MSOL, MAOL, MBA, and Bachelor’s Degrees in Organizational Leadership in Oklahoma

Upon graduation you’ll be prepared to lead the next big developments in Oklahoma that have the potential to propel you onto the state, national, and even global stage.

Nearly $8 Billion Slated for Oklahoma’s Infrastructure

685 bridges and nearly 2,300 miles of roadway improvements are set to get major makeovers through 2029, including big projects in OKC, Tulsa, and Lawton.

State officials are proud to announce they’ve positioned Oklahoma to be among the first states in the nation to gain access to US DOT funds made available through a new section of the federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act.

In addition to federal funding, the state budget has also picked up millions of dollars in this behemoth infrastructure push.

Key players in the deal include the state’s Secretary of Transportation, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Executive Director, and perhaps most notably, a plethora of private contractors who’ve bid competitively on the wide range of infrastructure upgrade and development projects that are up for grabs.

Oklahoma’s state leaders have shown initiative in securing funding for a major infrastructure overhaul. Leaders of private sector construction companies are now able to step in and capitalize on the opportunities laid out for them by their elected public representatives.

This multi-billion dollar infrastructure package is a win-win between the leadership of the public and private sectors, the results of which will be a net gain in the standard of living for all Oklahomans.

Benefits will most directly be felt by Oklahoma’s construction companies, their employees, and their families.

More people making money also means more spending and a knock on positive effect on economic growth in the state, plus more tax revenue. The public will benefit from more commerce and comfortable, safer commutes thanks to better transportation infrastructure.

In the long term, better access to good transportation options is highly attractive to manufacturers who want to easily reach big markets.

In sum, Oklahoma’s future is all-the-brighter thanks to its strategic leaders.

Biggest Transaction in the History of Oklahoma Biosciences

In a deal that still has those in the pharmaceutical industry talking today, in 2016 Switzerland-based Novartis Pharmaceuticals acquired OKC-based Selexys Pharmaceuticals for a reported $665 million.

Hinging at least in part on Selexys’ involvement in hematology studies and OKC-based unique talent, Novartis has followed up on its initial $23 million in equity financing invested in Selexys over a decade ago.

During its victory lap after this acquisition was announced, Selexys’ former president and CEO Dr. Scott Rollins credited the state’s Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) program for providing significant grant money that helped the company to initially be viable. Even before that, Rollins’ initial research and development was supported by the state’s Seed Capital Fund.

For Rollins, commenting on the more-than-half-a-billion-dollar acquisition of his company by a pharmaceutical heavyweight had even more poignancy considering his first job was cleaning the bathroom in his dad’s gas station in Moore. And Rollins doesn’t dismiss this experience either; he credits it with teaching him valuable lessons on how to interact with people.

All in all the acquisition of OKC’s Selexys Pharmaceuticals represents a win-win for everyone in the state.

Oklahoma-based former Selexys employees who are now with Novartis are earning a wage that’s big-pharma competitive. The state is raking in tax dollars thanks to the success of a Novartis subsidiary, an EDGE and Seed Capital Fund investment that has paid off many-fold.

But these win-win successes wouldn’t have been possible without strong and strategic leadership. This includes dues paid to the corporate leadership of Selexys and Novartis. It also includes those behind state incentives leveraged through the EDGE and Seed Capital Fund programs.

These incentives were all clearly laid out on paper, but it took individual leaders to shake hands and cement lasting bonds of trust.

Universities in Oklahoma Offering Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Organizational Leadership

A degree in organizational leadership is a strategic step you can take to gain a vantage from which to view Oklahoma’s next big economic, social, and business developments. With a degree in organizational leadership, you’ll gain the skills you need to effectively lead the workforce of tomorrow.