GT Scheller Part-time, Evening MBA Student & Alumni Profiles

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

The value of the program is what convinced me to attend Georgia Tech over other MBA programs. What I saw throughout my MBA career did not disappoint; the career services department has amazing resources, the faculty have great real-world experience to bring into their lectures, and the networking opportunities are endless.

Please comment on the academic experience at Georgia Tech.

The academic experience at Georgia Tech pushes you outside of your comfort zones, which allows you to learn more than what you thought was possible. Additionally, many teachers bring current events into their lectures and assign readings that can be applied in your everyday work life.

Please comment about the experience you had with the College’s career services.

I attended the career workshops that were offered and found them to be extremely helpful; everything from networking to career plans and goals are taught in the workshops, which helps you define your personal career path.

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

My academic background was mostly analytical and technical, and I wanted to gain the business and leadership skills that would allow me to advance my career.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

I studied science and engineering, and I already knew Georgia Tech for its international reputation for academic excellence. The fact that Georgia Tech is well-known in Europe was important to me.

As a working professional, I valued the flexibility of the Evening MBA program structure. I was also very impressed by the number of elective courses available and the diversity of subjects covered, which allows students to tailor their MBA program specifically to their career goals.

Please comment on the relevance and quality of the program to your career goals.

Most of the content in classes was directly applicable to my job, which made the learning experience even more exciting. In addition, the large number of electives to choose from allowed me to build an MBA program specific to my career goals. I also appreciated participation from students in class discussion. Having fellow students working in other industries provided valuable insight to class discussions.

Is there anything you'd like to add?

Overall, this was an incredible experience. It is difficult to go back to school while working full-time, but I think this was the best decision I have made for my career.

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

I want to be able to grow my career and lead an organization. I think what we're learning in the program not only teaches leadership skills, but also what it takes to think like a leader and the courage to manage.

Why did you choose Georgia Tech over other MBA programs?

Georgia Tech is the most value for your money for an MBA. As a finance person, I know I'll get the best return on this investment. Georgia Tech pairs experts in the field of business with the analytical nature of the university to create a really unique and value-added experience.

What has your experience been working with the Jones MBA Career Center?

The Jones Career Center is made up of incredible people who have careers in recruiting and know what companies are looking for. They helped me put my talents, skills, and experience together in a way that sets me apart from the rest. They not only helped me with my resume but guided me through my career path and the right moves to make and steps to take to accomplish my goals.

What's your favorite thing about the program?

The best part of the program is the people. The students and the faculty. The Georgia Tech Evening MBA program is made up of an incredible collection of knowledge, intellect, experience, and skills that drive each person involved in it to achieve more than they imagined. It's a motivating and fun group to learn from and work alongside.

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

I wanted to gain a better understanding of managerial decision-making procedures as well as further my education to include more applicable business making decisions.

Please comment on the academic experience at Georgia Tech.

I went into the program thinking I knew everything there was to know, but from day one I realized that there was so much more to learn and discover based on the amazing content and the depth of knowledge of the professors. Throughout the program, I was constantly telling people how much I was learning every day; it was so fulfilling to know that my investment was paying off daily.

Please comment on the relevance and quality of the program to your career goals.

The program is of high quality because I was actively aware how relevant the material was to what I faced in my daily work life. The quality is also reflected in that I truly took what I learned and applied it to my own personal financial decision-making on a daily basis. This also is a testament to even the order in which they suggest you take the courses, which shows how much thought and effort has been put into the curriculum.

Is there anything you'd like to add?

The program has been very valuable to me not only because of the education I received but also the relationships I built. The faculty members that I encountered were very impressive because of not only their depth of knowledge on a particular subject, but also because of all of their practical experience in the subject they are instructing.

Returning to school after being out for 10 years was daunting at first, but the structure of the program, group assignments, and a realistic workload made it very easy to adapt and return into the mode of student.

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

After being in the IT industry for more than five years, I wanted a new challenge that would get me out of my comfort zone. An MBA would allow me to increase my overall knowledge of business which is crucial for me to advance into a higher leadership position.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

One of the reasons the Georgia Tech Evening MBA program stood out to me was its flexibility. Each semester I can choose how many courses to take based on my schedule and commitments at that given point. The program also allows me to take electives in multiple concentrations. Plus, it's in the heart of the city!

Please discuss opportunities to network or develop leadership skills outside the classroom.

I was able to join GEMS (Graduate Evening MBA Students) as a philanthropy co-chair my second semester in the program. This allowed me to connect with my classmates outside the classroom while also giving back to the Atlanta community. And through the Georgia Tech alumni mentoring program, I gained a mentor that is in the industry I was most interested in pursuing.

Please comment on the relevance and quality of the program to your career goals.

The Georgia Tech MBA program allowed me to become Six Sigma Black Belt certified. I can directly apply this new skill to my current job and future career goals. I also had the opportunity to get hands-on consulting experience through the pro bono consulting class.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

I chose Georgia Tech because of its strong foundation in technology and data analysis. In today's world, nothing is accomplished without the use of technology, and large amounts of data are ubiquitous in every company. Georgia Tech has given me the tools I need to function in the modern business world. I also chose Georgia Tech because of its cultural fit. My background is in science, which fits well with Georgia Tech. The program is incredibly diverse with people from all backgrounds and industries so I didn't feel out of place. It also makes for a very rich learning environment.

Please comment on the academic experience at Georgia Tech.

I have been very impressed with the academics at Scheller. The professors are top notch and really care about learning. The program is full of people from diverse backgrounds and the professors will always take their time to thoroughly explain new concepts to those new to business. Classes are interactive and foster a lot of good discussion. There is very little basic lecturing and lots of hands-on learning. There are also a number of practicum classes, which are a great way to gain real experience while in school. Since I'm making a career shift, these have been invaluable to me not just from a resume perspective but also giving me the real tools I need to operate after graduation.

What are some exciting opportunities outside of the classroom?

I participated in a few case competitions, and my team won the national title in the Deloitte Supply Chain competition. This gave us amazing access to people from all levels of Deloitte and allowed for a practical glimpse into the world of consulting.

Academically, I took several practicum classes. In Six Sigma, we did a project with an aluminum manufacturer to investigate and make recommendations into reducing its delivery times and carrying costs. Our recommendations saved the company several hundred thousand dollars per year, and I received my Six Sigma Black Belt as part of the course.

In the international practicum class, we worked with a large Japanese e-commerce company to develop a strategic plan for launching a new service. This involved considerable research and communicating with our counterparts in Japan to analyze the Japan's market and benchmark competition worldwide. We then spent a week in Japan, meeting with the client and pitching our proposal to the head of the division in the executive board room.

Why did you choose Georgia Tech over other MBA programs?

When choosing an MBA program, I gravitated toward programs with a strong reputation, and it is no surprise that Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business topped the list. As an undergraduate, Tech was truly my dream school, and I am so thankful for a second to none education and a season in my life of true joy and fulfillment. Hence, the decision to come back to Tech was an easy one.

Please comment on the academic experience at Georgia Tech, especially as you consider its relevancy to your current position and your future career goals:

The strong collaborative environment is prolific throughout the program. I think the strong team-based class structure is directly applicable to real-life circumstances in the workplace. Additionally, the strong quantitative focus and strategic approach to business aligns with my future aspirations of remaining in consulting.

What are some opportunities to gain experience outside of the classroom?

I have been excited with the opportunity to participate in multiple hands-on experiences outside the classroom during my first year in the MBA program. I have been able to participate with a group of Full-time MBA students in the Georgia Healthcare Case Study competition sponsored by Emory. Additionally, I am proud to represent Scheller College of Business as an Ambassador and interact with prospective students. Finally, I am currently enrolled in the pro bono consulting practicum and am excited to apply my knowledge and skills for Georgia Works!

How has the MBA program allowed you to approach innovation?

One of my favorite classes thus far has to be innovation and entrepreneurial behavior with Dr. Nagao. His passion for innovation really sparks curiosity and creativity amongst his students. I particularly enjoyed our "design thinking" project, where we were paired with engineering and other business students to develop, design, prototype, and test our own product. It felt like a mini-startup company!

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

I chose Georgia Tech over other MBA programs because of the network and the courses offered. It is unique because you are able to get the technology perspective of business, especially since business is trending that direction. There are also so many opportunities for electives, so I am able to pursue areas that I may not have thought about.

Why did you choose the Evening MBA format over another MBA format?

I chose the Evening MBA format because it was the best option for me at that time. The flexibility of the program has been great because I was able to take a semester off and have a baby, and, coming back this semester, I feel like I have not missed a beat.

Please comment on the academic experience at Georgia Tech, especially as you consider its relevancy to your future career goals:

I enjoy the condensed core format because there are so many elective course offerings, so I am able to take electives that will fit my career goals and also have time to take others that interest me. I have been able to apply something from all the classes I have taken so far, which is exciting because I am able to see how courses are applicable to my everyday work and life.

What opportunities have you had to network outside of the classroom?

Graduate Evening MBA Students (GEMS) has been an invaluable networking resource, and I have been able to learn about different events and opportunities. I am also part of Women in Business, and this has been a great opportunity to network with other women in both the Evening and Full-time MBA programs.

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

I chose to pursue an MBA to expand my scope of business concepts. As I transitioned into general management in my career, I sought to gain exposure in managerial business strategies and organizational structure. The MBA curriculum allowed me to explore areas outside of my career concentration, granting more mobility in future roles.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

Georgia Tech's program is well respected across many industries, but especially within supply-chain circles. Its strong focus on operational and strategic management aligned well with my career direction.

Please comment on the academic experience at Georgia Tech.

The curriculum covers topics pertaining to the entire business environment. The class content has been interesting and the professors are dynamic and experienced. Group projects bring a variety of backgrounds together to assess and solve problems with unique insight.

Please comment on the relevance and quality of the program to your career goals.

This program has offered courses both directly relevant and outside of my current role. While I've found myself using concepts from my analytics and operations classes in my daily work, other courses have helped me grow in areas I was less developed. The marketing and international consulting electives, for example, employ concepts in customer segmentation that I would not have been exposed to otherwise.

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

With 10 years of experience working in various industries and roles within IT, I realized that as I grew in my career I needed an MBA to open up more opportunities. My plan was to use my MBA to balance out my technical background in order to leverage my analytical skills in not just technical roles, but also business roles.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

The network! One of the critical aspects of an MBA is the networking component. At Tech, not only do you to get a great education from phenomenal staff, but you also are able to build an amazing network. It’s really hard to do that if you are on a satellite campus.

Did you worked with the Jones MBA Career Center?

I utilized the Jones MBA Career Center by participating in the career workshops, on-campus and off-campus recruiting events, career advice, and coaching. It was a lot of work to get prepared for the job search, and it was even more work to actually do the job search, but I ended up with seven amazing offers. As a career changer, I must admit that I was very nervous, but I stuck with the plan that we formed in the career workshop, remained diligent in my search for opportunities, and kept in contact with career services if I ran into any issues. This was one of the best aspects of the program.

Why did you choose the Georgia Tech MBA program over other MBA programs?

I immediately loved the environment at Georgia Tech. The program has a close-knit and collaborative atmosphere that feels very positive. The admissions office was wonderful and supported me throughout the application process. Also, Georgia Tech's great reputation, location near downtown, and value for the education made it an easy decision.

Please comment on the academic experience at Georgia Tech.

I was nervous about going back to school after so much time working, but the transition was surprisingly easy. The professors are all very understanding about the fact that evening students are balancing work and school. The professors I have had are all very accessible and open to taking questions and having class discussions.

Please comment on the relevance of the program to your career goals.

My main goal in pursuing an MBA was to help advance my current career path. Even early into the program, I was already able to apply concepts learned in the classroom to my job. In looking through the course catalog I've already found several classes that align perfectly with my career goals. I look forward to taking these courses in the upcoming semesters.

Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

I reached a point in my career where I wanted to shift from the traditional sales career to a more managerial, consultative, and strategic position. I knew that an MBA would be the quickest, most efficient way for me to pivot careers and strategically capitalize on the the constantly evolving business environment.

Why did you choose Georgia Tech over other MBA programs?

A combination of things led me to Georgia Tech. I wanted a business school that was intimate enough to where the professors would know my name, a school that was located in a major city, and — as a career switcher — a school that had greater than 95% job-placement results. Georgia Tech was the only school that provided this! I also loved the technology component that accompanied a business degree from Georgia Tech.

Please comment on the academic experience at Georgia Tech:

Business school has provided me the medium to discover my true authentic self, reassess my internal and external motivations, and really pushed me to do more. I've enjoyed a successful career path to date, but business school has helped hone my professional, personal, and leadership skills in ways that I never imagined.

The experiential learning practicums where we have the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world business problems are amazing. I'm much more prepared for a post-MBA career thanks to helping great companies in the Atlanta area solve strategic initiatives.

How was the transition of returning to school after a hiatus?

Initially, I had hesitancies about returning to business school after such a long hiatus since undergrad. Would I be able to keep pace with the rigor of a top business school? From the professors, to the experiential learning, to the long-lasting relationships formed, this has been a robust experience for me and the best decision I've made in my career.