By Jennifer Monahan
As the pace of change continues to accelerate, experienced leaders know their best investment isn’t in technology or tools; it’s in themselves and their teams.
For executives like Paul Zikmund, chief resiliency officer at Berkadia, and Gregory Miller, a manager, supervisor, and long-time leader in the U.S. Department of Justice currently working in the National Security Division, continuous learning is a leadership imperative. Both have completed multiple executive education programs at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, building the skills and adaptive mindset that keep them – and their organizations – resilient in fast-moving, high-stakes environments.
“If you’re not learning, you’re not growing, and the world passes you by,” Zikmund said. “I’ve always been a lifelong learner. I love to learn new things, and that learning equips me to be a better leader, a better manager, and a better executive.”
Miller shared a similar belief from a public-service perspective.
“You need to step out of your comfort zone and look at how you invest in yourself,” Miller said. “The whole concept of lifelong learning is very important.”
In a world defined by disruption, senior leaders must continually sharpen both their technical fluency and strategic agility. That’s why programs that blend technology, strategy, and leadership stand out.
There are certifications. There are graduate certificates.There are other types of programs you can go to. And then there's Heinz College.Paul Zikmund, Executive Education alumnus
“There are certifications. There are graduate certificates. There are other types of programs you can go to. And then there's Heinz College,” Zikmund said. “They’re ten steps above everything else. It’s a six-month journey where you’re working on actual business challenges every week, and you can immediately apply what you learn.”
For Miller, the value lies in the program’s credibility and unique approach.
“Carnegie Mellon has an incredible reputation for the pursuit of excellence in executive education,” Miller said. “The combination of professors and practitioners is powerful. It gives you both the academic foundation and the real-world context you need.”
When Zikmund first worked at Bunge, he was engaged with risk, compliance, and security. He wanted to strengthen his subject matter expertise, and that desire prompted him to enroll in Heinz College’s Chief Risk Officer (CRO) program.
“One common theme across all the programs is that you get to apply the learning immediately,” Zikmund said. “There were weeks where I was working on a project for class and then doing the same thing at work. I was preparing a PowerPoint to present to our executive leadership team using the exact material I had literally learned on Tuesday night.”
That relevance inspired him to keep going when he reached another career milestone in his first Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role.
“Being a fairly new CISO to Berkadia, I knew that I needed the education,” Zikmund said. “I needed the networking. I needed the skills that a CISO requires to be effective in navigating this high-risk world that we're in, which is changing every day.”
Zikmund ultimately completed the CISO, Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Chief Data Officer programs; he’s currently enrolled in the Chief Data and AI Officer (CDAIO) program as well. Each new credential expanded his perspective and deepened his ability to lead across disciplines.
“It’s given me more confidence and more of an executive presence,” Zikmund said. “These programs helped shape the way I think and gave me an incredible background on technology and risk. When I have board-level conversations, I feel more equipped to lead, more passionate about what I’m doing.”
As both a learner in CDAIO and a coach for current CRO and CISO cohorts, he sees the compounding value of sustained engagement. “Executives can never stop learning,” Zikmund said. “If you don’t take time to pause, strategize, and learn, your programs – and your people – suffer.”
Beyond the tangible outcomes, Zikmund adds, the Heinz College programs build community. “From the first day you’re accepted, you feel part of something special. It’s more than learning—it’s a family.”
Gregory Miller’s early career in the U.S. Army – retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer Three in the Army Reserves – was spent in the JAG Corps as a Legal Administrator, to include providing technical and operational support for legal services. At the Department of Justice, Miller has spent decades working behind the scenes providing a high-level of leadership, case and crisis management support, and technical support for our nation’s most sensitive counterterrorism and national-security investigations, cases and initiatives. For him, leadership means combining a deep level of technical understanding with a disciplined and mission-driven mindset.
“The operational tempo is always high,” Miller said. “Our mission is to prevent, disrupt, and prosecute acts of terrorism. I’m constantly asking: are we bringing value every day to support that mission?”
Miller first came to Heinz College to earn his CIO certification, but he didn’t stop there. Over time, he completed the CRO, CISO, CDO, and CDAIO-Pathway programs, each reinforcing the other.
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“I had a desire to update my knowledge beyond graduate school, and in understanding how I could provide a high level of leadership and leverage technology and data management to meet our mission,” Miller said. “Having rounded knowledge across these disciplines lets you present ideas and solutions that maybe nobody else is even considering.”
Miller credits the coursework with strengthening his ability to balance national-security imperatives with data compliance and access. “Protecting the data we have – balancing security, compliance, and access – these programs helped me think through that complexity,” he said.
Miller also points to the collaborative structure and professional network of Heinz College’s programs as transformative.
Surrounding yourself with peers, engaging with expert practitioners and thought leaders, that’s what keeps me coming back.Gregory Miller, Executive Education alumnus
“Surrounding yourself with peers, engaging with expert practitioners and thought leaders, that’s what keeps me coming back,” Miller said. “The Executive Advantage program, with its ongoing virtual seminars, access to updated program materials, and Slack communities, is incredible for staying current and connected.”
Though their careers have unfolded in very different arenas, both leaders see executive education as a long-term investment with exponential returns.
Zikmund encourages members of his team and students he coaches to view learning as a living process. “What you’re doing in a module this week, you’ll use six months from now,” he explained. “It’s a continuous journey.”
For Miller, the programs sharpened his strategic approach. “These courses make you think about value: how are you bringing value to your organization, how are you using data as a strategic asset?” he said.
“You learn problem solving, critical thinking, time management,” Miller explained. “It’s about staying competitive for future career opportunities.”
Both agree that the benefits go far beyond skill-building and have a ripple effect throughout the organization.
“If you’re getting better, that means your department is getting better, your company is getting better, and your career is advancing,” Zikmund said.
For both leaders, the return on investment is measured in developing the agility and vision that define strong, capable leadership.
“Phenomenal,” Zikmund said. “That’s the word I’d use for the return on investment. I probably couldn’t even quantify it – it’s that high.”
Miller also believes the value is clear. “The curriculum, the information, the knowledge-base that you gain is just incredible,” he said.