Online Program. Virtual Commencement. All Spartan Pride.
Last Updated May 3, 2023
As a proud son of Michigan, raised in Farmington Hills in a family of eight children, and a Michigan State University alum with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Steve Deighton made the “easy choice to return for my graduate degree.”
The 100% online Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership (MSMSL) program made that “return” to MSU possible for Steve, as he and his family live in Virginia, where he works as a professional recruiter with Legacy Care of Virginia Beach.
While Steve was initially attracted to the MSMSL program for its holistic and balanced approach that is “more specific than a traditional MBA,” the program’s online convenience and flexibility would prove invaluable as life began throwing one disruption after another at the Deighton family.
Finding Inspiration in the Face of Disruption
In March 2020, much of the world moved online for school, work and even shopping for life necessities as the coronavirus outbreak triggered an initial wave of business shutdowns and civil lockdowns.
If anything, the online MSMSL program was one of the constants for Steve that didn’t change, allowing him to stay consistent in his studies, even in the face of the unexpected.
“I was used to working through the online curriculum, so the stay at home order did not change anything for my last two courses,” he says. Steve completed his Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership in the spring 2020 semester and “walked” in MSU’s first-ever virtual commencement on May 16, 2020.
“My family and I watched the commencement, which I streamed live to our large screen TV,” he says of the family celebration. “My teenage son, James, is proud of his old man, and my hope is that he will consider Michigan State when the time comes for him to go to college.”
A virtual commencement with no on-campus ceremony or the graduate luncheon MSMSL grads are usually feted to was certainly different this year, some might even say disappointing, but the Deighton family had much to celebrate and remember that May day, even from the confines of home.
“My wife, Gwen, served as my motivation and inspiration. She battled cancer while caring for her Mom and Dad,” explains Steve. “Her Dad also had cancer at the same time and eventually succumbed to the disease. Through it all, she had a much tougher time than I did, and I drew upon her strength to stay focused on my coursework.”
While Steve did step away from his studies, taking the summer 2019 semester off to focus on Gwen’s health, he was able to seamlessly step back into the program the following fall, thanks to the support of MSU faculty and program facilitators.
“My guidance counselor, Danny Oliver, was there for me throughout…” says Steve. “[He] always was positive and kept me focused on achieving my 4.0 GPA.”
But according to Danny Oliver, Senior Student Success Coach, focus and positivity come naturally to Steve Deighton.
“I can’t speak enough of his unwavering optimism, persistence, and can-do attitude…and from my first conversation with Steve, I knew that he was a special guy,” says Danny. “During my calls with him, [I’d] routinely ask and joke, ‘Are you still 4.0-ing it?’ Steve regularly shared his class experiences with me…He looks for opportunities to recommend the program to others who are looking to further their education and are interested in the [online] learning format.”
Challenging Curriculum with Valuable Takeaways
“I highly recommend the curriculum to anyone considering a graduate degree in business,” Steve says of the MSMSL program.
And while those looking for a graduate program in business might automatically think MBA, Steve sees the MSMSL program’s equal emphasis on leadership and strategy alongside business management to be a huge program differentiator and benefit.
“My most valuable takeaway from the program is the knowledge gained in understanding how intertwined strategy and culture are in every organization,” explains Steve. “Culture is vital in driving the buy-in from employees to achieve the strategy. I keep this in mind in my day-to-day work, especially when onboarding new employees.”
For those desiring program courses on hard-hitting business topics, look no further than one of Steve’s favorite classes: “One that I enjoyed greatly was Business Negotiations as I learned several aspects of negotiation that I apply in my work every day.”
While the online flexibility of the MSMSL program made graduate school possible for Steve, he cautions anyone who thinks that online flexibility makes for an easier program.
“This is a world-class university offering a world-class curriculum taught by experts who are recognized throughout the world for their achievements and expertise,” he says.
That means bringing a world-class level of work ethic to make the most of the MSMSL experience, including the “significant reading of articles and chapters of text,” explains Steve. “Balancing the reading with work and family life was not always easy.”
“Just Do It”
With the challenge of graduate school met and his degree firmly in hand, Steve looks forward to networking “to stay connected with current, past and future students” and “continuing to advocate for the program.”
When it comes to promoting the MSMSL program to those considering their Master’s degree, Steve echoes the words of and that well-known shoe company: “Like they say at Nike, ‘Just Do IT!’”
As with any investment in your future, the results all depend on what you put in. From Steve Deighton’s perspective as a Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership graduate, “it may be the best value of any program in the country.”
See how you can invest in yourself as a leader in MSU’s M.S. in Management, Strategy and Leadership program.
