Aaron Light

Statement of Purpose

My overall goal is to be an educator, coach, mentor, and connector for students in all aspects of professional development and career planning. I aim to equip students with practical, real-world skills that will set them apart in the corporate environment. While textbooks provide a strong foundation, I believe the key to career success comes from identifying personal strengths and weaknesses amongst an individual’s core competencies and finding industries, companies, and roles that align with an individual’s personal values. I try to create a hands-on learning experience where students can practice critical career skills through mock interviews, resume reviews, and networking exercises, to better prepare them for what’s ahead. I aim to use experiential learning to ensure that they leave my courses with knowledge, professional development, and the employable skills necessary for a successful post-graduation career.

Classroom Approach

My approach to teaching at Oklahoma State University mirrors the professionalism of a corporate environment, with a focus on real-world career readiness. After spending 11 years in industry, I aim to highlight the intricacies of corporate America that are often overlooked when teaching at the collegiate level. The skills necessary for landing today’s top internships and post-graduate careers are often an afterthought for faculty and students, and I hope to change that mentality.

The business world has its’ own language, and our students are often not familiar with basic business vocabulary and technical skills that are key drivers in making students successful in their professional careers. I engrain these key business skills and vernacular into my courses to make students more familiar with terms, concepts, and ideas prior to graduation.

Through courses like BADM 2111 Career Planning for Business Success and BADM 3111 Professional Development, I aim to equip students with the real-world skills necessary for career success. I blend high academic expectations with industry-focused lessons and in-class activities, creating an environment where students treat assignments and projects as real-world deliverables. I believe in providing assignments that align with real-world needs such as LinkedIn profile building, resume crafting, interview preparation, and essential soft skills for entering today’s competitive job market.

Student-Focused Mentality

Every student brings a unique background and has individual career goals, so at times I must generalize many of my topics and assignments to fit all student's needs. But, when possible, my goal is to provide individualized attention and mentorship to students who need it most. By conducting mock interviews and reviewing resumes through the Eastin Center for Career Readiness, we have an entire team of career coaches who can offer personalized feedback to ensure students exceed employer's expectations. I have created curriculum and in-class activities that allow students to practice communication, accountability, and networking, encouraging them to actively develop these Spears School of Business core competencies. I also encourage growth through real-time coaching, helping students tell their stories and build their personal brand so they can confidently navigate career opportunities. While I have over 1,000 students each semester, I do my best to maintain a student-focused mentality to ensure our students are career-ready.

Enforcing the “Cowboy Culture”

As an OSU graduate myself, Oklahoma State University’s Cowboy Culture is deeply ingrained in how I teach. I encourage students to embrace humility, viewing challenges as opportunities for growth. Whether it’s crafting a standout LinkedIn profile or preparing for a tough job interview, I push my students to give their best, encouraging grit and effort over perfection.

My Ultimate Goal - The Ideal Graduate

The vision for the Ideal Graduate at Oklahoma State University serves as a foundation for my teaching philosophy. I focus specifically on professional preparedness by guiding students to solve problems critically, communicate effectively, and work in teams. I also emphasize engaged citizenship, helping students recognize the value of diversity, global perspectives, and service to their communities. I even include a “Weekly News Quiz” for my BADM 3111 courses to encourage students to be aware of what is going on in the world, the impacts it may have on them and others, and to keep them engaged both in their local communities and the global society. As the Faculty Lead for the Spring 2025 Study Abroad trip to the Netherlands, I hope to lead by example when it comes to the importance of having a global perspective and recognizing the advantages of being an engaged citizen.

Additionally, ethical leadership is always a priority, as I encourage students to make decisions with integrity and empathy, while embracing accountability. Lastly, I focus on personal responsibility, helping students develop accountability, manage complexity, and digital literacy, critical for long-term success both personally and professionally. Through my approach, I hope to prepare students not only for their future career goals but also for responsible, impactful leadership in their communities and industries they are a part of currently.

In all these efforts, I also strive to connect students to real-world industry insights by inviting guest speakers from various sectors to share their stories as well as potential job opportunities for our students. I want our students to graduate as well-rounded, market-ready professionals, and I believe introducing them to professionals in industry is a great way to help them connect the dots.