Jason Beyer
Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management
Age: 44
“Husband, Father, Leader, Mentor, Veteran, Global, Pioneer, Empathetic, Caring, Curious, Adventurous, Versatile, Adaptable.”
Hometown: Wadena, MN, USA
Family Members: Wife: Rebecca; Children: Alex, Jack, Ava, and Isabel; Parents: Ray and Dorothy Beyer; Siblings: Brian Beyer and Kristie Haefner.
Fun fact about yourself: My passion for travel and exploration has taken me to over 30 countries and 49 states, shaping my appreciation for diverse perspectives and enhancing my leadership of global teams.
Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Minnesota, BS Management of Information Systems.
Where are you currently working? Fortive, VP and Chief Data Officer. Later this year, I am excited to take my next step leading Data, AI, and Software enablement for Ralliant (a Fortive spin-off)!
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: I actively participate in professional and community boards and peer groups. As an Editorial Board Member of CDO Magazine and Organizing Chair for the Nashville Executive Data & Analytics Peer Group, I contribute to the Data and AI profession. My community involvement extends to the Nashville Technology Council, where I am a former Board Member and now an active member. I have also given presentations, and speaking engagements at institutions like MIT, The Wharton School, Vanderbilt, and the Naval War College, as well as industry forums such as Gartner and AWS.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I was named as Nashville’s Chief Data Officer of the year in 2024 by the Nashville Technology Council and recognized as one of DataIQ’s 100 Most Influential People in Data.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am proud of my track record of delivering impactful business results and developing great leaders and teams. While it is often considered that excelling in one area may require reducing focus on another, I believe that great results require great teams, and great teams demand great results. I take pride in making a positive impact while also helping those around me grow and advance in their careers.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? The professors at the Owen School are incredible! I learned something from each and every one of them. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn from this distinguished collection of thoughtful and inspiring people. They are truly experts in their fields and converting the subject matter into practical application at work. If I have to pick one, I’ll select Dr. Michael Burcham. Dr. Burcham taught me valuable insights into starting a new business. But more importantly, he taught me how to ask next level questions.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I chose Vanderbilt because it was the best program that fit my criteria. I knew I wanted an in-person program that would work with my schedule. I wanted a class of peers who would challenge me and bring their experiences to the classroom from diverse industries. I wanted a smaller class size so that I could know each of my classmates. I wanted a faculty with distinct business experiences. I wanted an administration team that would support my growth, development, and be flexible with work/life dynamics. Vanderbilt met all my criteria when I was making my selection. After completing the program, I can share that it exceeded my expectations!
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? When developing new product ideas, there is a disciplined approach to innovation. Having the privilege to learn from a pioneer in this space, Todd McCullough, I started applying methods like Problems Worth Solving, Jobs to be Done, Ten Types of Innovation, and Voice of the Customer. These helped enhance the impact I was able to make with a new market offering. As I transitioned to Fortive, I saw this discipline professionalized in the Fortive Business System and the competitive advantages that it creates.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? Midway through the program I made a job change moving from a company I had been with for 12 years. Making this change in the middle of the program required the trust and support of my family, my C-Team, the Vanderbilt team and faculty, and my co-workers. First, I must acknowledge my family. Without their support, patience, and understanding, an Executive MBA would not have been possible. My wife has been an incredible partner adapting through changes while managing life with our four active teenagers. My C-Team adapted assigned deliverables so we could shift capacity for each other during peak times with work. And the Vanderbilt team offered invaluable resources and flexibility to help me through the job change.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Be crystal clear on your goals and seek out others to challenge them to ensure they are realistic. Assess your capacity to immerse yourself in the program, and importantly, the capacity of those around you. This commitment extends beyond yourself to your family, friends, co-workers, and support system. Plan intentionally for what you can anticipate and remain humble, knowing there are many things you cannot foresee.
What was your biggest regret in business school? Time. It is our most precious commodity and I wish I had more of it. In business school, I wish I had more time for engagement and presence with my family; deeper connections with my classmates, and even further enrichment into the content. There are moments where I could have made better choices about my use of time.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I have admiration for every one of my classmates. I truly appreciate all that I have learned from them. If I have to pick one, it would be Sean Mullins. Sean came to every class prepared. He offered sage advice and a different point of view that made you think. Sean asked thoughtful questions that challenged the status quo. He wanted to learn from the professors and classmates. Sean demonstrated his passion with the humility to be open to new ideas and ways of thinking. He immersed himself deeply into the subject, conversations, and distilled that into pragmatic ideas. I admire him for many things, but especially how he effectively managed his time to engage deeper in the content and establish strong connections across the class.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? The quality of the connections with other people. You can get your MBA via an alternative. You will learn and add it to your resume. But I do not believe you will learn as much from your peers or gain the same lifelong friendships and connections as an Executive MBA program offers.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? This was an investment in myself.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My career arch has been guided by a constant desire to seek out opportunities where I can have the most impact possible. My motivation is fueled by a personal sense of reward when I have a positive impact on the people around me, the work I do, and the organization I am a part of. My long-term goal is driven by the amount of good I can make in this world. Right now, we face a generational moment in the shaping of the societal impacts of AI and Data. I have worked to influence its trajectory to create exponential benefits balanced with ethical application and will continue to seek out ways to do so.
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