For Dean Holstein, leadership has always been at the center of his career. After serving 24 years in the United States Army as a Combat Engineer and First Sergeant, he transitioned into the financial services industry, bringing decades of experience in leadership, problem-solving, and operational excellence. To continue growing professionally, Dean chose to pursue Bellarmine University's Executive MBA. 

Today, Dean serves as a Third-Party Vendor Risk Manager at Republic Bank, where he helps manage vendor risk while supporting the bank's operational and strategic goals. He says Bellarmine's Executive MBA has provided valuable perspectives that directly support his work. 

"My experience in the Executive MBA program has been great," Dean said. "The faculty are amazing, and with a diverse cohort, I'm able to get a bunch of different perspectives that help me out in my current role here at Republic Bank." 

Dean's path to graduate school reflects his commitment to lifelong learning. Following his military retirement, he recognized opportunities to continue advancing his career and decided that earning an MBA would help prepare him for future leadership opportunities. 

"I'm a retired Army First Sergeant where I served in the United States Army for 24 years as a Combat Engineer and Sapper," Dean shared. "After my retirement, I got this opportunity here at Republic Bank and saw opportunities within the bank to grow and decided to pursue my MBA at Bellarmine." 

One of the aspects Dean values most about the Executive MBA program is the collaborative learning environment. Studying alongside professionals from a variety of industries has expanded his perspective and enriched classroom discussions with real-world experiences. 

"The diverse cohort gives me a bunch of different perspectives," he explained. "Those perspectives have been valuable in helping me think differently and apply new ideas in my current role." 

As a student veteran, Dean also found Bellarmine's support services to be an important part of his educational journey. He appreciated the University's experience working with military education benefits, making the enrollment process straightforward and allowing him to focus on his studies. 

"As a student veteran, Bellarmine was great with the VA," he said. "They're very knowledgeable about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, and the Yellow Ribbon Program." 

For working professionals balancing career, family, and graduate school, flexibility is often essential. Dean says Bellarmine's Executive MBA program made it possible to continue advancing his education without putting his career on hold. 

"As a working professional, the Executive MBA is very flexible and works well with my schedule," he said. "You still get the full knowledge of a traditional MBA." 

Looking back on his experience, Dean encourages other professionals—especially veterans and those seeking career advancement—to consider Bellarmine's Executive MBA. 

"I definitely would recommend the Bellarmine Executive MBA program," Dean said. "The faculty, the flexibility, and the support make it an outstanding choice for professionals looking to grow their leadership skills and prepare for the next stage of their careers."