Conor Sweeney
My degree will provide me with the deeper insight I need as an HR executive to make effective organizational design and leadership decisions over the years to come.
Q: “Tell us about yourself.”
A: “I am bi-coastal. I grew up in the beautiful state of Maine but moved to California over ten years ago. A few years back, my wife and I purchased our family's cabin in southern Maine and now make a point to spend at least a few weeks a year in beautiful New England. I am a self-proclaimed connoisseur of wine and gardening, spending nearly all my free time studying and pursuing these hobbies. My wife and I live in the Greater Los Angeles area with our two-year-old Australian Labradoodle named Lola. I am a global HR executive with over a decade of experience operating within some of the most influential companies on the planet. I am currently the Global Head of Talent & Development WeightWatchers.”
Q: “What was your motivation for pursuing your degree?”
A: “It stems from a couple of things... On the family front, my grandfather was a member of Norwich's class of 1962. I was very close to him growing up, and he always wished that one of his grandkids would follow in his footsteps by getting a Norwich education. When it came to pursuing a graduate degree, it was a no-brainer for me to do it at Norwich as a way to honor his amazing legacy. On the technical front, while I have been a corporate operator for many years, I was eager to immerse myself in a variety of academic frameworks that I could apply to my day-to-day efforts as a global HR executive.”
Q: “What are your future professional plans?”
A: “I aspire to be a Fortune 500 Chief People Officer. I look forward to continuing my growth towards that! My Norwich MBA will, without a doubt, play a significant role in my professional journey ahead. My degree will provide me with the deeper insight I need as an HR executive to make effective organizational design and leadership decisions over the years to come.”
Q: “Why did you choose Norwich?”
A: “My grandfather was a member of the class of 1962. I was very close to him and wanted to honor his legacy by pursuing a graduate degree at a university that meant a lot to him. As an HR executive, I was eager to pursue a program that digs deep into the worlds of organizational design and leadership. Organizational leadership is a very unique concentration, and I am thrilled Norwich offers it.”
Q: “Prior to beginning your courses, what were some of your expectations for an online degree program?”
A: “As a busy executive, I had high expectations around flexibility. I travel a lot in my line of work, so being able to work on a degree at my own pace is very important. This program delivered on my expectations around flexibility, without compromising the quality of the programming!”
Q: “What has been your biggest personal or professional success since starting your degree?”
A: “During this program, I was promoted into a significant global leadership role on WeightWatcher's HR leadership team. Many of my courses heavily emphasized the importance of Change Management strategy, and more specifically, how to construct a proper change initiative. As someone who works through change initiatives on a weekly basis, the adjacency was very helpful.”
Q: “What aspects of your Norwich experience will you carry most strongly with you?”
A: “The balance of academic rigor and experiential learning will make me an incredibly impactful leader.”
