Kids often dream of becoming an astronaut and Patti Schaar, who graduated with an MBA from Weatherhead School of Management in 2005, was no different.
Schaar earned her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering from the University of Dayton and set her sights on reaching the stars.
With her science background in tow, Schaar navigated her way through engineering roles at Owens Corning and NAC International, an industry-leading provider of engineering, consulting, and nuclear fuel management, until 9/11 stopped the universe in its tracks. It was then she knew she wanted more.
“The world was reeling and nothing was scratching the itch,” said Schaar. “I started the full-time program at Weatherhead in 2003 and things took off from there.”
She gravitated toward the strategy component of the MBA program and enjoyed finding solutions to complex problems during a complex time in history.
She recalls attending the first academic class Associate Professor, Department of Design & Innovation, Simon Peck, taught at Weatherhead. From Peck and others like J.B. Silvers, senior fellow emeritus, Schaar learned there were multiple answers to business challenges compared to the mathematical equations she was used to from her undergraduate studies.
“I love thinking about the big picture,” said Schaar, who was Weatherhead class president in 2005. “The solutions are never as straightforward as they are in math and science. I immersed myself into the academic experience and used it as my laboratory.”
After spending eight years at McKinsey & Company, Schaar, who still has an original Cabbage Patch Kids astronaut doll, was ready to launch her own consulting firm, Blüshift Strategy, in 2016. In astronomy, blueshift signifies the shift of light towards the blue end of the spectrum as celestial objects move closer.
Schaar identified with the definition and used the metaphor for her business, which she describes as bringing clients along a journey to alignment and focus.
“Inertia can keep a company from growing,” she said. “Clients know they want to shake up their business, but they don’t know how. I get them to understand who they are and where they want to go.”
Schaar’s goal is to use her background in leadership from Weatherhead to help teams develop emotional intelligence and be more effective in relationship management. She also highlights the importance of leaders being able to execute strategic growth plans.
“My approach is taking the analytical rigor of math and science and combining it with a deep understanding of the human impact on developing leaders for the future,” she said. “The sky is the limit.”