Full-time UST MBA

Meet Cara Lindgren

"Within a graduate business program, the core focus ... is to develop the solid skill set to be a manger ... But St. Thomas also creates an atmosphere that allows students to develop strong values."

After graduating from Purdue University in 1999, I worked on a SAP implementation team for Pactiv Corporation in Lake Forest, IL. Upon completion of the project, I moved into the planning department where I worked as production planner for the plants that I supported while on the team. I decided to move back to the Twin Cities and found a similar position at Boston Scientific Corporation in Maple Grove. I worked with Boston Scientific's newest product at the time, Taxus, a drug-coated stent, and other various medical devices.

While at Boston Scientific, I made the decision to pursue a new career path and get my M.B.A. As a Minnesota native, I knew many people who attended the University of St. Thomas for its undergraduate and graduate programs. They really enjoyed their experience and felt that they had many opportunities upon graduation. I had started looking into M.B.A. schools and decided that I would thrive in a more intimate academic setting. I also have aspirations to own a business some day and knew the Opus College of Business had a great entrepreneurship program.

Within a graduate business program, the core focus of learning is to develop the solid skill set to be a manager. I have gained these skills through the classes I have taken thus far and have been able to use them in my internship this summer. But St. Thomas also creates an atmosphere that allows students to develop strong values. Through student and school-driven initiatives, ethics has been interwoven into our education.

St. Thomas provides a diverse setting for the Full-time UST MBA students. I am surrounded by a tremendous group of individuals from a wide range of career and ethnic backgrounds. Through small cohorts and larger group activities, I have really gotten to know my fellow classmates. People are very willing to lend a hand in terms of studying or internship and job searching, and enjoy spending time with each other outside of the classroom.