Slgi Jolissaint
Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management
Age: 38
“Strategic communicator and global citizen, guided by care and excellence, curious by nature, always learning.”
Hometown: Houston, TX
Family Members: Husband, Matt, and a goldendoodle, Gabi
Fun fact about yourself: I have visited over 55 countries, studied five languages, and have lived in five countries. Travel is how I learn best.
Undergraduate School and Degree:
Agnes Scott College
BA in History and International Relations
Georgetown University
Master’s in Communications and Public Affairs
Where are you currently working? Phillips 66, Head of CEO and Financial Communications
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: I’m a Kellogg Forté Fellow and serve on the Speaker Committee for my cohort. I also coach cohort members on executive presence and public speaking, drawing on my professional background. Outside of Kellogg, I personally sponsor the education of high-potential women in Ukraine, ensuring they can continue their studies despite the disruption of war. It is a small but meaningful commitment to the belief that education should not be a casualty of conflict.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? The extracurricular achievement I’m most proud of is coaching cohort members on executive presence and public speaking. My background in communications gave me something concrete to contribute beyond coursework, and watching peers grow in confidence before high-stakes engagements has been rewarding. For example, a classmate was preparing for a presentation to senior leadership and was struggling to land his key message. We simplified the narrative, refined transitions, and worked on Q&A and bridging. He presented with confidence and received positive feedback. It made my day when he texted me with the great news. That’s what Kellogg is about. We support each other and use our strengths and networks to help one another succeed.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? My professional achievement I’m most proud of is building a career that has grown in scope and impact with every role. I started managing communications for a refinery and chemical plant and have steadily moved into work that shapes how a Fortune 30 company is perceived by various stakeholders such as media and investors. Along the way, I have worked across industries, sectors, and subject matter – from media relations to crisis to financial communications – and every environment has pushed me to raise my standard. That progression reflects a deliberate commitment to excellence, curiosity, and doing work that matters at scale.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor is former Kellogg dean Sally Blount. She teaches organizational transformation with rare authenticity, drawing from real experience. She brings grit, strategic clarity, and genuine empathy to the room. She consistently goes beyond the syllabus, like when she arranged for Abbott CEO Robert Ford to join our session – just one example of the kind of access and real-world connection that makes Kellogg different.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? What set Kellogg apart was the people. Before deciding, I spoke with about 50 alumni and students across multiple schools. The Kellogg network stood out: not because they sold the program, but because they never sold it at all. They turned the conversation toward my goals, were genuinely curious and generous with their time, and focused on being helpful. Low ego, high impact. That’s the culture I wanted.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? The coursework gives you frameworks and vocabulary to ask better questions. That alone has been valuable. The finance curriculum, including Mergers & Acquisitions with Professor Jose Liberti, International Finance with Professor Sergio Rebelo, and Finance 3 with Professor Mitchell Petersen, has deepened how I engage with leaders while managing financial communications. I now sit in earnings and deal conversations with a sharper lens. But the deepest lessons come from the people. The conversations that happen at midnight over a glass of scotch, covering identity, leadership, and purpose, have shaped how I think about my role and the kind of leader I want to be. You can’t replicate that in a classroom.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? When juggling priorities like work, family, and education, you learn to prioritize fast. Just as important is setting expectations early with your employer, friends, family, and yourself. In one recent stretch, I attended a class weekend in Chicago, supported my CEO at the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington D.C. From there I caught a flight to Miami for a Mergers & Acquisitions course, one of the most demanding electives, all within days of each other. None of that would have been possible without the support of my family and friends and the trust of my colleagues and leaders at work. It also requires flexibility, focus, and grace. You won’t do everything perfectly, and that’s okay.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? My advice for prospective EMBA students is this: every program gives you the core business curriculum, but the differentiator is the culture and people. Spend time with current students and alumni before you decide. Not to evaluate the brand, but to ask yourself if these are the people you want to learn from, disagree with, and still call ten years from now. Find the network where you genuinely thrive.
What was your biggest regret in business school? My biggest regret is not connecting with more students outside my cohort. Our cohort is close-knit, which has been one of the best parts of the program, but I left some relationships and perspectives on the table. I would encourage incoming students to be more intentional about that from the start.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Some professors encourage using AI as a productivity tool with the expectation that you understand the underlying concepts well enough to know when the output is wrong. That framing resonated with me. AI is most useful when you bring real judgment to it. In my own work, I have found it valuable for pressure-testing ideas. But the quality of what comes out depends entirely on what you put in.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? The main reason I chose an EMBA program is the caliber of people in the room. An EMBA cohort brings executives and leaders with real decision-making experience. The learning that happens through peer debate and shared context is something you can’t replicate asynchronously.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? Personal and family resources, supplemented by a Kellogg fellowship and my company’s educational assistance program.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term professional goal is to lead the corporate affairs organization of a large, international company, building a team known for excellence, strategic impact, and a culture of continuous learning, where people are low ego and high impact.
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