1. About me

Hi everyone! My name is Michael Boutin and I go by Mike as well. I received my undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a minor in Finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago. After graduating during the pandemic a little over a year ago, I decided it would be the best opportunity to dive straight into my masters program here at North Central. I am currently in the master of Financial Management program and expect to graduate in August after the duration of this course.

2. My strengths, competencies, and skills

Some of my signature strengths include data analysis and critical thinking. I feel competent using programs such as Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and SAP. I am a finance guy so most of my work is in spreadsheets and forecasting future performance of my firm.

3. Future ambitions

Some company sponsored benefits that are important to me from my company, Robert Bosch Tool Corp., include healthcare, dental, and vision benefits. I also enjoy a company 401k match, as well as a defined contribution plan to prepare a pension for when I retire. I also enjoy the benefit of employee discounted prices on the consumer good products we sell. The money, great benefits, and opportunities to grow within my organization all motivate me to get out of bed each morning and get to work. There is always something new for me to learn, and someone new to meet within my organization. I am currently a salaried exempt worker, paid bi-weekly, with opportunities for performance-based bonuses at the end of the year. I really enjoy not having to worry about how many hours I'm putting in or trying to stay longer to make overtime pay. I just work as long as it takes me to get the job done and I have the chance to be rewarded even more at the end of the year for my hard work.

4. Future plans

After completing my master's degree, I would like to work in industries such as consumer goods, automotive, or maybe the aerospace sector. By 2027, my dream job would to be a financial manager at my current firm leading a team of analysts. I do not have much experience with payroll platforms but use an embedded company website to view my pay stubs. Prior to NCC, I was a part of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. I have recently become a big golf enthusiast as I have found it being the desired sport of business. As a finance student/professional, I am very interested in the topic of compensation and benefits and look forward to learning more about this course with all of you. Thank you for reading!