Non-profit professionals pursuing advanced degrees bring unique perspectives to the classroom, and eventually, the social impact sector. After graduation, they combine their mission-driven mindset with refined organizational leadership skills to navigate the interconnected spaces between public service and sustainable social change.
Coming from my background in entertainment, working at AJFF was a great way to marry my love for the arts with a powerful purpose - “inspir[ing] diverse communities to new levels of social and cultural understanding.” I hadn’t necessarily been seeking out a role in nonprofit, but I loved the idea of using my previous experience to help enhance the Atlanta community.
I loved my job - I continually felt inspired, got to work on some really interesting projects, and met amazing people from all walks of life. In the nonprofit world, I found that you get very used to wearing many hats. That could be both a pro and a con, as you get exposure to so many different functions, but it can also become tiring!
I was looking to build my business acumen and leadership skills and thought that an MBA would be the obvious way to do those tasks. Originally, I applied for the Evening MBA program, as I planned to stay in my current position. However, once I met the folks at Scheller and spoke with students who had made career pivots, I realized that I might find a different kind of professional and personal fulfillment by following a new career path.
I didn’t decide to fully make a career pivot until I was already in the process of applying to the Evening MBA program. I had a moment when I realized that the degree might be an opportunity for me to make a bigger switch than I originally intended. While I would miss working in nonprofit, I could still give back to the community even while working in a corporate setting.
Moving from nonprofit to business has certainly been an adjustment, but many of the skills that I utilize have carried over in a greater capacity than I expected. Things like building cross-functional relationships, thinking strategically, project management, and influencing without authority have been imperative in any role I’ve held, regardless of the industry or function. I enjoy the work I’ve been doing since my MBA as I’ve been able to take some of the more creative aspects of previous roles but also bring more of an analytic, strategic lens to improve business outcomes and propel growth. Following a new path has contributed tremendously to my personal and professional development.
The MBA is incredibly useful for anyone aiming to make a career switch or even those hoping to advance in nonprofits. For me, the most useful thing was figuring out how to tell my story - while people might think that I made a huge switch moving from working at a film festival to working with paper towels (!), Scheller helped me gain the skills and confidence to feel like I could succeed in a more corporate environment, in a very different type of role. The skills gained from the MBA - like leadership, analytics, and thinking strategically - will benefit those looking to advance their careers in any realm, whether business or nonprofit.