Sep 30, 2024

As the Contract Management Specialist and Wage Theft Coordinator for the City of Austin, Sean Forkner is tasked with a crucial role: protecting workers’ rights. Sean’s commitment to these duties, along with his annual reports to the city council, underscores his dedication to worker empowerment and justice. Sean sought to expand his knowledge and unlock more of his potential. Already harboring a passion for understanding people and their behaviors within organizational contexts, Sean found the HDO Master’s program to be an ideal opportunity for self-development and learning more about the complexities of human dynamics.

 

Motivation Meets Flexibility

Sean’s motivation to join the HDO program stemmed from a long-held desire to return to school, coupled with the necessity for his program of study to align with his professional aspirations. “I’ve always wanted to go back to school. It’s something that was just on my long-term to-do list,” Sean explains. The interdisciplinary nature of HDO, blending liberal arts with practical organizational studies, struck a chord with him. It took a couple of years from his initial introduction to the program, coupled with some significant life changes, for Sean to decide it was the right time to throw his hat in the ring.

The structure of the HDO program, with its weekend classes and distance learning options, was instrumental in Sean’s educational journey. The Friday-Saturday schedule provided the flexibility needed to balance professional responsibilities with academic commitments. “The assignments were a lot of work, but they tied together well, making the overall workload manageable,” he shares. “The flexibility definitely appeals, especially for people already in a professional setting.”

 

Broadening Perspectives

Throughout the program, Sean engaged with faculty members and fellow students embodying diverse life experiences and perspectives. These interactions provided invaluable insights; not only enhancing his understanding of workplace dynamics but also helping him bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. This exposure challenged him to question assumptions, embrace new ways of thinking, and ultimately broaden his approach to worker empowerment and organizational problem-solving.

Coming from a non-corporate background, Sean found immense value in learning from classmates with varied professional experiences. “I needed somebody to translate corporate dynamics for me,” he shares. The collective insights from peers across different industries enriched his understanding far beyond theoretical knowledge. “The professors are brilliant, but having real-world applications discussed by peers made the lessons more impactful.”

 

Enhanced Problem-Solving and Leadership Confidence

Sean’s confidence in handling complex organizational issues has soared, thanks to the psychological and interpersonal insights gained through the HDO program. The shared experiences and problem-solving discussions with his peers provided a valuable repository of strategies to draw from. “You get to work through problems you haven’t faced yet through discussions with others,” Sean explains. “That way, if you do run into something similar, you’ve already had that discussion and worked through it.”

The program notably influenced Sean’s approach to problem-solving within a business setting. Now working for the city government, in a very different environment from his former workplaces, Sean applied his HDO learnings to identify and implement improvements in organizational practices.

Leadership skills were a focal point of Sean’s capstone, particularly in understanding and applying self-determination theory. “The things I learned from my capstone will make a big difference in my job,” he emphasizes. Understanding how to motivate people effectively and help them carve their paths rather than imposing predefined tasks is a key takeaway. Sean now approaches leadership with a deeper comprehension of motivational strategies, backed by scientific insights. “Any job I get moving forward is going to be a management position. The extra work I put into learning about motivations, how to motivate people the right way, and help them figure out their own approach rather than just being handed a task will really help,” Sean says.

 

Networking and Professional Growth

Building a strong, active professional networking is another key benefit of the HDO program. Sean and his classmates built strong relationships in the program and, as graduates, they maintain those connections and support one other. He highlights his newfound appreciation for LinkedIn. “Coming from a construction background, seeing the value in LinkedIn and other professional networks was eye-opening,” Sean notes. “We still keep in touch pretty well, and it has helped me see the value of networking a little more than I did before the program.”

“Being able to show my background and training gives me a leg up,” he says. The comprehensive understanding of workplace dynamics and leadership strategies has positioned him to effectively compete for promotions and lead teams with a nuanced approach. “It’s good to see what they’re doing right and what they could be improving on,” Sean explains. “Now I’m here. I’m working my way up.”

 

From Advocacy to Strategy

Sean entered the HDO program with a clear objective to explore worker empowerment. His initial approach, influenced by his background in advocacy and direct action, evolved significantly through the program. “We came across an article about learning strategies that resonated with my goals,” Sean recalls. This discovery led him to a deep dive into various strategies and eventually shaped his capstone project. He discovered that when employees actively participate in shaping their work and are evaluated based on their contributions to improving systems, their engagement levels increase. His research emphasized that personalized, collaborative approaches foster deeper employee involvement, resulting in higher satisfaction and better outcomes.

Sean’s journey through the HDO program is a testament to the idea that it is never too late to begin. Transitioning into an office environment later in his career, Sean found the HDO program to be the perfect catalyst for his professional growth. His advice to prospective students is simple yet profound, “Just roll the dice and do it. You’re never going to find the right time, so if it’s something you want, apply and make it happen.” His capstone project and overall experience exemplify how structured learning and diverse perspectives can dramatically reshape one’s approach to complex organizational issues.

For Sean, the journey was not about having all the answers upfront—it was about discovering them along the way, a process that ultimately led to new leadership insights and deeper problem-solving abilities.