own work experience with what the faculty and other
students brought to the classroom.
What I learned at TGI is proving to be invaluable to me since I returned to
Turkey. My TGI project examined ways to improve industry-university
biotechnology collaborations within Turkey, work which relates directly to my
position in the Department of Food and Agriculture. It is very rewarding to see
impact of my work on the development of the biotechnology industry in Turkey.
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 Sean
Hemingway
Senior Project Manager
Wyeth BioPharma Operations Network Engineering
TGI Class of 2001
In seeking a graduate degree I was very focused on finding a program that would
provide me with the educational forum to grow my leadership skills. I had a
chemical engineering degree and close to 10 years experience in process and
project engineering in the biotechnology industry and I wanted to advance my
career on a managerial track. I recognized the need for an educational
environment where I could acquire the skills necessary to do this. I didn’t want
a second degree just to say that I had one. I was very focused on making the
degree worth the effort – if I couldn’t use it practically, I didn’t want it.
The Gordon Institute fit my needs perfectly.
When I entered the program, I had eight years of experience in engineering. The
majority of that time was in equipment design, equipment/facility installation,
and manufacturing support. Midway through the program, I changed jobs and moved
into project manager position at another company. It was then that I started to
apply what I was doing at TGI to my job in real-time. I often left the classroom
on a Saturday afternoon, took what I had just learned, and applied it to the job
the next day. The applicability of the program topics to my work was incredible.
Since I completed the TGI program, my career has advanced significantly. My
degree was an important factor in the management team’s decision to hire me as
manager of the Integrated Commissioning and Validation project for the Wyeth
BioPharma Grange Castle Drug Substance Facility. When this facility is complete
it will be the largest integrated, biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in
the world. I am responsible a project staff of 200 individuals, a budget in
excess of $50 million dollars, and a project effort which is one of the most
significant in the company.
TGI provided me with a serious set of leadership tools that have and will
continue to serve me well throughout my career: applying the different elements
of successful leadership; the ability to present information to any audience
succinctly and effectively; the ability to interface effectively with the
different divisions of the corporation (finance, HR, IT, engineering,
development); the ability to manage multiple work fronts; effective decision
making; leveraging the experience of working with an international organization;
the importance of the humanistic aspects of the work place; successfully
managing high work loads and work pressures while maintaining a healthy
work/life balance.
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 Sunil
Nadkarni
Director of Software Engineering
S1 Corporation
TGI Class of 1998
Before starting the TGI program in the fall of 1996, I had already completed a
Bachelor's and Master's degree in chemical engineering, and was working as an
application engineer at a major process controls company. I wanted to move into
management, specifically software engineering management, but knew I needed some
additional skills in order to make the transition. The Gordon Institute program,
with its strong focus on engineering leadership and its blend of technical and
business topics, was just what I needed. The program provided many hands on
opportunities to apply what you learn in the classroom, and emphasized the
development of improved communication and teamwork skills. I thoroughly enjoyed
the highly interactive learning environment, the diverse faculty, and the global
nature of the student body.
A few months before graduating, I was promoted to group leader, responsible for
the operation of more than 25 software engineers, business development
initiatives, and client relationships. Less than two years later, I landed a new
position as the Manager of Software Engineering at S1 Corporation, a start-up
that develops software for internet banking. In the spring of 2001, I was
promoted to Director of Software Engineering. Before TGI, I couldn't have
imagined that I would be in management position in a new company in such a new
and emerging field!
The Gordon Institute program is truly an opportunity not to be missed by
technical professionals who want to become technical leaders. The experience has
proven to be a turning point in my career.
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 David
Travis
Supportability Manager, Joint Strike Fighter Electronic Warfare Program
BAE Systems
TGI Class of 2000
Before I enrolled at TGI, I had come to the realization that I needed to further
my formal education if I wanted to continue to advance my career. My interest in
continuing my education occurred at the same time my employer was implementing a
new initiative to expand the capabilities of the technical management staff. After reviewing The Gordon Institute program, I knew it was a good fit
considering my background, interests and future career development.
The
education I obtained at The Gordon Institute was incredible. I learned from the
material presented in the classroom, through the hands-on project work, and as a
result of the shared experiences and knowledge of my classmates. I had learning
experiences that I’d never been exposed to during my previous nineteen years in
industry. It has been easy to see how readily I can apply what I learned in my
current and future work. I received the promotion to my current position while
enrolled in the program, and I am confident that my experience at TGI helped me
to achieve it.
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