Bobby Wiese’s Leadership Levels Up with an EMBA
By Lauren Lesmeister
Bobby Wiese (’23 EMBA) constantly seeks ways to grow as a leader, and an executive MBA was the next step in his professional journey. When he learned Washington State University’s online Executive MBA program was designed for experienced professionals, he knew it would be the perfect fit.
In 2022, Wiese purchased Custom Fabrication Design, a shop that creates high-end architectural metal products for residential and commercial properties. Examples include custom steel entry doors, steel stairs and railings, aluminum awnings, fireplace wraps, and fire pits. Custom Fabrication Design provides comprehensive service to clients, guiding them through the entire process from design to installation.
Dedication to self-improvement
Some say earning an EMBA isn’t worth it for a business owner because you can’t give yourself a promotion, but Wiese disagrees.
“It’s my responsibility to pursue continuing education to stay up-to-date with the latest technology and trends,” he says. “That’s why I invested in an EMBA, so I could provide the highest chance of success for myself and my team.”
Wiese credits his commitment to self-improvement to his eight years of active service in the Marine Corps. One of its main principles is to know yourself and seek self-improvement.
“We constantly encourage Marines to look in the mirror, understand their weaknesses, and do what is necessary to improve in all areas,” he says. “We value helping others around you to accomplish their mission and improve as well.”
These principles have become part of his professional life. From earning his EMBA to collaborating with a former professor on leadership training, he remains committed to continuous growth. He participates in local manufacturing networking groups and surrounds himself with a team of experts in their fields. All these efforts aim to improve himself as a leader, supervisor, and business owner.
Skills gained from his EMBA
Even with more than 20 years of business experience, Wiese gained new skills from his EMBA that he applies to leading Custom Fabrication Design. The capstone course, which focused on bringing a product to market, taught him how to research viability and select the right product to meet customer needs. He now uses this process to determine which products to offer customers.
Another key takeaway for Wiese was the emphasis on leadership throughout the program.
“It hit home that you can be an expert in many things,” he says. “But if you don’t take care of the people you’re leading or can’t put together a cohesive team, then you’re going to spin your wheels a lot.”
Experiencing WSU
Wiese initially searched for local EMBA programs in eastern Washington, looking for a hybrid program requiring in-person attendance once a week. However, he decided the value of working with seasoned professionals in the WSU executive program was more important than meeting face to face.
“I was surprised how well I was able to build connections with people online,” he says.
Halfway through the program, Wiese purchased Custom Fabrication Design. He was busy balancing his studies with onboarding and building a new team and decided to take a short break from the EMBA program to focus on his business.
“The program was flexible enough for me to take a break and then return to classes,” he says. “It delayed my graduation, but it was worth it. I wouldn’t have been able to do it all.”
During his break, Wiese applied knowledge from his information systems class to his new business. He says the class taught him about recent advances in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, software used to manage the day-to-day activities of a company and used the opportunity to apply them to Custom Fabrication Design.
“Learning about the latest ERP systems was instrumental in helping me evaluate and choose the right system for us,” he says.
Reflecting on his journey, Wiese acknowledges the skills and insights gained from the EMBA program have significantly enhanced his leadership and strategic planning abilities, ultimately leading to better outcomes for Custom Fabrication Design.