LaToya Jordan
Texas A&M University, Mays Business School
Age: 47
“Enterprise leader driving change, continuous process improvement and resilient risk and control systems.”
Hometown: Pearland, TX
Family Members: Husband: Elliott; Sons: Cameron and Tristen; Daughter: Erian; Father: Vincent; Mother: Barbara
Fun fact about yourself: In my spare time, I enjoy DIY home projects and the satisfaction of seeing the finished result.
Undergraduate School and Degree: Sam Houston State University, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
Where are you currently working?
JERA Americas, Sr. Manager Internal Controls and Enterprise Risk Management
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles:
– EMBA Best Speaker Award (Accounting Presentation)
– EMBA Best Speaker Award (Case Competition)
– JERA Americas Accelerated Leadership Program, Selected Participant
– Co-Founder, Next Level Living – Women’s Wealth and Leadership Group
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?
Being named “Best Speaker” multiple times during my EMBA is one of my proudest achievements. Public speaking was not something I naturally felt comfortable with and it was an area I had to be intentional about improving.
The program pushed me to move from presenting information to engaging an audience and communicating complex ideas clearly. Over time, it became something I could do with confidence and with stronger executive presence.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Early in my career as a government Internal Auditor, I worked with the District Attorney’s Office on a fraud investigation involving the mismanagement of funds belonging to state appointed wards. The work required detailed manual review of case files and documentation. The case was later presented to the grand jury and went to trial to seek restitution for the affected wards. That experience remains my proudest professional moment, not because of my role, but because it delivered justice for individuals who could not advocate for themselves.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? Each of the professors that I had the privilege of experiencing during the program had an everlasting impact on my professional development. Dr. Rice deepened my knowledge of economics and the application of game theory in a business environment. Dr. Shetty sharpened my analytical thinking through statistics and practical application. Dr. Xen expanded my perspective on supply chain strategy and the impacts of geopolitical risks. And Dr. Hepfer reignited my interest in financial statement analysis.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I chose this EMBA program because it offered a flexible schedule for professionals with demanding careers and a rigorous curriculum with emphasis on strategy and leadership. Weekend classes, twice a month, made it possible for me to balance a demanding career while remaining fully engaged in the classroom. In addition, the strength of the alumni network was an attribute that I valued and viewed as necessary to support my career in the future.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work?
There were many lessons I gained during my EMBA, but the most impactful came from a CEO session towards the end of the program. The CEO of Dig World shared a personal story about resilience and how his experiences shaped his entrepreneurial journey. He also shared a simple but powerful idea that you have to create opportunities to place yourself in the room so you can “walk with elephants”. That phrase reframed how I think about relationships and growth. To me, it means intentionally surrounding yourself with people who are achieving what you aspire to achieve and learning from them.
It also made me realize I already had access to “elephants” within both my cohort and workplace, but I had not always been intentional about engaging them. Since then, I have initiated conversations with people I do not know well and invested in building relationships that are mutually beneficial. At work, this has translated into stronger collaboration, a broader network, and more meaningful relationships where ideas, support, and development flow both ways.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? Balancing work, family and the EMBA program was a continuous balancing act. Early in the program, I realized I had to be intentional about boundaries to perform well at work, stay present for my family, and succeed academically.
When in the office, I was fully engaged and performed at a high level without letting classwork interfere. Outside of work hours, there were many late nights and early mornings dedicated to the completion of assignments, readings, and group projects.
At home, I established non-negotiables. When attending my children’s extracurricular activities, I made it a priority to be fully present (no devices or distractions) so those moments remained just for them.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? My advice is to fully commit if you choose to pursue an EMBA. It is common to experience imposter syndrome early on, but remember that you earned your spot in the program. You are an expert in your field, with invaluable industry knowledge and experience.
What was your biggest regret in business school? My biggest regret in business school was not taking the time to appreciate the experience as it was happening. Balancing family, work, and school often left me feeling as though I was living from one deadline to the next.
Looking back, I would have taken more time to recognize the value in those everyday moments including long nights and early mornings. Those experiences were where much of my growth was taking place even when it did not feel that way in the moment.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? AI was integrated into my capstone research to analyze both public and private competitors in my chosen industry. It enabled me to collect market data, compare financial statements from SEC filings, and evaluate competitive positioning and enterprise risk factors.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I chose the Executive MBA over part-time or online alternatives due to the following:
* The alternating weekend schedule provided me with the flexibility to pursue my degree while still being present and active with my family and fulfill my professional responsibilities.
* The in-person classes enabled me to develop and foster relationships with my peers.
* Having experienced peers in classes allowed in-depth classroom discussions based on real world corporate and entrepreneurial experiences.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I viewed my EMBA as an investment in myself and future, so I financed most of the tuition out-of- pocket, with a small portion covered through loans. Contributing financially to the program gave me a greater sense of commitment and accountability throughout the experience.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term professional goal is to lead through servant leadership and to create meaningful impact for both people and organizations. I aim to deliver strong business results while enabling others to grow and succeed. Over time, I want to step into broader leadership roles where I can drive positive change by shaping strategy, improving organizational performance, and strengthening culture.
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