Ryan Dickerson
Baylor University, Hankamer School of Business
Age: 36
“Lifelong learner who always seeks ways to improve myself and the world around me.”
Hometown: Born and raised in Gainesville, Texas
Family Members:
Wife – Jenny
Children – Dayton, Ranger, Archer, Riverlynn
Fun fact about yourself: How many people can say they have had a full nephrectomy and still have two kidneys? At age 18, I was diagnosed with duplex organ syndrome, and it was discovered that I had two fully functioning kidneys on my left and one on the right. I would have been more than happy to donate one of them, but unfortunately, it was not able to be saved and had to be removed.
Undergraduate School and Degree: University of North Texas – Bachelor of Arts – Theatre
Where are you currently working? Chief Executive Officer – IPeople Healthcare
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: I am proud to serve our local community through IPeople Healthcare by participating in a number of community service events sponsored by Habitat for Humanity and Toys for Tots. Most recently, IPeople participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Dallas. We love supporting our hospitals in giving back to the community throughout the year.
In addition, I have participated in countless theatrical productions across multiple communities, having the opportunity to portray fascinating characters such as Count Dracula, Dr. Jekyll, and Macduff.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Having the opportunity to participate in the Baylor Executive MBA program and to learn from such distinguished professors has been such a blessing and a huge benefit, both personally and professionally. To be nominated for ‘Best & Brightest’ is a humbling experience, especially considering how talented a cohort Baylor was able to recruit for the 2024 graduates. I truly believe that through the relationships I have created over the past 21 months, this program has not only made me a better professional, but also a better person.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? When I was hired at IPeople Healthcare, I started as an entry-level support rep. Through hard work, a million questions, and even a few mistakes here-and-there, I was promoted to chief executive officer in May of 2021 in the midst of the pandemic. The constant theme throughout my experience was grace. The company took a risk on me, hiring a recently graduated theatre major with some technical skills. They invested in me throughout the years, listened to my at-times crazy ideas, and believed in me even when I sometimes found it hard to believe in myself. They showed me grace throughout my career, and I am blessed to now be in a position to share that grace with our new employees and incredible staff. I am proud of the company’s core values, and I am proud of the work we have been able to achieve over the past decade in helping hospitals care for their patients.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? The decision to pursue a master’s program, especially as a full-time executive, is not one you make lightly. You know that you made the right decision though when you cannot single out a single professor that you did NOT like. The faculty that the Baylor EMBA program has put together is incredible, and selecting one as a favorite is certainly difficult. Sometimes academia and “real world experience” do not always see eye-to-eye, which is why we are so blessed at Baylor to have professors with that real world experience. We have had healthcare CEOs, directors of fortune 500 companies and CFOs who have managed systems with billions of dollars in revenue annually.
One professor that I particularly enjoyed was Glenn Robinson. Glenn taught our Healthcare Operations and Healthcare Financial Management classes and is a truly exceptional human being. Among other things, Glenn taught the value of networking, relationships, and leading with integrity. Glenn brought to the table what some may consider “old-school” mentality, but that I believe is not only still relevant, but widely missing in today’s society.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? Working in a hybrid environment where we spend two days remote and three in the office, I knew that I wanted a program that met in person as opposed to fully online, which ruled out many of the options. Of the options that were left, a few of them offered an Executive MBA program. Being unfamiliar with an Executive MBA, I did some research and realized that the schedule was perfect for my circumstances. At that point, I had a decision between a few prestigious schools in the North Texas area. Baylor quickly rose to the top for a number of reasons. First, Baylor offered a concentration in Healthcare Administration. Running a healthcare development company, it was critical for me to be able to “see the other side” so that I could empathize with the unique challenges that hospitals and healthcare systems face every day. Second, Baylor’s class schedule was monthly as opposed to bi-monthly. Though the class weekends were longer, it was significantly more convenient for myself and my family to only be out once per month. Third, I have always admired the Baylor legacy within Texas. As the only Texas university continuously operated since Texas was a republic, I knew that its rich history was something that I wanted to be a part of.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? Two phrases learned through my MBA training reflect such a profound change in thinking – very simple to understand, very difficult to master.
The first phrase is “yes, and…”. The spirit behind this train of thought is rooted in collaboration, keeping an open mind and fostering a positive outlook on work. When presented with an idea, instead of shutting down that idea or providing the reasons why we can’t do something, let the idea evolve. Add to the idea by acknowledging it “yes”, then add the “and” to build upon it. Mastering this skill helps to keep the team members engaged and feeling part of the solution creating an empowered workforce.
The second phrase is “it depends”. In business, context makes such a huge difference to a decision. It can be the difference between a successful endeavor, and one that falls short of the goal. Stopping that extra second before answering a question will help ensure that you are answering the right question and that both the individual asking the question as well as the individual answering the question have the same assumptions. Mastering this skill helps the person answering the question be clear with the assumptions they have when making that decision, providing an additional layer of clarity.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? I was fortunate in that for the vast majority of the 21-month commitment, class weekends did not fall on dates that conflicted with school events, extracurricular events for the kids, or major work travel plans. That, however, did not happen every class weekend. One weekend was especially challenging. I utilize Outlook to manage my calendar, and I mark class weekends on Friday so that I recognize them when I review my work commitments for the week on the Sunday before. This has worked exceptionally well, except the one time that the wife had planned a trip to Cancun with the family over spring break. When she picked the date we would fly out, a Saturday, my calendar was clear. It wasn’t until the Sunday before the trip when I checked my calendar Monday – Friday that I realized the mistake I had made. In addition, there was a work conference that I was needing to attend to close some business. That week had me flying to the west coast on Wednesday, back to Dallas on Thursday, class on Friday/Saturday, and then me catching the latest flight I could find Saturday night to Cancun so that I could spend Spring Break with the family. It was a challenging week to say the least, but I felt incredibly accomplished by the end of it.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? The best advice I could give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program is to believe in yourself and do the work. No matter how accomplished you are, or how unqualified you may feel, you will not regret taking the time and money to invest in yourself. This program has taught me so much more than just the fundamentals of business. It has taught me to be a stronger speaker, a more visionary leader and a more empathetic person.
What was your biggest regret in business school? My biggest regret in business school was not being able to network with my cohort as much as I would have liked. Baylor offers several social events – including Baylor night at Texas Rangers stadium, additional guest speakers, and tons of events at the main campus in Waco. I was frequently in awe of the diverse perspectives, passion, and sincerity exhibited by so many of my classmates and would have loved to socialize a bit more outside of class. I frequently told myself that I could attend the next one, but then I blinked, and these 21 months have passed. I have no doubt that many of us will stay in contact with one another and that lasting relationships have formed because of my experience in the program, but I would encourage you to seize the opportunities that are presented to you as part of the experience.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Like the question regarding the professors, this one is a challenge to answer. We had such a diverse cohort in business experience, personal experience, and great perspectives. I can honestly say that I learned something and grew to respect every classmate. That said, one MBA classmate that really stood out to me was Jonathan Radcliffe. Jonathan is a nurse by trade, and I was always struck by his professionalism and his empathy. Jonathan was an incredible speaker, an engaging presenter, and a genuinely great person. Even after a quick conversation, you can feel Jonathan’s passion for his work, his family, and his classmates. Even through challenges that came through the program, Jonathan was positive and always willing to give a hand to anyone who needed it. I respect his outlook on life and the way he conducted himself throughout the program.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? The main reason I chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives is due in part to the work experience component. At 36, I was afraid I was going to be the oldest person in class. With my role, I was afraid that I would not be able to relate as much professionally with my cohort. That could not have been further from the truth. The advantage of the executive MBA program is that the students who enroll are all working professionals. Each member of our cohort added a unique perspective to class discussions, and I learned so much from them and their companies in addition to the curriculum.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My ultimate long-term professional goal is to use the knowledge I have acquired from my professional experience and from this program to help small companies find their higher organizational purpose. Net revenue is not always the best gauge of success. Making the right choices by putting the customer journey forefront and helping communities thrive are the most rewarding ways to grow entire market segments.
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