By the time Esther Santosa arrived at the Drucker School, she had earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in international business. She began her career in urban development and worked in construction industry for nearly 12 years. Prior to joining Southern California Edison in 2015, she worked for an infrastructure private equity firm managing a portfolio of transportation and power projects. While her background in engineering prepared her for the technical and project management aspects of the job, she wanted to advance her leadership and management skills.
Santosa began her search for an MBA program by consulting her colleagues and senior management staff at Edison, all of whom pointed her to the Drucker School. She often heard Drucker’s name when she was a college student in Indonesia and was introduced to some of his philosophies while studying international business at Biola University.
In addition to reputation, referrals, and proximity to home and work, Santosa chose the Drucker School for its Executive MBA program. Evening and weekend classes make it possible for her to pursue her degree while working full time. A non-cohort model also gives her the flexibility to take courses at her own pace. The program allows her to hone in on subject areas she previously perceived as gaps in preparation for further career advancement, such as leadership and strategic management. Class discussions with fellow mid to senior-level managers are superb; each of her peers bringing real-life scenarios to the concepts they study together.
Santosa is the 2018 recipient of the Toyota Women of Achievement Fellowship, created to support management education for talented applicants from underrepresented backgrounds.
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“Drucker offered me a non-cohort model and classes in the evenings as well as on weekends. It suited me well while working full-time.”