Meet Mike Rogers, National Sales Manager

Prior to Nelnet, I spent the previous 18 years at Oracle and PeopleSoft. I have worked exclusively in the service of Higher Education in various areas which include implementation consulting, solution consulting/engineering, strategy, and sales.

Without a doubt, it’s the people. Higher Education is a mission and purpose driven industry and profession, and the people who create, nurture, and support that mission are rather amazing. The word ‘altruistic’ comes to mind when you think of Higher Education as a collection of people who have dedicated themselves to the continuous enrichment of the lives of others.

First and foremost, it’s an honor and privilege to have been selected to fill such a role. I have been entrusted to safeguard the members of our team, our customers, and our partners. Remaining focused on that most important duty and obligation is my priority. With inspired and passionate colleagues comes a level of commitment and execution that cannot be matched through any other means.

I do not know if this is unique, but I am very quick to listen and understand. Miscommunication and inadvertent misunderstanding can be the root cause of downstream conflict and dysfunction which could be mitigated by active listening and empathy. So, my first inclination is to really listen to people.

I am also curious by nature and tend to ask questions to help me create a conceptual and practical understanding of a topic or issue. At an elementary level, this is no different than how kids draw and color: create the outline, add detail, and add color for additional context.

The combination of these helps me to understand overall strategy and delineate the ensuing objectives, targets, measures, and so on.

Though I have not had the opportunity to meet anyone in person at Nelnet yet, I do think open and regular communication is foundation to creating an effective atmosphere. Also, a certain organizational agility is necessary to adequately adjust should patterned or systemic communication challenges arise. This is an area where breaking quickly will be beneficial.

Without a doubt, the enduring friendships and relationships are the most treasured aspects of my career. The accomplishment and achievement of any goal is utterly meaningless without those with whom you have led, followed, aided, or guided.

The best way that I can answer this is by sharing something that I read that captures the sentiment: Follow your blisters.

We’ve all been told variations of the sage tutelage to follow our passions, and I certainly believe in that; however, following the blisters can be much simpler to comprehend. Every one of us has a thing that we simply cannot let go of even when there is friction and the path is unclear. So, we keep coming back to it frequently enough for that friction to leave an indelible mark…or a blister.

Another motivation is that of perspective which, in and of itself, can be a challenge. The first step is to gain perspective. The second, and more difficult, step is to maintain perspective. If you take a moment to slow down and have an introspective and comparative glance around and within, you will realize that you have been afforded a rich opportunity; personally and professionally. Make of it as you will, but the opportunity of a lifetime is before us all.

I have had the extraordinary opportunity to watch and model the behaviors of many wonderful people. Buvern “BJ” Francisco was one such person. Our worlds initially intersected as paired freshmen roommates in college. Though he is no longer with us, one enduring sentiment that I cherish about BJ is that he never put a wrong foot in his interpersonal relationships. He was one of those rare angels amongst us who had an amazing level of compassion with people.

The right song at the right time can be downright magical. I am sure that others can relate when I say that music can be therapeutic in nature. Who hasn’t been transported back to that seemingly lifetime-ago-moment that comes hurtling at light speed to the forefront of your memory because you heard that song?

As to what makes me tick, family and friends (family by choice) are a cornerstone of my life and give me purpose.

I thoroughly enjoy traveling to less usual destinations. Back to the power of perspective, it thrills me to visit and explore places where it’s beyond apparent that you’re not in Kansas anymore. Some of my favorite destinations have included Morocco, Turkey, and Thailand.

Also, I love movies and reading. And thanks to Netflix, I have a newfound interest and appreciation for Formula 1 racing.