2015 Seattle University President's Report

16

SUCCESS STORY

THE PATH LESS TAKEN

A FOUNDATION THAT OPENS GATES KRISTI THORNE ALUMNA | ALBERS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & ECONOMICS Some people are all about setting goals— whether it’s a New Year’s resolution to eat better or a career-minded one to land that promotion. Kristi Thorne, ’14 MBA, is not one of those people.

“I never have an answer for what my five- or 10-year professional goals are.

Rather than have a goal, I pick tasks I like,” says Thorne, who is program manager in the office of the president in global policy and advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Surprising though her approach may be, it clearly works.

In 2006, Thorne started at the Gates Foundation as a librarian who catalogued media assets. It was a foot-inthe-door opportunity for a new college graduate, one who worked in the library as a work-study student all four years during her undergrad studies.

Back then, the Gates Foundation had a staff of 350.

Today, the staff is at 1,400. Growth brought with it more opportunities. Every couple of years Thorne found a new position with greater responsibility that was a better fit.

together and how human resources’ policy and core job functions are likely to have an effect on other departments,” says Thorne.

It didn’t take long before she started to think it was time She says her Seattle University education gave her a to grow her skills in a more expansive way. She had a welldefined idea of what she wanted in a graduate program and new suite of resources. was familiar with the vision and mission of a Jesuit education.

“When I had to move 60 people around, I had tactics to mitigate negative side effects and had very few problems.”

“When I was looking, I knew I wanted a social justice element,” she says. “I was working in the nonprofit sector What does she find the most rewarding about her work? building strong communities. The Albers MBA program stood out. Plus, it was a night program.”

“Making other people’s jobs easier to get great work done, taking away the bureaucracy, breaking down silos What did she gain? physically, mentally and emotionally,” she says. “I’m an expert in employee communications, not fighting malaria, “The program gave me an understanding of ecosystems, yet I’m contributing to a greater mission.” of how businesses work, how all the components come