David Botkins

As Dominion Power’s Director of Media Relations, Mini MBA student David Botkins is focused on telling his company’s story to its 2.4 million customers.

“As a former journalist, I love to learn something new and then tell folks about it,” he said. “I am always learning something new at Dominion. I often work to tell that story, because it’s important to our employees, customers and the business.”

Botkins is a self-described lifetime-learner. After an established journalism career, time working in state government and nine years at Dominion, his passion for intellectual stimulation brought him back to the classroom.

“Because of schedule and family obligations, a full MBA program at this time was not practical,” he said, “but the way the Mini MBA is structured made it possible.”

The Robins School Mini MBA (offered through the Executive Education department) provides a practical foundation in current business practices in an intensive, 14-week format. The goal of this program is to make its students more effective by providing a framework of knowledge for making informed business decisions on issues affecting organizations today.

“Although Mondays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. make for a long work day, I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Botkins said. “Fourteen weeks isn’t that long for something as rich and rewarding as the business knowledge I’ve gotten from this program.”

A Staunton, Virginia native, Botkins former experience with the University of Richmond inspired him to return to campus as a student.

“I decided on Richmond specifically because of the compressed nature of the program and having past experience with the Jepson School of Leadership Studies,” Botkins said. “I love the Richmond campus, and the faculty are first-rate.”

The Mini MBA has given Botkins the tools he needs to move his career forward.

“The program has exposed me to additional business concepts and principles, while generating additional awareness and interest in the financial side of our business.”

These tools are useful in Botkins’ high-intensity career. “No day or week is the same, and invariably some unexpected crisis will occur that throws whatever was planned off-course.”

As a part of Botkins’ hectic schedule, each Monday Botkins holds a conference call with his team to get them ready for the week ahead.

For example, Botkins said, “We usually have one to two events planned where Dominion’s Foundation is making a donation, and there is usually a media plan around that.”

“We may be working on a couple of news releases about an initiative the company is announcing, or we may be strategizing about a regulatory proceeding or policy position.” 

By participating in the Mini MBA, Botkins is able to communicate more of a big-picture concept to his team.  “It has continued to give me a wide-angle view of what we do every day and not be singularly focused,” he said.

“As a leader, it has reminded me to remind my team of these principles; we are all part of a larger effort."