When Mike Ward steps into the classroom at Southeast Missouri State University, he recognizes something familiar in his students: the same uncertainty and drive that once defined his own college experience.
Ward, a 1981 graduate of SEMO, has returned to campus as part-time faculty, teaching an advanced sales practicum after a decades-long career leading national sales teams. Now, he’s helping students navigate the same questions he once faced.
“I came from a blue-collar family and was the first in my family to graduate from college. I didn’t really understand the world of business at all,” Ward said. “SEMO opened my eyes to what was possible.”
Originally drawn to SEMO for its affordability, Ward said his experience as a first-generation college student shaped both his confidence and career direction. A turning point came in a sales course with Professor Hayden Schuetts, which led to an internship with Procter & Gamble and ultimately launched his career in consumer-packaged goods.
I'M INTERESTED IN MARKETING AT SEMO
Ward went on to hold leadership roles with companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, American Express and FIS managing national sales organizations and building multimillion-dollar business units. After retiring from corporate leadership, Ward founded his own company and is now President of IncentAction LLC which specializes in prepaid cards for corporate funded payments in the performance improvement industry.
Ward reconnected with SEMO at an alumni event that led to a return as a guest speaker, an experience that led to his increased involvement at SEMO where he began teaching the Advanced Sales Practicum and joined the SEMO Foundation Board.
“That first night as a guest speaker, I walked out thinking ‘I should have always done this,’” Ward said. “It was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in my career.”
That experience evolved into a teaching role in SEMO’s advanced sales practicum, where students are expected to perform at a professional level. The course emphasizes applied learning, from role-playing exercises and presentations to executive interviews and industry engagement.
For Ward, the transition to teaching feels like a natural extension of his career in sales leadership, where developing people was always a priority.
“The part I always enjoyed most was training and developing people,” he said. “This feels like a continuation of what I loved most—helping people grow.”
Ward hopes students see his experience as a reminder that their starting point does not define their future.
“You don’t have to go to an Ivy League school to build a successful career,” he said. “SEMO gave me the foundation, and it’ll give you the foundation. What you do with it is up to you.”
As he works with students preparing to enter the workforce, Ward remains focused on helping them build confidence and recognize their potential. In his classroom, that preparation is intentional, practical and grounded in experience, ensuring students leave ready to take the next step in their careers.
For students interested in careers in sales, marketing and business leadership, SEMO’s programs provide opportunities to learn directly from industry professionals and apply skills in real-world settings. Visit semo.edu/marketing to learn more.