Name: David Schattschneider
Place of work: Rome International Airport – Cargo City
Graduation Year: 2018
Current Job: Postal Manager for Military Mail Operations – Fiumicino International Airport
Favorite Quote: “I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: ‘I served in the United States Navy.” – John F. Kennedy
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I am very confident that in 5 years I will be promoted to a Senior Manager level of Mail Operations either overseas or in the United States.
So you finished MBA classes in 2018, tell us about your experience after your MBA Degree Program.
I attended SSM’s MBA Degree program while working at my present job at Rome International Airport. I saw it as an opportunity to expand my knowledge level as a senior manager and leader since I had completed 2 previous Bachelor’s with other U.S. Universities. I finished my MBA as it has always been a long-time goal of mine to be able to complete an MBA. The program was very fulfilling and so much has been learned during the various courses. After the completion of the MBA degree I will continue my present line of work in military mail postal operations at Fiumicino International Airport. Today, I manage over 10 people in the operations and provide oversight for over 3 million kilos of mail a year that transits through the Rome airport and various cargo warehouses.
What skillset do you need to do your job?
Leadership and Management skills are very important in my job. Being able to manage people properly in a way that is allowing them to complete their mission and giving them the tools needed to do their job. Hiring, training and managing people in postal operations, as well specifically motivating them in ways that give them the insight to complete their daily tasks is one of my other goals. Having the background in Military Postal is a top priority in my line of work without the technical knowledge this job would not be possible. In addition, I have many years of work and experience with the United States Postal Service which has been critical in knowing exactly which operation and routing of mail is required to different regions.
What are your future plans?
I am currently very happy with my current job and my management position. The organization is a great employer, and I am very proud to work for it. My future goals are to grow together with the organization and climb to higher ranks within the command to always improve myself as a leader. I am very motivated to gain experience within the postal and logistics area to take on more responsibilities. The more knowledge that I can gain and at the same time train those that work for me I can make my organization a better operation from an Organizational aspect. Continually, I want to improve and always make enhancements within this organization to always move ahead and change in this vastly changing and advancing logistics world.
If you could describe your experience in Rome during your MBA how would you sum it up?
At SSM I learned a lot from people with extensive experience on various management levels. The experience was such a rewarding one as the time process that was involved was very enriching. Faculty staff were of the highest degree of teaching professionals in their instruction and their teaching techniques. When I started, I already had experience in online as well as in class universities. The experience of going to class every evening near Campo di Fiore was such a wonderful experience. I would always leave work at the airport with enough time to give myself about 30 minutes extra time in case of possible delays to ensure that I was in class ahead of time. Walking from the Trastevere area to arrive at Pizza del Biscione 95 was very relaxing and it prepared for me for the evening’s academics that would be ahead of me. The opportunity to study in such a beautiful city such as Rome was an experience that was very fulfilling and rewarding.
Can you share an experience that is most memorable with relation to the MBA Degree program?
Maybe the most memorable experience that I will keep with me forever was the comradeship between my classmates and the various faculty members. I felt that all the classmates had a strong bond amongst each other and something that we will keep going for many years. Everyone within the class always worked together on every project or presentation that we were required to present for each class.
What was your favorite class in the program and why?
My favorite class of the program was Competitive Strategy with Paolo Bongarzoni. The reason that I enjoyed this class so much was that the way the Professor explained all the details of competitive strategy and brought the concepts into the real world allowing the students to understand the technical aspects of this course. He always ensured that each student was paying attention to the presenter and that all students were listening to what was being discussed to ensure the discussion was maximized by all and we were learning together.
What advice would you give newcomers to the MBA Degree program or for those interested?
This SSM MBA program is so rewarding! The way the structure of the class is that it is not too many students but enough to allow small groups to be created for working on special projects and presentations. For the way the diversity of the students it is so nice to have many cultures in the class. You get to hear about diverse cultures and the students bring their own experiences into the discussion during many of the classes. I highly recommend this University to those potential students who want to succeed and make a future in any business, become better leaders, who have entrepreneur dreams and want to lay the foundation for a future for a successful life in the business world. As a newcomer to the SSM family I can say it was a very welcoming experience and school where you will be given the tools to manage and grow as a future leader in your future business opportunities. The staff, professor and President of SSM Rome all take the time to go over all the classes with you and should there be specific questions they dedicate themselves to ensuring you are knowledgeable in that area.
What do you think differentiates this MBA from other MBA programs?
I think the difference is that this MBA program is built around its monthly class structure and teacher constant interaction with the students. It’s because the teaching is very personal and focuses on each person individually. The SSM President is directly devoted to every student and gives feedback which makes this MBA program more on a personal level. Thank you for everything and a wonderful School year 2017-2018. I am very proud to belong to the SSM family and SSM alumni!