“The Master of Organizational Leadership degree program at Olivet Nazarene University was a springboard for me,” says Brett Douglas ’19 MOL. “Earning this degree equipped me to be a better leader, a better role model and a better steward of the gifts God has given me. And it gave me the confidence to take bold steps in my career.” 
Brett already held a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration when he did a Google search for master’s degree programs focused on business management and leadership. When he found Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) — a Christian university that was well known, held in high regard and located in the greater Chicago area — he decided to take a closer look. He attended an open house event hosted by Olivet and was thoroughly impressed by the people he met there.
“I especially liked the intrinsic connection between faith and leadership I found in ONU’s MOL program,” Brett says. “As a graduate student, I had the opportunity to build community and partnerships with people in my cohort, knowing that we had a deeper connection beyond our coursework. In this context, I strengthened my foundation as a leader and the principles that guide me.”
Applying knowledge in new contexts
Brett’s favorite memory of Olivet’s MOL degree program is the Global Leadership Immersion Abroad experience in the Czech Republic that he shared with some of the members of his cohort. “This was my first time outside the United States,” he says. “We spent 10 days learning about a culture and business landscape very different from ours.
“We backpacked across several cities, including the capital Prague and Burno, absorbing as much of the history, architecture, museums — including Holocaust monuments and memorials — food, music and traditions as we could. We visited business incubators investing in start-ups, established market-leading organizations, and saw so much more that was shaping the progressive economic and social environment there.”
Following graduation in 2019, Brett found that he had a new confidence in his business insight, leadership capability and the distinct value he would bring to an organization. “I knew exactly how I could continue to make a difference as a leader and how I was going to lead with greater purpose and impact,” he says. “God was preparing me in ways I couldn’t have imagined for the challenges, set-backs and successes ahead.”
Finding new ways to serve
Shortly after graduating, Brett accepted a job with Ulta Beauty, Inc., as a supply chain operations leader. He helped launch Ulta’s first Fast Fulfillment e-commerce center. “E-commerce was a big initiative for the organization,” he recalls. “Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, and all of Ulta’s retail stores were impacted with limited ability to operate. My people-centric approach, compassion and selfless leadership helped me show up strong for my team and colleagues.”
When the world began to open up again in 2021, Brett was then promoted to Senior Human Resources (HR) Business Partner supporting Ulta’s California region in retail. He relocated to Las Vegas, having never lived outside of Illinois. He partnered closely with the regional vice president and senior leadership team supporting 14 districts, with 150 plus retail stores and over 5,000 associates. During his three-year period leading the talent strategy and people agenda, he helped make this a top-producing region.
Following successful initiatives in talent development and culture, Brett was promoted to Corporate HR Director at the company’s Bolingbrook, Illinois, headquarters. “I was able to leverage leadership models, frameworks and paradigms I had learned in my MOL degree program,” he says. “As an effective leadership coach and strategic partner, I helped teams achieve their goals and deliver their best work.”
Opening new doors
Ulta’s recent organizational realignment has shown Brett how valuable his master’s degree and transformational leadership truly are as he embarks on the next chapter of his career. He continues to value the importance of helping people grow. He firmly believes his leadership calling, coupled with his unique blend of education and leadership experience, will allow him to touch more lives, strengthen communities and help businesses thrive in meaningful ways.
“Equipped with this degree, I continue to intentionally build the strong leadership brand and career I’ve always envisioned,” Brett says. “I am moving forward with confidence, agility and resilience, as well as the proven ability to navigate organizational complexity and lead through change. This is exactly what companies need right now, and I’m excited about the new career opportunities ahead.”
Learn more about ONU’s graduate degree programs at Olivet.edu/academics/graduate-programs. For more information or to enroll, email onlineadmissions@olivet.edu or call 877-465-4838.
