Daryl Wilkerson, Manager, Network Services

Manager, Network Services for a telecommunications company
San Antonio, Texas, USA

What I Do

I am a manager within the Leadership Development Program of a U.S.-based telecommunications company.

The program places participants in three diverse work assignments over a two-year period of time to expose individuals to key areas within the company before they choose a more permanent role within the organization.

Currently, I am managing a team of 11 individuals in the installation and repair of a flagship product that is my company's first venture into television. I spend a majority of my time troubleshooting product repair issues, ensuring customer satisfaction, and training personnel.

What I Enjoy Most

The Leadership Development Program has afforded me immediate exposure to a leadership role within a major corporation. I am excited about the opportunity to rotate through the various aspects of the corporation as well.

I am fortunate in that I have enjoyed all aspects of this rotation. It has been very challenging and rewarding.

What I Enjoy Least

I will say that in a large organization it does take time for a policy to move through the various channels. So, the bureaucracy is what I enjoy least. That and the number of conference calls.

Why I Chose This Career

I have an engineering background (BS in Industrial Technology; MS in Manufacturing Technology) and 10 years of personnel and project management experience as a naval officer. The MBA program provided me the business knowledge and acumen that I did not possess before entering the program. I searched for a position that would combine my technical skills, my leadership experience, and my business knowledge and found that position in the telecommunications industry.

Desirable Traits to Be Successful in This Career

One must be flexible and able to embrace new technology, given the fact that technology changes rapidly. A knack for problem solving often comes in handy. Individuals must be able to lead others in an innovative environment and value excellent customer service.

Words of Advice If You Are Considering This Career Path

I believe to do well in any organization one must get fully integrated within that setting. Volunteer for extracurricular activities, whether it is a social, business, or philanthropic-based event. The opportunity to interact with individuals of different segments or cultures not only enriches one's life but also enhances one's career.

Leverage your leadership experience and sharpen your technical skills. Business school is a great transition point; the education highlights what you've done in the past and can push you forward.

What I Did Before This (Including Pre-MBA and Post-MBA Jobs)

After graduating with my BS and MS, I worked as a manufacturing engineer in private industry. I then joined the Navy as a supply officer and spent the next several years learning key leadership and management skills during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom while deployed abroad. The Navy not only helped to develop my leadership skills, but I was also able to travel and experience various cultures. Thus far I have visited 32 countries and five continents! After several years in the Navy, I wanted another career challenge and used the MBA program as a transition into private industry.

During my two years in the MBA program, I was a program assistant in MBA Career Services, where I assisted students with resume writing, mock interviews, and career research.  I also cofounded and served as president of the MBA Military Service Association (now the MBA Service Association). This association was a volunteer service organization that I founded with other classmates who had been in the military. We renamed the group after about six months, since it included some of our classmates who had not been military personnel.

I was offered an internship at a large automobile manufacturer, where I worked in Global Healthcare Purchasing. The insight and experience I acquired helped demonstrate to future employers that I could not only be successful in the military world, but also in the corporate world.

Educational Background (Undergraduate, MBA, Other)

MBA, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2006
MS in Manufacturing Technology, Eastern Illinois University, 1998
BS in Industrial Technology, Eastern Illinois University, 1997

In MBA Programs, I'd Suggest You Look For...

I personally valued the Illinois MBA program's diverse teamwork experiences and the continuous interaction with faculty and fellow classmates. Because of the diverse perspectives on management I encountered in the program, I felt ready to embrace and compete within the global economy.