Kelly Deutermann MBA 2017 - Balancing Military Service, MBA, and Motherhood | OneHaas

Kelly Deutermann MBA 2017 - Balancing Military Service, MBA, and Motherhood

Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception. - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Our guest, Commander Kelly Deutermann takes us back to a point in her life where she felt that no matter what skills she brings to the table, someone will always doubt her capabilities. Instead of being discouraged, she trained in the US Coast Guard and earned the respect of her colleagues when she was promoted as an Instruction Pilot.

Kelly is MBA 2017 and currently a Program Examiner at the Office of Management and Budget. She talks about achieving things with extreme difficulties because of gender bias. Kelly shares how her time in the military led her to pursue an MBA and how she chose Berkeley-Haas because it resonates with her specific values. She also gives insight into how other women can focus on both their families and their careers.

Listen to this episode to hear an inspirational journey of perseverance, discipline, and hard work.

Episode Quotes:

What is the proudest moment in your professional career?

[00:05:52] Becoming an instructor pilot. The next step after you become an aircraft commander is becoming an instructor pilot. And that's when you're the cadre of unit instructor, pilots, and your operations officer and your commanding officers say yes, this person has not only the skill set to teach younger folks but that demeanor, like if you think of bedside manner for clinicians of any sort, like you need to be able to communicate with people, you have to be able to connect with people. You have to be able to meet them where they are so that you help those light bulbs go off.

Why did you choose Haas?

[00:15:04] When I was looking at schools to apply to, when I went to the Haas website, I saw the defining principles and I was like, wait a minute, these seem to really describe me. And I just became more and more curious about it. And when I compare that to all of the other schools, all the other schools seemed very generic in their descriptions of the schools and the student bodies, like teamwork, collaboration, but no school had so firmly and well-defined principles that would guide their student body and the program. And so, I went all in. I was like, oh my God, I got to get to Haas. I got to get there because that seems like it's the place for me.

What tips can you give to those who are pursuing success in their careers and personal lives?

[00:30:10] At this point, to be honest, it's a big balance between what works for my family and then what works for me as a professional in the coast guard. Life doesn't get simpler as you get older, you have a family and you have a partner, who's got a career of his own, his or her own. You have to find balance with that. And so I'm doing the best I can to find that balance.