Reuben Hoppman
Herzing Alumni
Alumni Spotlight
From an early age, Reuben Hoppman had a clear vision for his future. Unlike most kids, whose dreams change over time, Reuben remained focused on becoming a businessman. As he grew up, this early passion only sharpened.
“Growing up, I knew that I would do whatever it took to get there, even if I didn’t fully understand what ‘being a businessman’ looked like at the time,” Reuben recalled.
Although he initially considered more traditional universities, none of them seemed to fit. He needed flexibility—something that would allow him to balance his career with his long-term educational goals. That’s when Reuben’s mother, a Herzing University graduate herself, suggested that her alma mater might be the perfect fit for his needs.
“Looking back, it seems kind of silly that I didn’t automatically think of Herzing,” Reuben quipped. “But part of me probably wanted to forge my own path. As it turns out, Mom was right.”
Herzing provided Reuben with the perfect balance of a rigorous, business-focused education and the flexibility he required to continue to maintain his full-time career. Though juggling both responsibilities was no small order, Hoppman knew greater success in one required a commitment to both.
“While I was completing my bachelor’s at Herzing, I was also working full-time in accounting and seeing the lessons I learned in the classroom translate positively into my work kept me on track,” Reuben noted. “It motivated me toward completing both my Bachelor’s and MBA degrees.”
Herzing’s dual-degree option streamlined an otherwise longer time in the classroom and allowed Reuben to find the success he had begun dreaming about as a kid. Now equipped with the tools to better market himself in his field, Reuben utilized other resources available to all Herzing students to sharpen his other skills.
Communication, leadership, and networking are each essential for MBA graduates—and students at any stage of their business degree path—as they are key drivers for turning what is learned in the classroom into actionable techniques used in the workplace. Aided by both education and experience, Reuben accelerated his path and began what is becoming a thriving consulting business.
“The combination of real-world knowledge and practical application made a huge difference,” Reuben explained. “I was able to start my own business, and I used my MBA education every step of the way.”
After completing both degrees and beginning to build his business, Reuben knew he wanted to give back to the university that had played such an integral role in his success. This resulted in a return to Herzing; not for another degree, but as a professor uniquely positioned to share his experience with current students who are on a similar journey.
“For me, it’s a source of pride. I relate to my students because I have been where they are now. I’ve been a working professional. I’ve juggled family and school. I’ve had the same uncertainty that they have; I’ve asked the same questions,” explained Hoppman. “Now I have some of those answers and I can share those experiences with my students, and they can see how what they are learning might look like in practice.”
A significant part of Reuben’s success story is Herzing’s flexibility. As a working professional, he was able to balance his job in accounting with his studies thanks to the university’s online programs. “Herzing’s flexibility was a game-changer for me,” Reuben reflected. “I was able to work full-time while still advancing my education. That kind of balance was crucial to my success.”
Now a leader for future graduates and future business leaders, Reuben strives to ensure his students achieve both academic and professional success.
“My goal as an educator is to push my students outside their comfort zone and to think critically about their career goals and about what skill gaps they need to fill to meet those goals, and then I want to help them get there,” Reuben stated. “But, most of all, I want them to enjoy the journey because that’s where you will learn the most about yourself and it might come in ways you would never expect.”