Student Stories from Utah's Full-Time MBA

STUDENT STORIES

FROM UTAH’S FULL-TIME MBA

UTAH’S FULL-TIME MBA

The decision to leave the workforce and return to school to pursue graduate education can be difficult. Many question whether doing so is worth the time away from work, whether they will experience a significant return on investment, and whether a degree can take them to where they want to be in their career. At the University of Utah’s Full-Time MBA, these questions are often answered before the program is finished. From day one, students see a return on investment through networking opportunities, individualized career coaching, and personal and professional growth. Many students find career-altering internships or pivot careers entirely with the knowledge they gain. Here, they tell their stories—including the process of pursuing an MBA, why they decided on the University of Utah, and how the program has changed their careers and lives.

The University of Utah’s Full-Time MBA program is ranked:

Top 10 in the West Forbes

Top 40 in the U.S.

Top 10 best-administered in the U.S. Princeton Review

29 Average Age

5 years Average Work Experience

46% From Outside Utah

69% Non-business Undergraduates

97% Report Positive Job Outcomes

98% Average Salary Increase

The Robert H. and Katherine B. Garff Building, home to the University of Utah’s MBA programs

A MARINE’S CAREER PIVOT

Pete Tate

When Pete joined the Marine Corps as a Personnel Officer in late 2012, he knew he wanted to pursue a full-time MBA because of the opportunity to cover his tuition costs with the G.I. bill. Several years later, Pete was working as a brand representative in Utah and applying to schools around the country.

Pete decided that he wanted to pursue his full-time MBA at the University of Utah to continue the life he started in the state. He fell in love with Utah’s mountains, red rocks, and access to outdoor sports.

Additionally, he appreciated the University of Utah putting its money where its mouth was. “One thing that stood out from the tour was that the business school invested a lot of money to be a top-tier program. I was very impressed with the focus on innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset. I could see that this degree would be worth a lot in the next decade.”

Pete knew the University of Utah would be a catapult to his 10-year goals.

During the program, Pete gained confidence and found his voice within the cohort.

“The business school invested a lot of money to be a toptier program. I was very impressed with the focus on innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset. I could see that this degree would be worth a lot in the next decade. ”

He represented his peers as a class leader in the MBSA club and was one of the founders of the Ski & Snowboard Club, experiences which forged lifelong bonds. He also gained a deeper understanding of what he wanted to do in his career. After going into the program, interested in an operations role upon graduation, Pete discovered a deeper passion for product management. With university resources and opportunities, Pete pivoted into product management and started a passionfueled career.

Pete Tate, Emily Ziegler, and Jon Fabiszak: founders of the Full-Time MBA Ski and Snowboard Club

IT’S WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT

Stefanie Scherp

Stefanie always knew she wanted to get an MBA. She was raised in a family focused on education, and she knew it was a bar she wanted to set for herself.

“There is a lot of value in the MBA, and [understanding] business makes you a better employee.”

Stefanie knew she wanted to stay in-state to get her MBA. The mountains and international airport accompanied her active and adventurous lifestyle, making the University of Utah an easy choice.

She was highly impacted by classes presenting challenges without easy solutions. She remembered one instance fondly, explaining, “The first memory that always comes to mind is eating cold pizza with Mitch and Brett in the GARFF building at 1:30 a.m. while working through a case competition.”

From tight-knit teams to competitive projects, the Full-Time MBA program at the University of Utah facilitated an environment for Stefanie to seek out challenges.

She also embraced the opportunity to reinvent herself. “I can start a new chapter and leave old identities that I don’t love about myself behind, and I can step into this new chapter and version of myself. I can reestablish who I want to be.”

“I can start a new chapter and leave old identities that I don’t love about myself behind, I can step into this new chapter and version of myself. I can reestablish who I want to be”

Despite her interest in the supply chain, she discovered her true passion for product management. After graduation, Stefanie landed a product management position on a supply chain tech team. She began to see the program’s return on investment come to fruition. “I did the math…and one year in the workforce after the program will have paid it all off,” she said.

Full-Time MBA students presenting a case competition

THE RIGHT FIT

Brett Jenkins

Growing up, Brett’s dad always told him to take the time to prioritize life goals and gain as much knowledge as possible — a mindset that sparked Brett’s interest in pursuing an MBA. After moving from Idaho to Utah to start a new job, he already had a plan in action for his future career.

“When I first got my job in Utah, I got a job that wasn’t especially exciting but paid well. I planned to work there for a couple of years and put away savings so that I could pay for grad school.”

In Brett’s career as a digital marketing manager in the health care industry, he saw some of his co-workers surpass him, explaining, “People were getting hired after me but promoted sooner because they were in the industry longer.”

He felt pursuing an MBA would help him set his career up for promotions because of the critical thinking and skill sets he would learn. Despite other MBA formats accommodating a work-and-school lifestyle, Brett felt that the University of Utah’s Full-Time MBA program suited his needs best. He wanted to immerse himself in the in-person experience and get a fresh start after graduation.

Brett was impressed by the University of Utah’s resources, specifically at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. “I did an in-person application inter view, and…I was very impressed with what Lassonde had to offer.”

During the program, he found career services beneficial, especially in his search for a full-time job in the second year. “I am grateful they taught me the skills I needed to find a job because I can now use them repeatedly. I relied on them a lot.”

During the program, he found career services beneficial, especially in his search for a full-time job in the second year. “I am grateful they taught me the skills I needed to find a job because I can now use them repeatedly. I relied on them a lot.”

While attending the University of Utah, Brett not only found his passion in product management by taking various

classes—he saw the fruits of his labor with a job opportunity as an associate product manager after graduation. A staggering 78% increase in salary upon graduation reassured him that Utah’s Full-Time MBA program would provide a significant return on investment.

The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah

“I am grateful they taught me the skills I needed to find a job because I can now use them repeatedly. I relied on them a lot.”

TAKING MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS

Emily Ziegler

Before becoming a Full-Time MBA student at the University of Utah, Emily felt stuck in her career.

“I am very ambitious and goal-oriented, so when I had my quarterly review with my manager, the conversation turned to ‘how can I progress?’”

Her manager implied that upward mobility was impossible for her at the company. Emily explained, “Essentially, I saw my growth plateau. When you work at a company purely based on retail sales as the main source of revenue, they can’t pay more than just above a livable rate or afford top-quality candidates.”

Emily took her career development into her own hands. Although she was very passionate about the outdoor industry, she needed to gain a broader knowledge and skill set, so she looked into pursuing an MBA. She decided to apply to several schools in Utah, but her heart was set on attending the University of Utah.

She recognized the unique opportunities available at the University of Utah. “The research institute element was huge,” she said. “The research institutes have the best professors and are invested in the subjects they teach.”

Pursuing a full-time MBA was a great opportunity for Emily to fully immerse herself in the knowledge of these outstanding faculty members and acquire the skills to boost her credibility in the job market.

“The research institutes have the best professors and are invested in the subjects they teach.”

Emily was accepted, and entered the MBA program during the COVID pandemic. During the program, she set her sights on becoming a V.P. of Marketing and, with the help of the Career Center, developed a growth plan to get there. Her first step was to land a position in consulting; upon graduating, Emily doubled her salary with her new role.

Still, she made it clear that it wasn’t just about the money. It was about the opportunity.

“With this MBA, I have three letters that allow me to have recognition of my capabilities. There are more growth opportunities…and having the MBA made it easier to pivot and level up.”

The foothills full of mountain bike and hiking trails above the University of Utah campus

THE BUSINESS FAMILY MAN

James Drake

James decided to pursue an MBA because it fit many of his core values. His passion for people drove him to connect authentically with new people, empowering them along the way. Combined with his interest in consulting, human resource leadership, and being a business owner, James was the perfect candidate for the University of Utah’s Full-Time MBA program.

When researching MBA programs, school ranking was an important metric for James’ goal to build credibility. In addition to being one of the top 10 programs in the west, the diversity in the University of Utah’s Full-Time MBA program made it the right fit for James.

He also explained, “Location was a big part, for sure. It’s right where [my family and I] want to be. We love Utah and the outdoors.”

James was also attracted to Utah’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, a powerful resource he could utilize as he considered ramping up his own business.

During the program, James has found merit in every course. Additionally, the instructors themselves have made a significant impact on his learning. Of Dr. Brian Cadman, James said, “He really cared. He was a great facilitator. He provided so many resources to make the material as easy to understand as possible.”

James also felt he would apply the skills he has learned to start a business.

“Location was a big part, for sure. It’s right where [my family and I] want to be. We love Utah and the Outdoors”

“I wouldn’t have thought to look at things that way and didn’t know how to do certain calculations to figure out if the business was succeeding or if we were charging the right price.”

James became the class leader and residing president of the 2023 cohor t and proved to be a voice and a navigator for his peers. After a year in the program, he has already seen a great ROI.

“The return for me has been super worth it through networking, especially the entrepreneurship institute. The institute’s mentors and instructors are phenomenal and are willing to help aspiring entrepreneurs.”

A lounge area inside of Lassonde Studios, home of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute

A WARM WELCOME

Oluwafemi Akolade

Oluwafemi uprooted his life in Nigeria to achieve his higher education goals. With over five years of experience as a cloud engineer and running his own business, Femi knew he wanted to pursue an MBA.

“It was something I had in my mind for a very long time. I want to get an MBA to become a product manager in the future and understand all the necessary business concepts to expand my business.”

He also knew networking was a strong tool to grow his business, so connecting with like-minded industry professionals was just as critical as academia. Femi researched schools in the U.S., focusing on top 50 ranking and affordability. “I was very particular about an MBA program in the U.S. because of the economy and businesses available.”

Femi remembers seeing an ad for the University of Utah Full-Time MBA and deciding to investigate: “I started reading the program description, and one thing that really struck me was the fact that they have an opportunity for a concurrent degree.”

For Femi, learning business concepts and gaining a more technical background while earning two degrees really caught his attention.

“I started reading the program description, and one thing that really struck me was the fact that they have an opportunity for a concurrent degree.”

After being accepted into multiple programs across the country, he decided to dig deeper into his search. Femi’s first experience setting foot on U.S. soil would be, at minimum, a two-year journey as a full-time MBA student, so he also looked at the setting he would be learning in.

“I love nature. I love the mountains. I also looked at crime rates, and Utah appeared to have one of the lowest crime rates in the U.S. I was concerned about being able to settle down easily because I didn’t know anyone in the U.S.”

During his research process, Femi was impressed with a webinar by the Full-Time MBA recruiting staff that he participated in to learn more about the program.

“During the webinar, they talked about the whole school, the program, and the environment. They talked about the scholarship opportunity and the cost of living. They also talked about the program in depth: the classes I will be taking, the opportunity to travel, everything! I was really impressed.”

After extensive research and reflection on what university felt right, Femi decided on the University of Utah. When he first stepped outside the international airport on Utah soil, two strangers approached Femi to kindly assist in transporting luggage he was struggling to carry. During Femi’s time in the University of Utah’s Full-Time MBA program, he has experienced that same level of welcoming kindness.

The bustling downtown of Salt Lake in front of the Wasatch Mountains

UTAH OFFERS QUALITY OF LIFE

Eric Johnson

Eric was stationed in Hawaii as a Coast Guard Commanding Officer for two years before joining the University of Utah Full-Time MBA program. The Coast Guard offered Eric the opportunity to get a graduate degree.

“They’ve got a lot of different programs…for different types of master’s degrees. An MBA was one of the options within that context.”

Other programs caught his attention, but ultimately Eric chose an MBA as a longterm investment.

“There are other degrees that I would be interested in, potentially even more so than the MBA, but when I think about what I am going to do with this after the Coast Guard, the MBA seemed like the one that really opened a lot more doors and gave me more adaptability and marketability.”

In addition, pursuing an MBA allowed Eric to choose where he wanted to live while still in service. He sought long-lasting connections with humble, honest, downto-earth, and authentic people. Eric felt that Utahns had a reputation for being genuinely kind and pleasant. Utah was also a place where he could scratch his itch for outdoor sports.

The University of Utah also offered a concurrent MBA/MSF degree, an offer Eric couldn’t pass up. For these reasons, he chose to apply to the University of Utah.

“I think I had very high expectations for the student cohort, and they were absolutely met.”

Going into the program, Eric’s perspective on networking helped him grow. He explained, “I think I had very high expectations for the student cohor t, and they were absolutely met.”

He formed meaningful connections with peers through activities like the Ski & Snowboard Club, happy hours, picnics, and networking events. Eric also spoke highly of the professors in the program and the academic rigor.

“Some classes have actually changed the way that I think…[the program] has added to the body of knowledge that I will be able to apply.”

A Full-Time MBA networking event in the University of Utah’s Garff building

COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE

Delia Maresco

Five days after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism and a minor in business leadership from Virginia Tech, Delia moved to Utah to start a new chapter as a multimedia intern. Over the years, Delia found oppor tunities for upward mobility. But she soon became stagnant.

“I felt like I had hit a wall. There weren’t many more opportunities for upward mobility within my department. I started at the lowest level, learned a ton, and was able to become a director in a relatively short period of time. Although I loved my job and the creative work I was involved with, when I realized there wasn’t a next step, I started to feel a little restless.”

Delia didn’t want to slow the momentum she had worked so hard to build in her career. So, she started thinking about her next move. “I thought about a ton of different career paths…I was looking for a challenge, something that would push me to flex muscles I hadn’t used in a while. I wanted to learn again and be challenged in areas that made me uncomfortable.”

At this point, she started thinking about grad school. Delia’s father is an entrepreneur, and Delia felt a full-time MBA program was an excellent way to become a more well-rounded candidate for stepping into the family business.

“I was looking for a challenge, something that would push me to flex muscles I hadn’t used in a while. I wanted to learn again and be challenged in areas that made me uncomfortable.”

Ultimately, she chose to pursue an MBA at the University of Utah because it was a challenge she wanted to conquer and one that would allow her to pursue a different career path.

In the Full-Time MBA program, Delia has found interest in quantitative studies, and it has opened her eyes to potential roles in data science and business analytics.

“The data science world is very new and constantly evolving. I like how it has given me hard skills in coding and software that make me a more well-rounded candidate. It has opened my eyes to different ways of thinking about problems.”

Delia attributes much of her success to being comfortable with being uncomfortable. She has surprised herself with the challenges she has been able to overcome.

“There were many times I was like, ‘I can’t do this,’ but I surprised myself. A lot of times when things really scare me, I’m surprised that I can make it work.”

The University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business Garff and SFEBB buildings