This Site Is NOT Private.

This Site Uses the light-theme Theme

This Site's Site Header Configuration:
  • Site Parent: No Parent
  • Site Parent Prefix: No Parent Prefix

This Node's Workflow Moderation State: [PUBLISHED]

Images of three instructor's faces and text "Why I Earned a LSS Black Belt"

What a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Can Do

June 23, 2023

Three PDC instructors (and past students!) share their reasons for pursuing a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and the impact it has made on their lives.

This Section's arrow_downward Theme Info Is:

  • Background Image: ""
  • Theme: "light-theme"
  • Header Style: "purple_dominant"
  • Card Height Setting: "consistent_row_height"
  • Section Parallax: "0"
  • Section Parallax Height: ""

 

Choosing to invest your time and energy in a certificate program is a big decision, so it’s no surprise that we are often asked, “What will your program do for me?” 

We asked three PDC instructors (and past students!) about their decisions to pursue a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificate. 

This Slide's arrow_upward Settings Are:

  • Overlay Theme: light-theme
  • Text Position: title_overlay_bottom_right
  • Color Style: None

This Image/Slidesdhow Container's arrow_upward Settings Are:

  • Number of Slides: 1
  • Parallax? No
  • Fill Slide? No
  • Bleed Edge? No
  • Height: 200px

Megan Oczkewicz

When I was 35, I realized that my career in fundraising needed to come to an end. I was burnt out and I didn’t know what I wanted to do next. I took a job at the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) as an Administrative Coordinator and my manager encouraged me to take various classes. Once I began to learn about Lean Six Sigma, I didn’t want to stop. I found I was passionate about Lean Six Sigma, teaching adult learners, and facilitating groups through process improvement projects. After that first class, I went on to get my Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (through an internal HCA program) and then my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (through the UWT PDC). 

Having my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt has opened many doors for me. I now do this work full time for the HCA, and it also gave me the opportunity to work for the UWT PDC. Through this work, I get to meet people from all different backgrounds, to learn about different aspects of the work they do, and to teach them about tools and concepts that can help change how they do their work. I feel so incredibly lucky to be in this position.

This Slide's arrow_upward Settings Are:

  • Overlay Theme: light-theme
  • Text Position: title_overlay_bottom_right
  • Color Style: None

This Image/Slidesdhow Container's arrow_upward Settings Are:

  • Number of Slides: 1
  • Parallax? No
  • Fill Slide? No
  • Bleed Edge? No
  • Height: 200px

Nathan Navarro

I wanted to earn my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt to make a better life for my family by increasing my income, enhancing my career opportunities, and becoming a better manager. The Lean Six Sigma skillset is highly sought after from many types of organizations and my LSS Black Belt has opened up many career opportunities for me. I have used it as a foundation to enhance other skills I have, such as project management, change management, agile, leadership, and management. Not only do I teach Lean Six Sigma, I practice it daily in the workplace. I also travel to provide Lean Six Sigma training, coaching, consulting, as well as lead Lean Six Sigma improvement workshops. My Lean Six Sigma journey has been very fulfilling.

This Slide's arrow_upward Settings Are:

  • Overlay Theme: light-theme
  • Text Position: title_overlay_bottom_right
  • Color Style: None

This Image/Slidesdhow Container's arrow_upward Settings Are:

  • Number of Slides: 1
  • Parallax? No
  • Fill Slide? No
  • Bleed Edge? No
  • Height: 200px

Chastity Walck

Pursuing a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt at UW Tacoma allowed me to elevate my career in many ways. This opportunity allowed me to focus on not just advanced-level tools, but also refine and tune into how I lead, how to support continuous improvement professionals, and how to apply Lean Six Sigma at the enterprise-level of an organization. It deepened my passion for the work and made me more curious. Having a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt provided the ability to train others and see the same excitement for continuous improvement within my organization. It later provided promotional opportunities, like leading an organization’s Office of Continuous Improvement.

 

The Professional Development Center offers the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificate twice a year (Fall and late Winter). Students must have a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or receive special permission in order to register. Learn more at https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/pdc/lean-six-sigma-black-belt.

 

Looking to start your Lean Six Sigma journey? The Professional Development Center offers White Belt workshops, an accelerated Lean Six Sigma Green Belt course, and customized trainings for organizations on a variety of LSS-related topics. Our sister unit UW Professional and Continuing Education also offers a Certificate in Lean Six Sigma Management: Green Belt every January.

Written by Saralyn Smith
Professional Development Center
Related News Stories

Certificate or Certification- What's in a name?

We get a lot of folks who reach out and ask, “If I take this certificate program, does it mean that I am certified?” Well, no – not exactly.

News Tags on this arrow_upward Story:

  • Professional Development Center

UW Tacoma in the News

‘Identities Horizons’ spotlights AAPI students at UWT

Alumnus Nuk Suwanchote, '17, is the director of a film exploring the experience of Asian American and Pacific Islander UW Tacoma students. The documentary, which includes Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange, was produced by the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation.
Tacoma Weekly
-

The enduring legacy of the Black 'Buffalo Soldiers'

Dr. Luther Adams - Free Man of Color discusses the history of Black participation in the U.S. military, particularly the regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers.

KCTS9/Crosscut Now
-
More UW Tacoma in the News