Jayna Guilford
Norwich has given me the confidence to achieve my dreams, to not be afraid to excel, and to step out of my comfort zone. Norwich challenged me to think outside the box and to learn how to follow, because leading isn’t always the right place for me.
Q: “Tell us a bit about yourself.”
A: "I’m originally from Detroit, grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands and moved to Vermont in 1996. I now reside in the Mad River Valley area with the love of my life, my daughter and our dog, Freya. I enjoy hiking, exploring new towns, relaxing on the beach, and anything with my family."
Q: “Briefly describe your professional life.”
A: "I’m currently employed by the Vermont Agency of Transportation, leading the IT Project Management unit. With 10 years’ experience in IT project management, it has been a natural progression to where I am now."
Q: “Why did you choose Norwich?”
A: "Two of my peers are Norwich MBA alums and their influence towards the school, as well as the location and residency experience helped me choose Norwich over other MBA programs."
Q: “Describe any memborable experiences with faculty members or staff.”
A: "My initial conversation with Professor W. Sanford Miller. He challenged me to question everything in his seminar and encouraged me to reach out and/or challenge him. I appreciated him sharing his experiences and making and effort to connect with me."
Q: “Please share any examples where you were able to put your knowledge gained at Norwich to work immediately at your job.”
A: "During the “Leading Change in Organizations” seminar my team was trying to develop an enterprise organizational change management process. Using the principles learned in the course, I was able to guide the team towards proven practice at work, and the team incorporated a lot of my recommendations."
Q: “How have you grown personally and/or professionally as a result of your education?”
A: "Prior to coming to Residency*, I was offered and accepted a new position as the leader of a new project management team. I attribute this transition to my experience in the program and application of skills at work."
Q: “How has Norwich impacted your life?”
A: "Norwich has given me the confidence to achieve my dreams, to not be afraid to excel, and to step out of my comfort zone. Norwich challenged me to think outside the box and to learn how to follow, because leading isn’t always the right place for me. We are a team and there is no “I” in team!"
*Residency is no longer a requirement for Norwich Online programs.
