PERSONAL
AND STRONG.
Empowered to grow as a professional and leader.
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atthew Evans, ’19, decided to pursue his MBA to gain the skills and knowledge he needed to advance his career. With a year to go before he completes the program, his efforts are paying off. Matthew, who works for UNC Rex Healthcare as a Corporate Finance and Strategy Analyst, is pursuing the project management concentration. He said the program has allowed him to grow, professionally and as a leader. “I now have a better understanding of how to lead by example - both by my actions and how I present myself. Through all of the group work, I have a deeper understanding of how to effectively work with others to accomplish a goal and get the best out of everyone involved.” He noted that the MBA coursework has
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been rigorous, but manageable. “The coursework, while challenging at times, has given me the ability to analyze deeper, think critically, and process large and complex data sets and turn them into meaningful and well thought-out conclusions and recommendations.” Matthew noted that Meredith faculty recognize the demands that students face in balancing family, work, and studies, and accommodate students appropriately. And he appreciates their expertise, which is rooted in real-life experience. “The professors have been able to couple academia with their own personal, real-world experience to prepare students for any type of challenge that presents itself. As students we can relate to their experiences and utilize their expertise to apply solutions in our everyday work.”
Although finishing only my first year of the program, the Meredith MBA has already provided a significant salary increase from starting the program. It has also positioned me well to advance in a managerial role upon completion because of my ability to take on more complex projects and complete them confidently and efficiently.”
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Gaining the skills to advance her career.
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andance Goins, ’15, realized her career was becoming stagnant and knew she needed to make a change. She looked at several schools but found Meredith best fit her needs. “I was looking for a quality evening program that would allow me to attend classes in person. I liked that I could have a face-to-face conversation with my professors and classmates, and I felt the in-person program would hold me more accountable.” As a mother of two girls and an active member of her community, Candance also needed a program that was flexible, and Meredith fit the bill. She balanced her course load by completing her assignments during lunch at work and weekend mornings before her family activities started. “Being a working mother, I quickly learned to prioritize and how to work towards goals. I am now a planner. Every evening I plan the next work day and strive to check things off the list.”
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One of Candance’s favorite aspects of the Meredith MBA was the interest professors took in her success. She observed that they were invested in helping her master the subject matter but also wanted her to develop professionally. As a result, she gained significant analytical, presentation, and communication skills. And she is putting those new skills to use: since graduating from Meredith, Candance has landed a new job at a billion dollar company and was promoted to Compliance Program Manager. “Meredith helped me want to grow. When you learn about how businesses are structured, you see all the opportunities out there waiting for you. Why stop at being a Sr. Auditor when you can be VP of Internal Audit or a Director of Finance?”
I lead a global team of ten compliance auditors from different nationalities and cultures. Through Meredith’s study abroad program in China, I was able to acquire skills to effectively conduct business and manage a team with different backgrounds.”
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Preparing to push his limits.
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ohn Ward, ’17, had a clear idea of what he expected when he enrolled in the Meredith MBA. Fortunately, the program delivered. As John succinctly stated, “My experience was excellent and just how I envisioned it.” A commercial pilot and flight instructor as well as a business professional, John pursued his MBA because he has strong aspirations for career advancement and entrepreneurship. His current position at ProQuest is Project and Customer Experience Manager. He knew he wanted to polish his critical thinking and acquire the business operations expertise that would be needed for senior leadership positions. Both goals have been met. “With sharper problem solving and analytical skills, I approach my projects with more confidence.” At Meredith, John stood out, receiving the Lois E. Frazier Outstanding MBA Student Award and earning membership in Beta
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Gamma Sigma, the business honor society associated with AACSB International. For John, the learning environment at Meredith was a great fit. “The instructors were always available for guidance – the ‘open door policy’ was critical to my success. Class experiences were highly interactive and made the learning enjoyable, meaningful, and relatable.” John also enjoyed learning about his strengths, a process that all Meredith students go through. He found out his strengths are uniquely well-rounded, which contributes to his success as a leader and problem solver. “Most managers rely on strengths in one to two of the strengths ‘quadrants.’ Because of my strengths I am more able to succeed in challenging environments, and I always have the confidence to try to find solutions to problems.”
I have a more measured approach to communication – I’m more cognizant of the purpose and subsequent method of communication. I always take a pause and try to understand who the audience is and what I’m trying to accomplish.”
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Building her confidence as a business professional.
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anaa Alyemeni, ’18, always knew she would go back to school to earn her MBA. She chose Meredith’s program after her positive experience at one of the MBA information sessions and because, as a parent of an infant, she wanted the ability to start with fewer classes and then progressively increase her class load. She also appreciated the MBA concentrations Meredith had to offer and chose to focus her studies on project management because it supported her career goals. Sanaa can already see a clear impact on her professional development. “I have been able to take on new projects, provide global trainings, identify process improvements, and confidently speak about them.” While she grew from the overall experience, some classes made a lasting impression, such as the capstone class,
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which enhanced her ability to analyze processes and more effectively support her company. Her operations class gave her ideas regarding financial forecasting, while her negotiations class provided her with tactical tools to effectively negotiate in work and personal settings. Connections Sanaa made to her classmates was another important aspect of what she liked about the MBA program. Meredith’s small class size allowed her to get to know her faculty, who in turn were able to tailor their teachings based on the students’ diverse backgrounds. “Having projects in all of the classes gave us the opportunity to build relationships with other students inside and outside of the classroom. Learning how to work with people from different backgrounds is an important, real life skill, and one that built lasting relationships.”
My time at Meredith strengthened my presentation skills and built more confidence in myself and my capabilities. Having this additional confidence allows me to be a better decision maker, which can be important when supporting a group of employees.”
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Build Your Network Our students and graduates represent an impressive range of some of the top companies and organizations in the area. • Advance Auto Parts • Bank of America • Bayer CropScience • BB&T • Biogen • BlueCross BlueShield of NC • Burt’s Bees • Cisco • Citrix Systems • Credit Suisse • Deloitte • Duke Energy • Eaton • EPA • Fidelity Investments
• John Deere • Lenovo • MetLife • NetApp • Oracle • PAREXEL • Pfizer • Quintiles • Red Hat • RTI International • SAS • Teleflex • Wake Med • Wells Fargo
Why choose the Meredith MBA? Flexible Curriculum The Meredith MBA for women and men is flexible – take one, two, or three courses each semester. Pursue a general MBA or focus your studies on Entrepreneurship and Family Business, Human Resource Management, Innovative Management, or Project Management. GMAT Waiver We accept a range of graduate program competencies, including four years of professional work experience, military experience, or undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher. Valuable Student Resources We offer scholarships to defray the cost of your degree. Study abroad opportunities. And internships with leading companies if you’re early in your career. Return On Your Investment We provide the lowest-cost AACSB program in North Carolina’s Triangle region with an average time to completion of two years. Graduates report higher salaries, increased job satisfaction, and greater advancement opportunities.
[ WHAT MAKES US STRONG ]
AACSB FEWER THAN 5% OF BUSINESS PROGRAMS WORLDWIDE ARE AACSB ACCREDITED.
Take the next step toward earning your MBA. • SCHEDULE an individual visit. If you’d rather meet one-on-one, you can schedule a visit with a graduate admissions counselor who can talk to you about your interests and guide you through next steps, including whether you qualify to have the GMAT requirement waived. • SIT IN on an MBA class. This is a great way to really get a feel for the Meredith program. For many of our students, this step helped them decide they were ready to pursue their MBA. • APPLY. Why wait? Start your application today. • QUESTIONS? Contact us at (919) 760-2281 or mba@meredith.edu.
Watch a video to learn more about the Meredith MBA at meredith.edu/mba.
meredith.edu/mba
2,000 STUDENTS
38 COUNTRIES 22,000 GRADS
127 YEARS Going Strong
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5298 (919) 760-8212 | meredith.edu/mba
Meredith’s John E. Weems Graduate School admits qualified students without regard to race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability. 18-078