An industry partnership led four students from South Dakota to the Daniels College of Business
Most students at the Daniels College of Business commute to campus. Some walk, others take public transit or ride their bicycles. Nearly all the rest drive. Few, however, match the trek of a select group of Executive MBA students.
Over the course of the 18-month program, on alternating Fridays and Saturdays, Seth Shively got used to his unusual routine.
He’d wake up around 4 a.m. in his home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, head to the airport at 4:30 a.m. and board a plane to Denver shortly after. Two hours later, he’d land in Denver with fellow classmate Steven Blomgren and grab an Uber to campus.
After a day of classes, they’d hop back on a plane to Sioux Falls and sleep in their own beds that night. It might seem like a lot—about 1,200 miles of travel—but Shively said this unique MBA experience taught him crucial lessons in time management.
“Having a day of your week pulled away for 18 months really forces you to become much more efficient,” he said. “Now, I can knock out [what used to be] a day’s worth of work in two to three hours in the morning and spend more time focusing on my work team and my family.”
Robert Gillingham
Shively and Blomgren took part in the EMBA program at Daniels in large part due to the relationship their employer has with the College. The duo works for Burwell Enterprises and C&B Equipment, two companies with distinct Daniels connections. Burwell Enterprises CEO Peter Burwell is a 2011 alumnus of the College, and has helped shepherd four of his employees to the Daniels Executive MBA program.
In addition to Shively and Blomgren, who graduated in 2024, current students Jeff Buyck and Rob Gillingham have furthered the Daniels-Burwell connection. All have had to balance an intense travel schedule to achieve the tremendous benefits of the degree. For Gillingham, Shively’s glowing review of the program pushed him to dive in.
“I heard about this program through Seth two years before I started. Hearing firsthand about his experiences, the people he was meeting, what he was learning, and how they were applying it—I was hooked,” Gillingham said.
The EMBA at Daniels helps seasoned business leaders learn critical business skills and take on the complex, evolving issues they face in today’s business environment. The program is highlighted by experiential learning opportunities, including a two-week immersive international trip and a signature team sailing challenge.
Steven Blomgren during his cohort’s sailing challenge.
In addition to the in-classroom curriculum, Buyck said the EMBA has given him an opportunity to grow his network. His cohort members come from a variety of background and fields, each bringing unique perspective to the group. And, with three cohorts of students going through the program at once, professional connections are invaluable.
“You’re part of a cohort, but you’re also part of the EMBA family,” he said. “The networking opportunity is very valuable because you get to interact with people from other cohorts.”
As he reflects on the program, Shively said his biggest lesson came in the program’s individualized focus.
“What surprised me was that it’s a lot more about self-exploration and your own leadership strengths and weaknesses than it is about getting into a bunch of leadership theory,” he said. “It serves as a playground where I could go in and experiment with my leadership style, knowing that my cohort understood what I was trying to do. You can’t really do that in the workplace.”
Throughout their academic journey, the group has learned how to adapt to their unique circumstances, primarily as it relates to homework and reading. They use the flights and ride to and from campus to complete their schoolwork, ensuring that they arrive to class each week ready to learn.
“You have all that time to shift from work mode to learn mode. I actually welcome that travel piece. It sets the mindset for school,” Gillingham said.
And Burwell has been supportive all along, ensuring his employees have balance across their home, office and school life. Each of them expressed sincere thanks to their employer for being an active supporter of their personal and professional growth.
“I think anybody who’s going through a program like this likely has an employer who’s promoting them to do well. We certainly do. They see value in us being a part of something like this and understand the benefits that come from an employee who goes through a program like this,” Buyck said.
Shively echoed that sentiment, adding that the travel component has ultimately proved to be beneficial.
“Instead of sitting at my computer with the door shut in my home office [doing school work] the six days I was home, I was engaged with my family because of the way we reworked our schedules,” he said.
Despite an unorthodox commute and increased focus on efficiency and time management, the EMBA students from South Dakota are up for the challenge. But they aren’t doing it alone.
“To know there are people back in Sioux Falls rooting for you and fully supportive of you doing this program is a game changer,” Gillingham said. “I don’t know if I could do it without their support.”