Three Vanderbilt MBA alumni share how the program helped them pivot to meaningful careers after graduation. The keys to success? Vanderbilt’s personal scale, close community, and alumni network.
Three Vanderbilt alumni were looking for support in making a career pivot. They sought a personalized MBA experience that would enable them to find their way forward.
Having spent seven years as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot, Kacie Ryan was exploring career options beyond the army. She was looking for a place to plan her next step. “Personal scale definitely had a huge influence on my business school experience, and was one of the big reasons why I chose Vanderbilt,” Kacie shares. (01:26)
Bryan Mufor completed an undergraduate degree in civil engineering but was ready for a new challenge and decided to pursue an MBA.
“It was a pivotal moment in my life when I decided I’d rather do an MBA than be an engineer … My career wasn’t moving forward as much as I wanted.” (00:11)
Marina Klecha wanted solid skills that would help her move from the non-profit and higher education sectors into human resources. She says, “I wanted to have a higher quantitative and strategy mindset going into my next profession.” (00:41)
While their goals diverged, they each found community, clarity, and confidence in the MBA program at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Ultimately, they all emerged ready to step into the next level of their career paths.
The small class sizes and community-focused environment set the Vanderbilt MBA apart. The Vanderbilt MBA is a full-time, in-person, two-year program held in newly renovated premises in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States. The program prides itself on its close-knit community.
“Our collaborative, intimate size really allows us to meet students where they are,” explains MBA Recruiting Director Amanda Fend, herself a Vanderbilt MBA alumna. “We recognize that every MBA student is coming in with different experiences and different goals, and they really need tailored support to help them achieve what they are trying to get out of business school.” (01:05)
That’s exactly why Marina chose Vanderbilt. She shares, “I knew that the smaller community and class sizes would allow me to feel like I was in a safe space to ask questions, but also further collaborate with both my professors as well as my classmates.” (01:35)
Bryan was surprised by the level of personal support from his cohort. Classmates helped him settle in upon moving from Africa, even offering him a ride from the airport and an air mattress while he bought and set up furniture. “That was the first time I actually understood what personal scale was,” Bryan says. (02:00)
Professors know students by name, and relationships are genuine, Kacie says. “People know you for you. You’re not just another face in the crowd or the classroom.” (02:10)
That’s the power of personal scale.
The Vanderbilt student and alumni communities add another major advantage to joining the Vanderbilt MBA. The Vanderbilt community actively supported all three students both during and after the MBA.
Bryan was able to build connections through LinkedIn and gain mentorship from alumni and current students before even starting the program. “They were more than happy to get on a call with me to talk through some of the options that I had.” (02:41)
Vanderbilt prides itself on the inclusive, close-knit community in the MBA program, where students, staff, faculty, and alumni build long-lasting relationships. The university ensures families, spouses, and partners connect with the community. Everyone is included in social events, and the university offers support with finding local job opportunities, local schools, and child care.
Meanwhile, clubs gather students around common interests, including professional, cultural, sports, and leisure-related interests. And every Thursday night, the entire community gathers for Closing Bell, hosted by one of the student organizations. It’s a highlight of the Vanderbilt MBA experience.
Community goes beyond fun, of course. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni help each other expand their horizons, especially when it comes to post-MBA career outcomes.
Bryan discovered new career options that he had never previously considered, such as operations management, program management, and consulting. “These are all opportunities that I didn’t even think my background would allow me to have access to,” he states. (03:00)
Hearing from fellow students about their careers exposed them to unfamiliar but exciting fields to explore. Like Bryan, Kacie realized she had more options than expected. “It really exposed me to a lot of things that I didn’t even know existed, and now I have an idea of what I want to do after the army, and I’m excited to explore those options.” (04:04)
The Vanderbilt MBA allowed these students to learn from peers, faculty, and alumni. This enabled them to widen their horizons, explore new options, and map a path to success.
Vanderbilt’s Career Management Center played an important role in that endeavor. The center offers coaching, workshops, and a time-tested job-search platform. The center has recruiting relationships with more than 500 companies, many of which visit the campus.
The structure encouraged students to find their own unique professional paths.
Marina was thrilled with the concentration in Human and Organizational Performance. It fit seamlessly with her interest in HR. Not only was it unique to Vanderbilt, in her view, it also “demonstrated their dedication to a real holistic education.” (03:15) That’s just one of eight concentrations offered.
Other Vanderbilt MBA concentrations include Accounting, Finance, General Management, Healthcare, Marketing, Operations and Analytics, and Strategy. Students can further customize their MBA studies by specializing in topics such as Brand Management, Corporate Finance, and Investment Management.
Separately, Vanderbilt’s Leadership Development Program offers students and alumni the opportunity to work with one of the more than 40 professional executive coaches to explore and plan career steps.
The school’s efforts show in the success of alumni. The average starting salary of the 2024 MBA class is more than US$150,000. A full 81% of 2024 alumni report that Vanderbilt resources connected them to the full-time offers they accepted.
Thanks to the interactions with students, faculty, and alumni, Kacie is full of ideas. She’s looking forward to exploring her post-Army civilian career options.
Bryan chose consulting, securing a role at EY Atlanta. “I’m also excited to be an alum, so I can help students who come to Vanderbilt as much as I was helped,” Bryan says. (04:18)
Marina landed her dream job in HR after a successful internship. “To me it’s a little wild that I was actually able to fully achieve my pre-MBA dreams… I know I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my time and experience here at Vanderbilt.” (04:43)
Three alumni, Kacie Ryan, Bryan Mufor, and Marina Klecha, each sought the Vanderbilt MBA for distinct career transitions. Moving from the military, engineering, and non-profit sectors, respectively, these accounts show how this MBA facilitates career pivots and personal growth for its students.
The emphasis on the concept of “personal scale” describes the benefits of the program’s intimate class sizes, collaborative community, and tailored support that help students meet their individual goals. The customized career services offered by the Career Management Center, the close-knit community, and unique MBA concentrations all illustrate how Vanderbilt ensures post-graduation success in securing new and dynamic roles.
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