Jené Pulliam
Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business
Age: 39
“Authentic bridge-builder who connects with and serves others by sharing my time, knowledge, and talents.”
Hometown: Rockford, IL
Family Members: I have the most supportive and loving husband, Jordan Sneed, and the best cat-son, Smokey. My mother, Kathy Pulliam, is the most battle-tested woman I know. Each day with them is a gift – one I never take for granted.
Persevering through the tragedy of losing my brother (a victim of gun violence) when I was 10 and losing my father to cancer at the age of 13 shaped me to be resilient, family-oriented, and appreciative of every opportunity. When you experience loss, it puts the value of life into perspective. My experiences taught me to invest in myself, in relationships, and in something that will live beyond my years.
Fun fact about yourself: As an adult, I took an animal balloon-making class at a local Bob Evan’s restaurant. While seemingly random, I think it shows that I have a deep interest in embracing new experiences, stepping outside of my comfort zone, and using each day as a chance to learn and grow. And when learning new skills can be done while eating – even better!
Undergraduate School and Degree: Graduated from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale with Bachelor of Science in Finance (2007) and Accounting (2019)
Where are you currently working? I currently serve as the Assistant Vice President of Internal Audit at State Farm Insurance Companies, where I lead teams that deliver assurance, advisory, and investigative services that safeguard the financial integrity and operational excellence of our organization. It’s an incredibly dynamic and multi-faceted career that enables me to constantly learn, think strategically, and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: Giving back to my community and paying forward the opportunities I’ve been fortunate to receive has always been a driving force in my life. I do this is through active volunteerism with local (Bloomington, IL) organizations like the Midwest Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, The Baby Fold, and Eastview Christian Church.
In addition to volunteering, I also lend expertise and leadership skills to non-profit boards and advisory councils. I currently serve as a Board Member for The Baby Fold, a local organization dedicated to supporting children and families through foster care, adoption services, special education, and community programs.
I also served on the Diversity & Inclusion Advisement Board for the Southern Illinois University – College of Business and Analytics, empowering all students to thrive at the university and beyond. I offered career preparation assistance to students at Southern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, and the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, while also mentoring young people through the Bloomington-Normal YMCA LEAD Program.
In 2020, I was honored by the Southern Illinois University – College of Business and Analytics as a recipient of the Emerging Saluki Leader Award, which recognizes alumni for their outstanding accomplishments in their careers while making significant contributions to their communities.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Pursuing my Executive MBA was an immense source of pride, but it carried extra significance given the limited educational opportunities of my family. I earned my previous diplomas to honor them – my high school diploma for my mother and brother who never graduated, and my undergraduate degrees for my father who didn’t have the opportunity to attend college. However, this master’s degree represented a milestone based on my own aspirations – a foundation for me to dream bigger and shape the legacy I hope to leave.
I’m most proud of being selected by my peers to receive the Student Recognition Award at our Executive MBA pre-commencement ceremony. This honor is awarded to the student who best embodied the ideals of inquisitive and strategic thought and excellent leadership. While the recognition itself was humbling, it was the heartfelt nomination comments from my classmates that truly resonated. To have those I respected so much— and had the great fortunate of learning alongside – validate my contributions was one of the best feelings and will forever be a core memory.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The achievement I’m most proud of in my career is finding the courage to step outside my comfort zone and say ‘yes’ to opportunities that scared me. Early on, I had no desire for leadership roles – the thought of leading others filled me with self-doubt and fear of the unknown. However, a pivotal moment in my career came when my manager at the time, Pat Roan, saw potential in me that I couldn’t yet recognize in myself. Saying yes to my first leadership role was both terrifying and the greatest blessing of my professional life. It taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, serving others, and the power of pushing beyond your own self-imposed limits. I learned that some of life’s most transformative experiences come from the moments that make us most uncomfortable.
One of the proudest moments resulting from this mindset shift was assuming my first executive role in 2018. To reach a level of leadership I never dreamed possible. and to come from such humble beginnings, was an incredible full-circle moment. It was a testament to the power of continually saying ‘yes’ and dreaming bigger.
That achievement wasn’t about the title – it was about having the courage to embrace opportunities of self-discovery. It represented overcoming insecurities and fighting my own self-limiting beliefs. Since then, I’ve continually pursued opportunities to be challenged in ways that may frighten me. That’s where the magic happens!
Who was your favorite MBA professor? It’s impossible to pick just one from the incredible line-up of professors who made our learning experience at The Ohio State University memorable and impactful. So, I’m cheating and picking two: Professors Tanya Menon and Dan Oglevee!
Tanya taught our Organizational Behavior course early in the program, and it proved to be a pivotal jumpstart to my leadership development. Her passion for helping us grow as leaders and humans was undeniable. Her course exemplified that true leadership stems from self-discovery and bringing your authentic self to every situation.
Dan’s Entrepreneurship course was just as transformative. His willingness to share his personal experiences as an entrepreneur and investor, including both failures and wins, created a learning environment that was rich with real-world, applicable insights and acumen that cannot be learned from a textbook alone. His lessons extended far beyond entrepreneurship into principles like resilience, continual learning, and harnessing grit to combat challenges.
Both Tanya and Dan made lasting impacts through their unique teaching styles and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to learn from them both.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? My decision to pursue my Executive MBA at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business was deeply personal and guided by both my family’s roots in Ohio, as well as my faith.
When my mom immigrated to the United States from South Korea, Cincinnati was her initial home. So the idea of coming full circle and earning my graduate degree from such a prestigious Ohio institution was deeply meaningful (I’m a sentimentalist).
I’m also a firm believer that God will guide you to the path you’re meant to walk if you pray, remain open, and listen for clarity. Whenever I’m faced with a major life decision, my first step is always to pray and reflect deeply. That always leads me to a sense of conviction about where I’m meant to be or what I’m meant to do. That’s exactly what happened when I was exploring Executive MBA programs. As I researched, I felt an undeniable pull towards becoming a Buckeye. I knew it was the perfect fit – so much so that I didn’t apply anywhere else. I knew, without a doubt, that this was where I was meant to be.
Looking back, that decision to follow my heart and faith was absolutely the right one. The Ohio State University was absolutely the best university for me, and the Fisher Executive MBA experience was the most life-changing development experience I’ve ever had.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? In anticipation of starting our Negotiations course with Professor Robert Lount, I had many reservations about the in-class exercises. Even with my initial skepticism, I knew this would be one of my favorite classes after the first session. I soon realized that my perception of negotiating had long been misunderstood as and equated to heated debates. Through Professor Lount’s guidance, my perspective was altered and with my learnings, I now understand negotiations aren’t contentious disagreements, but are an effective way to ensure you have the information you need to make decisions, advocate your positioning, leverage diverse tactics depending on the context, remain open to integrated solutions, and ultimately reach the best possible agreement with someone else.
Overall, the Negotiations course was transformative for me and reshaped how I have conversations at work – with more confidence and poise. As a result, I am better at balancing transparency, maintaining integrity, preparation, collaboration, sustaining emotional composure, and building synergies.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? I’ll be very transparent. At times, balancing the demands of the Executive MBA program alongside work, family responsibilities, and personal challenges was an immense struggle. There were moments when the weight of it all felt like it might bury me. However, it was the tremendous support system I had around me that enabled me to persevere.
During the program, my husband was (and still is) dealing with undiagnosed health issues that led to a staggering 90-pound weight loss, countless doctor visits, and an overwhelming sense of despair as we searched for answers. Simultaneously, I was the primary caregiver for my aging mother while also navigating my own personal health battles. As if that weren’t enough, I took on a new executive leadership role, while also participating in an internal executive development program. The pressures were unrelenting at times due to competing priorities, but I did not sacrifice my education, my wok, nor let my loved ones down.
What carried me through those darkest moments was the incredible cohort family I formed with my classmates and the unconditional love from my personal support system. My classmates became an irreplaceable lifeline. They may not have realized it at the time, but those monthly weekends spent together gave me something positive to look forward to amidst the chaos. Whether it was receiving an unexpected text of encouragement, sharing heartfelt laughs over dinner, or being on the receiving end of a much-deserved roasting, they were a light during my darkest moments. We provided unrelenting support for one another as we all navigated immense personal and professional change. We became much more than just classmates – we were each other’s support system.
What was your biggest regret in business school? I’m happy to say that I have few regrets along this journey. However, I wish I had fought the voice in my head that sometimes prevented me from using my voice as freely as I could have in the classroom. With such an impressive and high-achieving cohort of peers, I found myself sometimes second-guessing whether my insights and perspectives were valuable enough to contribute. My inner-critic kept me from being as bold in my participation as I could have (and should have) been. It wasn’t until toward the end of the program that I started receiving feedback from classmates (thank you Caleb Griffin and Team 5) about how much they appreciated and valued my contributions and wanted more.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The classmate that I admired most through this journey was Brian Bath. Brian exemplified what it truly means to embody a growth mindset and continually push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
On paper, Brian’s academic and professional accomplishments are impressive, and he was one of our cohort’s valedictorians. But what made him so admirable was his humility and willingness to openly embrace aspects of the Executive MBA experience that stretched him to operate outside his familiar strengths or comfort zone. Rather than shying away, he was fully committed to self-improvement.
I admire his courage to be vulnerable and always authentic. His impact made the entire experience richer and brought us all closer. I’m so blessed that our paths crossed through this program.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives?
I knew the Executive MBA program format would provide the perfect balance of education, collaboration, external connectivity, and strategic thinking that would enable me to be a more influential leader and help my organization.
It was the best of both worlds – in-person classroom experiences combined with the flexibility to manage my existing work and family commitments. The time on-campus each month allowed me to fully immerse myself in the learning experience, forge deep connections with my new peer network, and leverage their diverse perspectives.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My professional goals are not rooted in accolades or attaining specific roles or titles. I define my career success by the lives I’m able to touch, the hearts I can uplift, and the ripple effects of kindness and generosity that will outlast any role or title I hold.
My long-term goal is to bring a better version of myself to my work and my teams each day. I want to be a leader who meets the ever-changing business needs and challenges my teams face. I want to do so while also fostering an environment of psychological safety, trust, transparency, and belonging – enabling people to thrive. I want to lead with overflowing gratitude and pour into others. I want to give others hope, showing that possibilities are limitless when we embrace the fullness of our potential.
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