1. Ashley Leonzio
MIS Practicum: Professional Development Plan
September 20, 2010
In ten years I would like to have the reputation of being a successful leader on a product
management team within an Agile/Scrum environment that is able to rely on the skills and
expertise built working in the areas of process improvement, customer relationship management,
and business analytics.
To obtain this reputation, I will need to expand my knowledge in these areas, network with
colleagues and industry leaders, and practice my skills, among other things. Below, I have noted
the specific actions in the areas of competence required to achieve my goals.
Knowledge
In order to be a successful product manager, I will strive to gain a breadth of knowledge in the
areas of marketing and development methodologies as well as depth of knowledge in the areas of
process improvement, customer relationship management, business analytics, and product
development. To gain this knowledge, some of the actions I will take include:
1. Focusing on CRM systems, specifically the impact of social media on business
development, within my MIS coursework
2. Taking a Six Sigma course in the MBA program to complement my prior training in
Kaizen Facilitation and LEAN/Six Sigma
3. Enrolling in classes in the curricular tracks of Business Analytics and Product
Management (e.g. Competitive Intelligence, Impact Analysis, and Product
Development and Management)
These courses and actions will build the knowledge foundation I need to become successful
product management professional. By balancing depth of knowledge in the areas a product
manager interacts with (e.g. Marketing and Development) and the expertise of business analysis
and product development in the MBA/MS-MIS program I will be able to differentiate myself
from others in my field.
Practice
Practice makes perfect, but practicing the wrong things over and over simply encourages bad
habits. To ensure I practice the right things, I will focus on complementing the knowledge I gain
in the MBA/MS-MIS program and in my current position as a business analyst. I will do this by:
1. Leading and/or participating in Six Sigma initiatives at McKesson
2. Engaging in on and off-campus activities to hone my professional communication
and networking skills

2. 3. Taking on challenging assignments in my class work and in my professional career
4. Volunteering to work on a special project at McKesson focusing on leveraging social
media and social networking to access customer feedback
5. Actively seeing to build new relationships both at work and via networking with PYP
and the Pittsburgh Technology Council Continuing to assist my peers in both the
academic and professional environment in building their skill set and knowledge
By performing these tasks I will have a community to lean on and learn from, gain additional
process improvement experience through analytical problem solving, and round out my skill set.
Learning
To become an expert and a strong leader, I will need to continue learning well past obtaining my
MBA. To create the habit of lifelong learning, I will begin to explore opportunities to learn new
skills, processes, and ways of thinking now. I will do this by:
1. Completing my MBA/MS-MIS degree
2. Focusing on a core competency each year and taking online courses provided by
my employer
3. Attend seminars and workshops held by organizations I am currently aware of or
involved with, such as APQC, IIBA, and Synerzip while seeking out other
opportunities to learn
4. Taking advantage of the resources at my disposal at the university as well as at
McKesson such as a subscription to the Wall Street Journal
Being stale or stagnant, especially in the world of technology, is a very unflattering trait. By
staying current and striving to learn and adapt to new thoughts, I will be able to influence those
around me.
Dialog
Throughout my time in the MBA/MS-MIS program I will take full advantage of the cultural
diversity, the variety of professional backgrounds, and the individual skill sets of my peers,
professors, and administrators. I will engage these people on both a professional and personal
level to learn from them and about them. In the professional world I will continue a mentor-
mentee relationship with the Six Sigma Master Blackbelt at McKesson as well as focus on
listening just as much as speaking. One of the best attributes I see in the experts and leaders in
my organization is that they do not proclaim their expertise; rather they let the reputations they
have built speak for them.
Networking
I plan to utilize my existing network of customers, colleagues, friends, and mentors to continue
building a community for myself. I plan to:

3. 1. Utilize any opportunity to work directly with customers on projects via phone, email, and
most importantly face-to-face visits
2. Keep in touch with current customers via feedback reviews for the projects I am working
on
3. Attend volunteering and social events hosted by Katz
4. Continue my membership with APQC
5. Get back in touch with “Pittsburgh Young Professionals” and attend seminars and social
events
6. Join the University of Pittsburgh Engineering School Alumni network to mentor current
students
I believe that networking shouldn’t feel like a process or a task on my to-do list. I will strive to
complete my plans listed above in such a way that ‘networking’ is a byproduct of the day-to-day
interactions with those around me. I will also make it a point to network both up and down –
meaning that I will not always focus on who can help me, but also who I can help.
Reputation
If no one knows who you are or questions your credibility your expertise is much less valuable.
In order to build a reputation as a proven leader in product management, I will:
1. Continue to conduct myself in a professional manner
2. Take pride in the work that I do such that I always provide the highest level of service I
am capable of
3. Admit my mistakes and never take the praise of another persons work
4. Lend my skills and time to those less fortunate by performing volunteer work with Katz
sponsored volunteer events while completing my MBA/MS-MIS
5. Network with peers though joining appropriate clubs at Katz and with professionals
though professional societies
Representing myself as a reputable professional in the area of product development will assist
me in my efforts to move upward in the profession. I have already built an invaluable reputation
at McKesson by following the above guidelines so I know the impact these efforts can have.