DECATUR, Ill. – For Emily West, Decatur has always been home – and so has Millikin University.
Born and raised in Decatur, Emily grew up attending performances at the Kirkland Fine Arts Center, cheering at Big Blue games, and watching her brother, Evan West ’14, play baseball for Millikin. With a father, Tom West, who also graduated from Millikin in the Class of 1979, she feels that the University was always in the background of her childhood. However, when it came time to advance her career, Emily saw Millikin in a whole new light.
“I wanted to find a program that would not only strengthen my skills in finance and economics but also challenge me to grow in areas outside of accounting,” Emily said. “Millikin’s Executive MBA program was exactly what I needed. It gave me the practical knowledge, but also the soft skills and connections that have shaped me as a leader.”
After earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting from Bradley University, Emily returned to Decatur to begin her career at ADM. Over the years, her roles have taken her from more basic accounting to international audit assignments across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and even Turkey.
Today, she works in ADM’s Financial Planning and Analysis group for one of its nutrition businesses, managing something a bit closer to home: Bush’s Baked Beans.
“If you’ve eaten a can of Bush’s Baked Beans, there’s a good chance I’ve had my hands on the accounting side of it,” Emily joked.
Known at work as the “numbers person,” Emily enrolled in Millikin’s Executive MBA program to broaden her expertise. What she found was more than classroom learning.
Through group projects, cohort collaboration, and real-world problem-solving, Emily developed her leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. One of the highlights of Emily’s Executive MBA journey was the international immersion trip to Germany, a culminating experience that brought classroom concepts to life. For Emily, the trip was more than just travel – it was about applying what she and her cohort had learned over 18 months in a high-stakes, real-world environment.
“Our cohort worked directly with a German company that wanted to expand into the U.S. market,” she said. “Each group was assigned a strategic area to research, and my team focused on identifying potential risks of entering the American business landscape.”
From assessing regulatory challenges and consumer trends to preparing a risk mitigation plan, Emily and her peers collaborated to present recommendations directly to the company’s leadership, including its president and board members.
“It was such a unique opportunity,” Emily said. “We weren’t just doing a classroom exercise – we were advising a real company on decisions that could shape its future. It made everything we learned in the program feel so relevant and valuable.”
The trip to Germany also offered cultural experiences and professional networking opportunities that broadened Emily’s global perspective. The international capstone was the perfect way to bring the program full circle.
“It was eye-opening to see how business practices vary across countries, and it gave me a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of global markets,” Emily said. “It combined the academic rigor, the teamwork with our cohort, and the confidence to step into unfamiliar situations – all skills I’ll continue to use throughout my career. It was such a rewarding way to wrap up the program.”
Emily also believes in using her professional skills for the good of others. She serves as a trustee for the Decatur Public Library Board, where she helps oversee finances and operations, and as a member of the Junior Welfare Association, which provides clothing vouchers for local children.
“To me, it’s not just about your everyday work,” she explained. “It’s about how you can use your skills to give back to the community.”
Emily also credits Millikin’s signature Performance Learning model for preparing her to mentor the next generation. She recently supervised a Millikin intern at ADM, providing him with hands-on professional experience while applying the leadership skills she gained in the MBA program.
“Performance Learning isn’t just something you hear about — it’s real. I saw it firsthand with my intern, and it was rewarding to play a part in helping him grow,” Emily said.
Looking back, Emily describes the 18-month MBA journey as “a lot of work, but worth every minute.” The relationships she built with her cohort continue even after graduation, and the skills she gained have expanded her impact both professionally and personally.
“My advice for anyone considering the program is don’t hesitate and jump right in. You’ll never regret it,” she said. “The support you’ll find from your professors, classmates, and program leaders is unmatched. There’s no time like now.”