Desiree Thomas

The Paul Merage School of Business, University of California-Irvine

Age: 46

“Strategic, intuitive, people-focused leader with a passion for learning and connecting with others.”

Hometown: Apple Valley, CA

Family Members: My husband Chad, three brothers, my favorite little sister Jiana, and our loyal deaf rescue pit bull Duck.

Fun fact about yourself: I almost dropped out of nursing school three times to attend cooking school.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Biola University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing;

Mount St. Mary’s University, Master of Science in Nursing;

University of California Irvine, Master of Business Administration

Where are you currently working? Be Well Orange County as the Chief Operating Officer

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles:

• I actively participate in the Southern California Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Before beginning my MBA, I achieved the Fellow (FACHE) designation. I also hold an advanced Nurse Executive board certification (NEA-BC).
• Community Service: My passion for helping others stems from personal experiences with loss. I engage in community and volunteer work by serving with a local non-profit organization that supports children and families coping with the loss of a loved one.
• Leadership Roles: Throughout my career, I’ve held various leadership positions, including Director, Executive Director, Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer. In this capacity, I had the privilege of addressing Trauma Systems care at regional, state, and international forums.
• Mentorship: Beyond formal titles, I find great fulfillment in mentoring and being mentored. Collaborating with dedicated professionals across different fields has enriched my journey and provided meaningful connections.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I take immense pride in accomplishing several significant milestones simultaneously during my time in business school. Within the last six months, I embarked on a new professional journey as a Chief Operating Officer for a mental health organization in Orange County. I also planned a wedding, got married, embarked on a home renovation, and completed my executive MBA.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Throughout my career, pivotal moments have often begun with a simple “yes” that resulted in professional growth and resiliency. My most transformative “yes” occurred when I accepted the role of interim Vice President at Phoenix Children’s Hospital during the height of the pandemic. This decision pushed me out of my comfort zone and led to a series of remarkable experiences and decisions. I boldly relocated to another state, embarking on this new role independently. As an interim Vice President, I assumed a significantly broader span of control and responsibility. This stretch opportunity pushed me to excel and think strategically.

My time at Phoenix Children’s crystallized my belief that clinicians should have an equal voice in strategic decision-making, and this conviction fueled my determination to ascend to the C-Suite. While in Arizona, I made a pivotal choice to pursue an executive MBA. This decision has enriched my knowledge and expanded my professional network. Joining the American College of Healthcare Executives not only enhanced my professional connections, but also led to a serendipitous encounter with my future husband.  These deliberate steps paved the way for new career opportunities. Today, I proudly serve as the Chief Operating Officer at Be Well Orange County, where I continue to advocate for excellence and clinician empowerment.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Dr. Rick Afable was my favorite professor.  Academically, his teaching method and knowledge of healthcare create an environment in which both healthcare professionals and others can learn more about an industry that impacts all of us. He is very astute, cares about the students, and is committed to the quality of the EMBA program at UCI. His mentorship and encouragement provided me with the confidence I needed to make a career transition, moving into the mental health space after working in a hospital for 23 years.

Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I chose UCI’s program because of the high percentage of female faculty and students, and because I wanted an in-person learning experience. The proximity of my work and home to UCI made this in-person learning experience more accessible.

Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? The second quarter of the program was the most academically challenging for me, and I was struggling to balance my busy job and school. Just a couple weeks into the quarter, my dear friends experienced the unexpected death of their young son. They stayed with me for the week immediately following his death, and my home became the gathering place for many of their loved ones. As I grieved his loss and planned the memorial service, it became increasingly more difficult to support my friends while managing school and work. It was through the support of my EMBA colleagues, the faculty, and the program staff that I was able to successfully complete that quarter.

What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Don’t disqualify yourself because you have a non-traditional background, or are not proficient in finance or microeconomics – Just do it! Not only will you learn about business, but you will learn a lot about yourself personally and professionally. The most important part of business school is learning how to think differently and cultivating meaningful relationships. Effective leaders are relationally skilled and lean into discomfort as an opportunity to grow.

What was your biggest regret in business school? Not participating in the extracurricular activities available at UCI.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Sarah Hinds – Sarah is the epitome of intelligence and tenacity, and I have witnessed her fully integrate her professional experience with the EMBA program. She is an executive in the male-dominated space of technology and manufacturing, often sharing her knowledge and expertise with us during the program. Sarah is involved in initiatives at Rockwell Automation to enrich and encourage more women to join the tech/manufacturing sector.  Due to her expertise and leadership ability, she was recently promoted. We are fortunate that she was able to coordinate a tour of the Rockwell plant in Singapore, which was a rich learning experience during our international residential.  She has leveraged the talent and expertise of the UCI faculty to provide professional growth experiences for her teams. She has accomplished all of this while traveling from Michigan to Orange County for every single in-person EMBA weekend, leadership module, or residential, racking up countless airline miles and Marriott points.  Despite these professional and academic accolades, Sarah’s most impressive accomplishment is raising twin daughters during this program.  She is demonstrating to her daughters what a strong and grounded woman can accomplish, which will give them permission to pursue their own dreams.

What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? My decision to go to business school was a seemingly big departure from my previous education as a nurse. I did this because I wanted to develop a business perspective that would complement my love of healthcare and operations, and provide clinicians a voice when strategic decisions are being made. I chose an executive MBA because I value connection and relationships, and I believe that meaningful learning happens in this context. I wanted to learn from other professionals whose experiences would create a rich learning environment, and I knew I would find that in an executive MBA program.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term goal was to become a Chief Operating Officer, which I have achieved. My new goals include becoming a Chief Executive Officer and/or owning my own company.

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