How Adobe invested in my future

Five years ago, when I first started a sales job at Adobe with an Engineering degree, it felt gigantic. I was restless to begin my career, and I felt that Adobe was a dream company – globally recognized and opportunities around every corner. And although there were challenges, I dedicated myself to learning, every day for the past five years. But as I grew my career from a territory account manager to an enterprise account executive and was even honored with a sales excellence award, I always knew deep down that I wanted to pursue an MBA.

But how?

It never seemed like the right time. I felt that I couldn’t risk leaving everything to go back to school, and certifications didn’t appeal to me. As I continued to investigate my options, I soon found out about Adobe’s Learning Fund, a benefit employees pursuing continuing education and professional development courses receive, with Adobe reimbursing course and tuition costs. What appealed to me was the fact that the Learning Fund was open to all employees. Adobe was showing that it truly invested in continued learning. I knew this was my chance – I researched the right program for myself, prepared for the application and interviews, was accepted and began my Executive MBA program in 2020.

Having completed the program this year and being promoted to an enterprise account executive, I have been able to apply my learnings immediately.

Being in sales, I see an opportunity every day to talk to someone I haven’t ever spoken with. This gives me a fresh start to put what I learned throughout my MBA program to use. The interpersonal skills that I’ve worked hard to upgrade and evolve help me negotiate and successfully execute deals even in the most challenging situations. Also, since the job demands that I think on my feet, the critical thinking skills that I’ve acquired help me come up with creative solutions to unforeseen problems. I also aspire to lead functions and businesses in the future, and my MBA program helped me put together a 10-year plan with a detailed breakdown of goals and paths with an execution-based mindset.

Here at Adobe, it’s often said that “People are our greatest asset,” and I can confirm that this is true. I’ve always believed that actions speak louder than words, and it’s been amazing to have a company that supports you. As I continue my journey here at Adobe, I’m excited to grow in ways that I never thought possible, and even more—I can’t wait to mentor and guide those looking to expand their skills.