In Episode 123 of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Founder Jeremy Shinewald speak with Jim Caruso, chief innovation officer at Elevate and a graduate of the Michigan Ross Online MBA program. Before pursuing his MBA, Jim had already founded companies, sold a software business, and spent years leading product development. So why did he feel the need to obtain the degree? And why was an online program ultimately his preference? His experience illustrates how an online MBA program can serve a professional who wants to deepen specific capabilities without leaving the workforce.
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Why Attend Business School Mid-career?
Jim chose to pursue an MBA for several defined reasons. He wanted a stronger foundation in finance, statistics, and enterprise management. He was interested in gaining access to a wider professional community. And he hoped to someday be able to teach. Having an advanced degree would make adjunct opportunities more accessible.
Before applying to a full-time or online MBA program, you should first identify the gaps in your skill set and experience that you want the degree to fill. Perhaps, for example, you need deeper functional knowledge, a broader management perspective, a credential for a specific path, or access to a new community. Understanding your goals and what is necessary to reach them will help you determine whether investing in an MBA would be beneficial.
Why Choose the Michigan Ross Online MBA Program?
Jim considered programs near him in New York as well as online options. The Michigan Ross Online MBA program stood out to him because it combined the flexibility he was seeking with live interaction and in-person learning. He could continue working and supporting his family while participating in a structured academic community and interacting with peers. “I have family. I have a job,” says Jim, “I can’t be there every day, all day. … It’s just not feasible. But I also don’t want to just be sitting there [at home], doing this by myself.”
Ross describes its online MBA program as combining synchronous classes, asynchronous modules, collaborative work, and action-based, in-person residencies. Students can adjust their pace as needed and complete the degree in two to five years. While this ability to customize one’s experience can be attractive, applicants considering the online option should examine key elements beyond convenience, such as how student teams collaborate on projects, which experiences require travel, and whether the cadence of the program aligns with their other life responsibilities.
Which MBA Courses Create Lasting Value?
Jim expected his finance and quantitative coursework to strengthen his skills in areas he had not studied very deeply as an undergraduate. Those classes gave him the tools to perform effective financial modeling and manage a business’s profit and loss. Some less-expected gains came in the areas of leadership, change management, and organizational design.
The subjects he studied have since helped him think more deliberately about how he works with people—an essential part of building products, leading teams, and moving ideas through an organization. MBA hopefuls often focus on the next role a business school degree might position them to obtain, but Jim’s experience suggests that one should evaluate programs from another angle: Which parts of the academic experience will prove useful across the many roles and stages of your career?
What Value Extends Beyond the Degree?
Jim found a community through the Ross Online MBA program’s live classes, team projects, residencies, and informal online conversations. He also gained access to the wider University of Michigan alumni network, whose members interact and support one another across industries and locations.
When comparing full-time and online MBA programs, pay attention to the relationships that the format helps students build. Ask enrolled students how often they work together, how alumni tend to respond to outreach from students, and whether the school fosters meaningful interaction outside of the classroom. While flexibility matters, the connection between students can often determine whether pursuing an MBA feels merely like completing a number of courses or creating a lasting professional community.
New episodes of The mbaMission Podcast are released every Tuesday on all major streaming platforms, with full video episodes available on mbaMission’s YouTube channel.
If you are trying to decide whether the Michigan Ross Online MBA program or another MBA format fits your goals, sign up for a free 30-minute consultation with Harold or another member of mbaMission’s admissions team.
