Episode 60: Visiting with Haitian Twins Wisly & Wislet Joseph, Students in Saint Leo’s DBA Program

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St. Leo 360, a 360 degree overview of the St. Leo University community.



Greg Lindberg:

Hi there, and welcome to another episode of the St. Leo 360 podcast. This is your host as usual here, Greg Lindberg. Here on this episode of the St. Leo 360 podcast, we are joined by two brothers, who happen to be twins in fact, and they're both currently students in our Doctor of Business Administration here at St. Leo University. So first I'd like to introduce Wisly Joseph. Wisly, welcome to the podcast.



Wisly Joseph:

Thank you. Yes, my name is Wisly Joseph, and I have with me my twin Wislet Joseph.



Greg Lindberg:

Sure. And Wislet, thanks for joining us as well.



Wislet Joseph:

Thank you, Greg. It's my pleasure to come to your podcast.



Greg Lindberg:

Absolutely. Really appreciate the time. So let's go ahead and just start off with your backgrounds here. So first off, let's start with Wisly. Just tell me your age... I know you're the same age here... and just a little bit about your background.



Wisly Joseph:

I was born in Haiti October 90, October 7/90, and if you count that, you will see I'm 31 years of age. I was born in Haiti, and I like my country. Most of the things I do, I do it in my country. I [inaudible 00:01:41] my high school there, and then I remember when I was in high school, to be precise in middle school, I was a perfect student, but I fixed a goal to be on the top of the students, and then that exactly happened to me. And top three student was Wisly, my twin, and a friend named [inaudible 00:02:00]. And I remember I came to USA on October 2012, and my twin came another day, and he will let you know about that.



Greg Lindberg:

Sure, sure. Very interesting. And Wislet, how about you?



Wislet Joseph:

Yes, obviously we are born at the same time. Like you know, we are twins. October 7th, 1990. And like my twin Wisly, we are on the semi school, and we are very competitive at the high school. We were good student. And the only difference I will add on that part from Wisly is that Wisly come in October 2012 in the US, and I came in January 2013. So that's the difference. And other things I could add, like Wisly, I like school, and other things I like, I like play soccer, football, so I'm very happy to be where I am now.



Greg Lindberg:

Gotcha. Very interesting. And I'm curious, are you guys identical or fraternal twins?



Wislet Joseph:

Identical.



Greg Lindberg:

Wow. Very cool.



Wislet Joseph:

I also want to add something that's kind of funny, but it's good. When I first came on the United States, October 2012, I want to learn English just so I can start my career, university. My parents do not want me to start yet because my twin was in Haiti, and the reason is because they want me to make sure we stay [inaudible 00:03:45] in the United States. I have to tell you too, in Haiti they think twin can do bad stuff or good stuff. Twin can bring luck also. My parents want to be sure that I give Wislet luck to come in the United States, and then when he came, we can start school together. And then on January 2013, we go to [inaudible 00:04:10], we start learning English, and then follow up with the... We go to PHSA, [inaudible 00:04:18] college. And when we just start, we don't know what to do, but because we like business, and back to Haiti, our family has a small business, so we say we're going to go to business. And we also love math, and we say business may have a lot of math to solve. It was okay for us. We chose business, and I do... But with time I changed my business degree. I just do healthcare management for my bachelor, and we still do something else.



Wisly Joseph:

So like Wisly said... Now Wislet is talking. People are not going to recognize our voice because our voice is almost the same as the twin. So I studied business too, but I do mine in principle supervision and management. Wislet did his in healthcare management. I do mine in principle supervision and management, so that's where my [inaudible 00:05:16] studies.



Greg Lindberg:

I see. Very interesting. And so let's transition to St. Leo University, and just talk to me about how you guys discovered the university and decided to enroll. And Wisly, we can start with you on that one.



Wisly Joseph:

While I was in PHSA, there are programs where school business come to the school, and there are people at St. Leo who come to the school and talk about the program. And also, when I was at [inaudible 00:05:47] learning my English too, I heard about St. Leo, and it's close to my house, so I said, why not? I'm studying business, and St. Leo as the program. I said, I have to start my MBA at St. Leo.



Greg Lindberg:

I see. And then what specialization did you choose?



Wisly Joseph:

I choose the same thing, business, healthcare management, for my master, but I also do human resources too for my master. So I have two master.



Greg Lindberg:

I see. Wow. Excellent. And Wislet, how about you?



Wislet Joseph:

It's kind of the same. I recognize St. Leo from PHSA and [inaudible 00:06:30]. I also see the MBA program online, so I check online what the program they offer at St. Leo, because St. Leo was close to me, and I see they have the MBA program. So I did the MBA, the general MBA program, and I also do human resource management. So that's what I did my MBA at St. Leo, human resource management.



Greg Lindberg:

And so let's dive a little further into your experiences in the MBA. And Wisly, going back to you, just talk to me about your experience in terms of coursework, faculty, and starting with that MBA program.



Wisly Joseph:

When I first start my MBA program, I wasn't sure to do it on ground, like go at this school, or do it online. So I decided to do my first two class at this school, but after, because of my time, I think I will do it online. And it was good online, but I wish to do it on the ground. I have lot of experience. While on the program, I make a lot of friends, and especially on the group work, I like them. We talk on with the student. We use Zoom, and after we finished our session, we talk about our life, about our goal. It was a good experience too. And I also encountered some interesting teacher that got me on my path to life and also for my career.



Greg Lindberg:

Excellent. Appreciate that feedback. And then Wislet, how about your experience in the MBA program?



Wislet Joseph:

I don't want to copy my twin, because it's about the same experience too I had. So I start on the ground, then I moved to online school. Overall I had a good experience. My professors were very understand. They were very helpful to me. So when I submit a paper, if I do something wrong, they give me good feedback. And also the students were amazing. We work together to pass the courses we took, so everything was... I don't want to say perfect, but I can say everything was perfect for my MBA experience.



Greg Lindberg:

Excellent. And then in terms of the DBA, the Doctor of Business Administration, Wisly, back to you on this one. Just talk to me about your decision to enroll in this program, and thinking back, I'm curious, did you ever intend to pursue a doctoral degree? Thinking back when you were younger, did you ever have dreams of actually doing that?



Wisly Joseph:

I will say yes because... It's kind of funny. I always want to go to the Dr. Phil, like go to medicine. I said I want to be a doctor. Now, because I'm in business, I'm glad because I'm going to be a doctor in business. So when I was first enrolled in the program, it was not easy, the process. I have to write paper, but because it's my goal, because it's my objective, I still have to do it. So I write my paper, and at this time I did not know what I would write about, but I have to think about what I want in life, what I want to change, to choose a topic. So I do all that when I was enrolled in the program.



Greg Lindberg:

And then Wislet, how about your experience and your journey to doctoral studies?



Wislet Joseph:

So far I have a good experience. First of all, the reason I chose the program, because it's going to be open more academic door for me. So currently I'm working on the academic part, so that's one of the reason I chose the DBA program. And like Wisly just said, when I was a boy, I want to become a doctor. I didn't know what kind of doctor I want, but to be specific, I said [inaudible 00:10:32] I know, because I want to be a doctor in medicine. But now, when I was in the master program for business, I said I'm going to become a doctor in business now. And the program is really amazing now so far.



Greg Lindberg:

Nice. Great to hear that. And your parents must be pretty proud of both of you guys.



Wisly Joseph:

Yes, they're really proud, and because I have to tell you, we are the only person that really interested in school in our family. Some of our brothers, they have education, but they are not the same way [inaudible 00:11:07] so our parents always want to talk about us.



Greg Lindberg:

Awesome. I'm curious, in terms of specific faculty members, instructors in either the MBA or DBA programs, anyone specifically that has really stood out to you, that's been helpful? And Wisly, we can go back to you on that one.



Wisly Joseph:

On my MBA I have a lot, but I'm going to be precise on my doctorate [inaudible 00:11:36] my first class or day class was really good for me because it show me that everything will be able... I will be able to do everything. I have Dr. Mancini. He was really nice with us, show us what we have to do, what's going to happen in the program. This class was like a basic class telling us everything, and I have to tell you Dr. Mancini is really helpful for us, guide us in the process, is really friendly. It's [inaudible 00:12:10] for us. Any time we have question, we can ask him. And also, when I was in the program, Dr. Mancini come to the [inaudible 00:12:16] class. Sometimes their classes, I said I will check on the Zoom back, but when they say Dr. Mancini will come, so I just have to come, because Dr. Mancini is really friendly with us. He get us in the program.



Greg Lindberg:

Right. Nice. That's great to hear. Wislet, how about you?



Wislet Joseph:

So like Wisly, I have a good experience in the program too, and Dr. Mancini is really helpful to the program, because like we suggested, from the first class we have, we have Dr. Mancini. So we don't know what the program is about, but Dr. Mancini take his time to explain everything in detail, what's the program, the time we are going to do in the program, and what we need to do. One of the things I remember Dr. Mancini said is to listen. If you listen, you're going to be able to succeed in the program. And myself, I try to listen every suggestion Dr. Mancini provide to me so I can be succeed to the program. And for my classmates too, they are very helpful in the program too. They're working with us together, and that make the program more joyful. And we all like the program.



Greg Lindberg:

Excellent.



Wisly Joseph:

We're not talking about [inaudible 00:13:31] we have [inaudible 00:13:36] we have a good text we do together where we can text each other about everything. We text about classes and other things happen on our lives too. We are not only classmates, we are a family. And I have to tell you, even for my topic, my classmates are willing to check everything I do. And also I do the same too. I look out for other student, show them what they miss, if something they have to add. We do that together. It's really joyful.



Greg Lindberg:

Nice. And Wislet, let's go to you on this one in terms of how the two of you as brothers, as twins in the program, have supported each other. I know you enrolled pretty much around the same time, from what it sounds like. And just talk to me about how the two of you have supported each other.



Wislet Joseph:

So like we just said, Dr. Mancini and all the faculty members support us and the students, but my best support for the program is my twin. I can tell you that. So for the previous class I was taking, for example, sometimes I don't do my homework on time because I was busy with family and other stuff. My twin check the discussion, for example, and saw that I did not do it, and email me, and even email my wife to tell her, "Why Wislet didn't do their homework on time?" So he's really, really supportive about that.



Greg Lindberg:

Excellent. That's awesome. Hey, it helps to have that twin, that brother there, right?



Wisly Joseph:

Yes. It's really good. I have to tell too, I also have students on this side. When I'm advising student, I always tell them to have a friend. Just if you forget something, they can tell you. And if you don't have the book, for example, you may ask a student about their assignment. You always have to have at least one friend or two friends just to make sure you double check everything. So me, I don't have a friend [inaudible 00:15:41] I have a twin, so it's kind of good because we can each check on each other. So it's perfect for us.



Greg Lindberg:

Exactly. Well said. So Wisly, as far as you on this one, let's talk about your dissertation topics. I understand that both of you are on the verge here of starting the dissertation and that whole process, and I'm curious what exactly you guys are specifically studying, researching as far as your dissertation. So Wisly, we'll start with you on that.



Wisly Joseph:

For my dissertation... Like I said, when I first enroll in the program, I did not know what to write about. I have to choose something I like, something I want to change. So I was working at a call center. Because I was working at a call center, I did not like everything, and I have to tell you there is a lot of turnover on call center. So I said, "I'm going to write about call center, and I will talk about management, other stuff." I did not know too much about how to do a research paper, so I choose that topic. But with time, I see I was too biased. I was too biased. So I have to change myself, and I know I have to focus my paper on research. Right now I have a good research topic that will show no bias. It's still on call center, but the topic is a study regarding employee job satisfaction at [inaudible 00:17:06] call center. I will try to choose [inaudible 00:17:09] call center and talk about job satisfaction, do a good research about.



Greg Lindberg:

I see. Very interesting. And Wislet, how about you?



Wislet Joseph:

My previous... The first topic I used to have for the program was on culture, but what now with time, with the last class, with Dr. Mancini help, I changed the topic to a study of the relationship between leadership styles and employee job satisfaction at community and state college within the tricounty of Hillsborough and Polk County. And the reason I chose that topic is because I'm working on this education system, so I think that's going to be very helpful for the education system. And one of the things I know too, some of the employees, they're not happy. Some of them are happy. Some of them, they are not happy. So that's the reason I want to know more, if it's about leadership or if it's about money or this stuff. They're not happy, so I'm going to look for that on my research.



Greg Lindberg:

Sure. Sure. Very interesting. Definitely a great topic. Let's talk about the online format of this DBA program. And I know that in the past we have had some residencies and some on campus activities, certainly prior to COVID, for students to actually get together face to face. But obviously this program is predominantly online. And Wisly, just talk to me about the online format and how that's worked for you, and perhaps the convenience of that form of learning.



Wisly Joseph:

The online for me is best because of time. When you're online, you can choose to work at any time, and you can choose the day you want to do your online, so online is good. And most of the [inaudible 00:19:03] like for every online class, I'll do Tuesday... No, I'm sorry, Thursday, and some I'll do Sunday. So you may choose to work at night, any time to do your homework. So doing class online is good for me. And even you are working full time or part-time, you can do the DBA because you will find help on the way. You will find faculty member. If you have questions on how to create a schedule, you will find someone there for you to help you to manage your time. It's kind of difficult for a lot of people to do online because they may hesitate to do it, but it's kind of simple. When you start it, and you find help on the way, it's going to be easy for you.



Greg Lindberg:

Sure. Very well said. Wislet, how about your perspective on online learning?



Wislet Joseph:

Myself, to be honest, I like face to face better because you can see the professor and the student, but for the online classes, it's kind of fit of my schedule. When you have a family and you're working full time, the online program lets you do that. And if you think you cannot do a online program, I will say you can do it. The reason for that is because you adjust your schedule based on your time. If you're working full time, you're working on the morning, you can do your homework nighttime. If you're working night shift, you can do your homework on the morning time. So you have the flexibility of the time, where the online school allow you to do that.



Wisly Joseph:

And also... Wisly speaking... I want to add we also have Zoom. Even it's online, we have Zoom. We are on Zoom class, and for each class we have on the DBA program, we have Zoom meeting with our teacher, and the Zoom meeting are not public at all. You don't have to be there because they are all recorded. For some of my classes, I cannot be there on the Zoom meeting, but later on, like tomorrow, I check the Zoom meeting and see everything that happen. Even I'm also in the class, I can also give you the Zoom if I miss something, so it's really good because we have Zoom add to the online class.



Greg Lindberg:

Right. It's definitely a lot of flexibility, it sounds like is perhaps the biggest benefit.



Wisly Joseph:

Exactly.



Greg Lindberg:

Excellent. Appreciate that feedback. So let's talk about just doctoral programs in general, whether it's this DBA or a PhD. And I know there's probably this stereotype out there that any kind of doctoral program is very challenging, very difficult. Some individuals considering one might think that they just don't quite have the ability or time or the commitment to really complete such a program. And Wisly, just talk to me about your advice. What kind of advice would you give to an individual who has that mindset about specifically this DBA program, but perhaps doctoral programs in general, in terms of how to be successful in such a program?



Wisly Joseph:

For me, if I'm successful... English is not my first language and not my second language. I will say everyone can be successful. It's like, if you want to do it, you do it. And I'm not only working full time when I do my DBA program. I work with other students on the side, and I also have family issue, a lot of things going on. Even I have all of that, going to the gym, I was able to manage my time to do it. If you want to do it, you will be able to do it, because it's going to be benefit for you, it's going to be good for you, and you can continue your career. So I will encourage you to do it. Anyone, I will encourage anyone to do it. And it's not difficult like you think. It's going to be difficult if you think you're going to do it by yourself. Like I said before, we're going to have... Someone going to help you, and other student can help you on the way too, so it's kind of easy to do it.



Greg Lindberg:

Sure. Excellent. Great advice. Wislet, how about your perspective on this?



Wislet Joseph:

Yes. The DBA program is a good program. Like I said from the beginning, it's going to be open more door for you, like academic. If you like to work at the school, it's going to be open more academic door for you. And for the program too, it's really helpful. If you think you cannot do it, I will say you can do it. One of the reason I say that is because the program is not challenge the way you think it is. One reason is because, like we suggested, you're not going to do it by yourself. You're going to have support. You're going to have other people support you. Your classmates, your faculty members, all of them going to support you to do that. And I believe if you're going to do a doctoral program, your family going to support you there too, because not everyone can do that program, so your family will support you.



Wislet Joseph:

The time to start the program is now, if you're going to start. I remember I was talking with a friend. She's in a doctoral program too. She said, "Wislet, you make the good choice. Do it when you're young." One of the reasons she said that is because if she had a doctoral program, she would have a higher position at a current job now, because some of the positions on the academic system, they ask you to have a doctoral, but she doesn't. But she's going to have it soon, and she hope after that she's going to have more opportunities because she's going to get a doctoral.



Greg Lindberg:

Sure. That definitely says a lot right there. Absolutely. So let's dive a little bit further into both of your careers, and then talk about how this DBA program has benefited your careers maybe specifically, if you can think of any examples. And Wisly, we can start with you on that.



Wisly Joseph:

Right now, I want to be a teacher, but on the side I'm working as a tutor, so when I'm working as tutor, it's really good. And from my classes, like the last class I take about teaching, this class helped me understand students, and it's already prepare me to become a better teacher because I know about how student think, how they are. A good example I have, I can think about, is something that happened in a class I was, where the student and the teacher discussing. They said about plagiarists, there are some time we cannot give a zero to a student. We can give a second chance. The reason because the student may not know about APA. This applied to myself and my twin also.



Wisly Joseph:

I remember my first class I take in the United States, my first college classes, I [inaudible 00:26:22] it was all plagiarized, because I did not know about plagiarism. I did not know too much about APA from back to Haiti, so the teacher give me a second chance. And that happened to my twin too. Gave us a second chance, and that was really good because we did not know not too much. It would be fair for the teacher to give us a zero, but a second chance is better for us. And I learned that two students are different. They have different culture, background, so if we understand that as teacher, it will be benefit for us. And when I'm working with student too, I try to understand them, understand their culture, understand how they come from. I know not everyone know everything, so that's really helped me too, even on my other job. This year I do taxes. When people are coming to, I use what I learned from my school to deal with them, so it's really benefit me for my career.



Greg Lindberg:

Sure. Sure. Excellent. And Wislet, how about your... Talk to me about your career, the work that you do, and how the DVA has benefited you.



Wislet Joseph:

So currently I'm working as the academic support specialist at PHSA, so the DBA program, it's really helpful. It helped me understand the students I'm dealing with. Some of the students, they have disability. They're slow learner, so the DBA program helped me... Some of the classes I took, it tell me everyone is different, like the culture, like if they have a disability, which way to work with them. So when I'm working with a student with a disability, for example, I know I have to speak slowly. Naturally I speak fast, but I have to speak slower so they can listen to what I said. And then I take the time to explain this [inaudible 00:28:17] explain them. So the DBA program do all of that, helping me to work with student with diversity.



Greg Lindberg:

Right. Wow. Very interesting. So as far as your future goals, whether it's personal goals, professional goals, anything you'd like to mention, and just any final words to wrap up here? And Wisly, we can start with you,



Wisly Joseph:

My future goal, the best goal I have, because I like to help people, like from my school, from any class I have, I like to help student, teach them, I would like to become a full time teacher soon, because I like to work with students. Also, I want to have my own business on the side. I would like to... Especially on the tax [inaudible 00:29:02] I would like to do my own tax business. And I have other business [inaudible 00:29:08] because I'm from Haiti, and I know a lot of immigration papers, I'm able to help people, my family, friends, [inaudible 00:29:18] doing the stuff too. So it's my future [inaudible 00:29:21] helping people along.



Greg Lindberg:

Excellent. That's definitely some lofty goals, but I know you're definitely driven enough to be able to accomplish them. And Wislet, how about you?



Wislet Joseph:

It's kind of the same with my twin. We almost have the same goal. Like you said on the podcast, everything we already said, I copy my twin. I didn't have to be there. So I want to become a full time faculty like Wisly, and I also want to do other business. My wife is working on the medical field, so I plan to open business with her so we can help more people, and I also want to be a better dad. Right now I have a baby. He's six months, so it's teaching me out to be a dad. So that's a good thing. That's all I want so far.



Greg Lindberg:

Sure. Sure. Once again, I can tell both of you guys are very driven and motivated, and it's been an honor here to have you on the podcast and showcase your story. I really appreciate the time. So again, we've been joined by Wisly and Wislet Joseph, who are two current students in our Doctor of Business Administration program here at St. Leo University. Once again, just want to thank both of you gentlemen so much for your time, and certainly wish you the best of luck as you complete the DBA program and go on in your life journeys after that.



Wisly Joseph:

Thank you so much for give us the opportunity.



Wislet Joseph:

Thank you.



Wisly Joseph:

And we hope that everyone who listen, also want to have the DBA program, don't hesitate. Do it now, because do it now will open more door for you. So just do it.



Greg Lindberg:

Excellent. Alrighty. Thank you guys so much again.



Speaker 1:

To hear more episodes of the St. Leo 360 podcast, visit saintleo.edu/podcast. To learn more about St. Leo's programs and services, call 877-622-2009 or visit saintleo.edu.