Mark Mullet is a City Council Member in Issaquah, Washington and a 2008 graduate of the Executive MPA program.
Why did you choose to apply to the Evans School of Public Affairs Executive MPA program?
“My goal was to run for public office. I had 12 years of experience in the finance industry and was looking to compliment that experience with an educational program focusing on the public sector.”
What was your academic and professional background prior to entering the Executive MPA program?
“After earning an undergraduate degree in Finance from Indiana University (graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1994), I worked as a foreign currency trader in London for UBS (Swiss Bank) until 2002. I then moved back to the states and took over responsibility for global currency trading for Bank of America and was promoted to Managing Director at the age of 31. I left Bank of America in the spring of 2007 and enrolled at the Evans School the next month.”
What was the most inspirational or motivational thing you learned during program, and how have you used it in your work?
“I loved this quote from Margaret Mead , ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has’. This gave me inspiration that the things we were doing on a small scale in Issaquah could lead to larger regional changes.”
What is the most useful skill or tool you learned in the Executive MPA program, and how have you applied it at work?
“Michael Shadow does an excellent course on public speaking. I was recently elected to the Issaquah City Council and used Dr. Shadow’s public speaking course throughout the campaign.”
How has being a part of the Evans School network benefited you in your career?
“It has given me credibility when discussing City issues with a wide range of constituents. I love sharing examples from Dwight Dively [instructor in the Strategic Financial Management course sequence] about things that worked in Seattle that we could be using in Issaquah.”
How has your participation in the program influenced your career and helped you meet your goals?
“My opponent backed out of my City Council campaign in 2009. Having the Public Administration degree made me a candidate that everybody took seriously from the day I announced my intentions to run for office.”
If you were to use one phrase or sentence to describe the Evans School Executive MPA program, what would it be?
“Inspires you to do great things.”
What advice do you have for someone who is considering applying to the Executive MPA program?
“It was a life changing experience for me. It gives you an honest impression of the person you really are, and makes you open to the different personalities in the world.”