Texas McCombs MBA Insider

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picture of Chris Stafford with text that reads "MBA STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Chris Stafford, Weekend MBA at Houston '24"

Chris Stafford Reignites MBA at Houston eQual to Foster Community for LGBTQ+ Students

Written by Meena Anderson.

Chris Stafford, MBA at Houston Class of 2024, is reigniting the Weekend MBA program’s eQual chapter, an organization aimed at fostering community and solidarity among LGBTQ+ MBA students.

“When I started the Fall semester in Houston, I learned that eQual Houston had fizzled away during COVID-19 and needed fresh blood to give it a restart,” Chris says. “I know how important it is for community engagement and representation both internally and externally. I think it’s really important to have LGBTQ+ representation in the program and also for students to get involved in the local LGBTQ+ community.”

Alongside completing his MBA, Chris is employed at ExxonMobil. Prior to his MBA journey, he graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in 2010 and served as an Officer in the Navy Reserves.

Photo of chris in his navy uniform standing outside of a navy hospital ship.

Chris during his time in the Navy Reserve in 2011.

“The ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ policy (DADT) was still in place while I was a Midshipman at USMMA and for the beginning part of my time as an Officer in the Reserves, this policy required that I keep my identity as a gay man a secret and live my life ‘in the closet,’” Chris says. “I actually wrote my admissions essay to McCombs about the repeal of DADT and how it shaped my career. Serving under the DADT policy was not easy and surely presented lots of obstacles, but I am a stronger person for it.”

Photo of chris and his husband kissing at their wedding.

Chris and his husband, Tyler, kiss during their wedding.

Chris says his background in maritime operations and trading influenced his decision to apply to the Weekend MBA at Houston program.

“I really want to grow my business acumen and enhance my understanding of different aspects of business that I have yet to be exposed to. My employer is very supportive of me getting my MBA and I am really hoping to bring back to the office what I am learning at McCombs,” he says. “When trying to decide on where to go for my MBA, there were a few options locally here in Houston I was considering. I wanted a strong academic program with a large network, great reputation and prestige and a big school atmosphere.”

After settling in at the program, Chris and his classmates got in contact with the Dallas and Austin chapters of eQual, who were instrumental in helping reboot the organization for the Houston program.

“We plan to link up with both Austin and Dallas eQual groups more in the future and try to host some joint events,” Chris says. “We announced to our classmates on National Coming Out Day that eQual was back and that started the buzz. We had significant interest and were super excited to get it going.”

For the future of Houston’s eQual endeavors, Chris and other organizers in the group plan to engage with the local community and increase awareness about topics of diversity and inclusion.

Chris and his husband hold up a rainbow pride flag

Chris and Tyler pose with a rainbow Pride flag at Cross Fit.

“We plan to get involved in local philanthropic and volunteer endeavors, for example the Houston Pride Parade and Montrose Center,” he says. “We plan to bring in guest speakers to speak to eQual about inclusion and diversity in the workplace, and hopefully get local executives that identify as LGBTQ+ to speak to our cohorts about their experiences in the corporate world.”

Ultimately, Chris’ goal is to uplift and support the McCombs — and extended — LGBTQ+ community in both the corporate world and their academic ventures.

“Our main goal is to be a voice for the students in the Houston MBA program, especially those of us that identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community and our allies. We strive to protect and promote an inclusive and safe environment and celebrate diversity in all forms within the program. We want to leverage LGBTQ+ alumni to help mentor and recruit students that are a part of the eQual group, as well as act as a recruiting tool for the admission team to continue to admit diverse classes in the future.”

Visit Texas McCombs MBA to learn more about our programs and upcoming events, or take a peek into student life on Instagram. Please reach out to the MBA Admissions Team with any questions.

Hook ’em!

The 5th Annual Elevate Conference Introduces Inaugural Excellence in DEI Award

March 13, 2023 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Written by Meena Anderson.

This year Texas McCombs celebrated the 5th year of the Elevate: Diversity Equity and Inclusion Conference, at Rowling Hall on February 10. The annual Elevate Conference is one of the most significant channels for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) across the Texas McCombs MBA program. Founded by 2019 alumnae Ashley Fox and DeAndrea Staes, the conference has grown to be a full community-wide event. This year’s Elevate co-chairs, Azzy Francis, Fernando Galindo, Lauren Vague, and Oshane Mcrae hoped to evoke a different perspective to DEI with the new theme, “Let’s Dance.”

: Azzy Francis
Full-Time MBA ’24

: Fernando Galindo
Full-Time MBA ’23

: Lauren Vague
Full-Time MBA ’24

: Oshane Mcrae
Full-Time MBA ’23

“I recalled the quote from one of my classes: ‘Diversity is being asked to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance,’” Fernando Galindo says. “It stood out to me and felt like a great way to encourage people to come and join us in this dance.”

The team wanted to communicate a joyful, fun, expressive environment where people are unafraid to participate and share.

“‘Let’s Dance’ to me means celebrating diversity, breaking down barriers, and embracing discomfort,” says Azzy Francis. “DEI work can be awkward, much like middle school dances. You might feel unsure of yourself, out of your comfort zone, or like you don’t know the steps. But just like at those dances, the key is to embrace the awkwardness, find your own rhythm, and engage with one another in kindness & respect. The more you participate and engage, the more confident and comfortable you will become. And before you know it, you’ll be moving to the beat of inclusivity and creating meaningful change.”

“We hope that this brings us to a place where we are engaging respectfully, rather than not engaging due to fear or discomfort,” Lauren says. “Asking attendees to dance means that we are encouraging all of us to end up in a place where we can all be a little more ourselves, and be seen for who we are.”

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The conference featured keynote speakers Iris Diaz, Chief Marketing Officer of the Dallas Mavericks, and Tynesia Boyea-Robinson, President and CEO of CapEQ. Alongside their speeches, there were also student-led panels and various discussion-led sessions throughout the day. Oshane Mcrae, Elevate co-chair and Full-Time MBA student, says the Elevate chairs chose the keynote speakers for their humanness, their charisma, their talents of storytelling, and the bravery of their approach to their careers and changing the world.

“No one person can improve DE&I outcomes on their own, it takes a community, it takes institutional buy-in, it takes outspoken leaders, it takes quiet ones as well,” Oshane says. “It takes sustained effort over time to change processes, to change norms, and to shift core practices.”

“We wanted to make the sessions very interactive,” says Lauren. “We chose Aurora Archer, Meme Styles, and our very own Zerina Hamulic as facilitators. Most of the sessions were discussion based, with our hope being that we could leverage the expertise of our attendees and also make sure that they got to ask the questions and have the discussions they wanted.” They also hosted student-led sessions with current Texas McCombs MBA students to provide their classmates a platform to share their stories and educate their community and peers.

The Elevate team also introduced the Inaugural Ashley Fox and DeAndrea Staes Excellence in DEI award to celebrate students that are making a difference in their leadership at McCombs.

“It was an award intended to honor student leadership & innovation in DE&I, in the spirit of Ashley Fox and DeAndrea Staes who were the original founders of Elevate,” says Oshane. “We opened it up to the students to nominate their peers and make the case for each nominee.”

Yessica Bravo
Full-Time MBA ’23

Yessica Bravo, Consortium member, and Full-Time MBA student was presented the first Excellence in DEI award by the conference’s founders, Ashley Fox, and DeAndrea Staes. Yessica says it was an honor to win this award, and that while it can be easy to be hard on herself, she ultimately trusts herself and her ability to bring brilliant people together.

“Good work is never done alone. I’m incredibly fortunate to have sat alongside peers deeply passionate about ensuring more students from diverse backgrounds experience McCombs,” Yessica says. “Alexis Allen, Muna Rehma, Getaneh Mekonen, Craig Perry, Matt Wong, Amanda Garcia, Usjid Hameed, and the next gen of leaders- yall are the vessels. We did great work together. I’m so proud of what we accomplished in our short time here.”

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A post shared by Yessica Bravo (@yessbravo)

Yessica says one of the best ways to practice improving DEI circumstances is to show up. “For a long time, I didn’t participate in DEI discussions because I was afraid of what I didn’t know, I was worried I didn’t hold the correct language or I didn’t know everything about what I perceived to be sensitive topics. My fear was keeping me away from learning,” Yessica says. “The opportunity is all around us. Whether it’s at a conference like Elevate, Consortium’s monthly storytelling sessions, GWiB’s allyship roundtable, or the Food and Beverage Club’s dinners. The opportunity to connect and learn from people different than us exists. Show up.”

Elevate conference 2023 at @UTexasMcCombs featured great programs centered on #DEI in the business world. Congrats to @UTexasMBA student leaders and staff on a successful event!#whymccombs #whatstartshere pic.twitter.com/IFcXxVIHCe

— Lillian Mills (@MillsLil) February 10, 2023

Visit Texas McCombs MBA to learn more about our programs and upcoming events, or take a peek into student life on Instagram. Please reach out to the MBA Admissions Team with any questions.

Hook ’em!

Celebrating Black History Month with 7 Black-Owned Businesses in Austin

February 28, 2023 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Written by Elain Yao.

As Black History Month comes to an end, we reflect, honor, and celebrate the history, achievements, and contributions of the Black community here at McCombs and in the greater city of Austin. Learn about 7 Black-owned businesses around Austin that you can support throughout the year and check out how our Black Graduate Business Association celebrated Black History Month.

Support Black-Owned Businesses Around Austin

Bird Bird Biscuit

Website | Instagram

Co-founded in 2018 by Brian Batch and Ryan McElroy, Bird Bird Biscuit is a chicken and biscuit restaurant that has spent years crafting the most delectable recipes for its menu. Located on 2701 Manor Rd in Austin, Texas, Bird Bird Biscuit has gained its reputation for providing customers with great service, flavorful food, and allergy-friendly food items.

Austin Daiquiri Factory

Website | Instagram

Margarita from Austin Daiquiri Factory. Photo courtesy of Austin Daiquiri Factory Instagram.

Austin Daiquiri Factory is woman-owned and family-operated. Iesha Griffin opened Austin Daiquiri Factory in 2021 as an East Austin to-go Daiquiri shop offering 7 base flavors, 16 signature drinks, and the option to build your own frozen drink. All daiquiris are made with real fruit and real cane sugar. They are also 100% gluten, sulfite, GMO, and preservative-free! Located at 2000 E. 12th street.

Tony’s Jamaican Food

Website

Located north of Austin in Pflugerville, Texas, Tony’s Jamaican Food offers its customers a comforting slice of Caribbean cuisine. Founded in 2018 by Tony Scott and his wife Kim, Tony’s Jamaican Food prides itself on its customer service and authentic dishes like jerk chicken and oxtail.

Cranky Granny’s

Website | Instagarm

Founded, owned, and operated by Sianni Dean as a tribute to her grandmother, Cranky Granny’s opened its doors in 2021 as a Black-woman-owned business sweet rolls shop. Located in Round Rock, Texas, Cranky Granny’s offers delicious pastries, from cookies and cream to peach cobbler.

Nana’s Prayer Tattoos

Instagram

Founded in July 2021, Imani Tatum opened Nana’s Prayers Tattoo Studio with a dream of exploring tattoo art. Located at 715 W Powell Ln in Austin, Texas, her studio features tattoo artists Imani (@twiggytattoos), Patricio (@victimofbirth), B (@b_infante_), and Xóchítl (@chiflada.tatts). Imani describes tattoos as a way of connecting with her ancestors and named her business after her grandmother.

Black Pearl Books

Website | Instagram

Founded in 2019, Black Pearl Books began its business as an online store that participated in markets and pop-ups. Currently located at 7112 Burnet Rd in Austin, Texas, Black Pearl Books is a fully family-run black-woman-owned business that aspires to utilize literature to promote inclusivity and diversity.

Black Austin Tours

Website | Instagram

Founded in 2019 by Javier Wallace, Black Austin Tours aims to spotlight Black voices within Austin’s city history. The tour company informs people about Black community leaders and trailblazers that are not currently celebrated in conventional history books. Black Austin Tours currently offers in-person walking and virtual tours.

If you are interested in learning more about Black-owned businesses in Austin’s metropolitan area, read more about them in Jade Fabello’s How to Spend a Day in Austin Supporting Black-Owned Businesses piece for Thrillist.

Celebrating Black History Month with Black Graduate Business Association

BGBA Leaders hold up a hook 'em hand sign on the stairs of Rowling Hall.

The Black Graduate Business Association Leadership team.

Black Graduate Business Association (BGBA) is a student organization founded in 1985. BGBA members represent a variety of academic concentrations and political, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Members’ business interests range from the public to the private sector, entrepreneurship, and national and international markets in various areas of the business world. As a professional organization of predominantly Black students pursuing an MBA, the BGBA’s purpose is to provide a nexus through fellowship to broaden, enhance and promote the successful futures of its members.

Check out how BGBA celebrated Black history and the Black community this past month. ⬇️

Azzy Francis, VP of Communications, hosted a McCombs Instagram Takeover during the march to the capitol on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

BGBA also hosted a Black History Bike Tour focused on exploring the black history of Austin, an Art Galleries at Black Studies Tour, and a Storytelling session with other student leaders at McCombs.

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BGBA hosts events for MBA students throughout the year. Follow BGBA on Instagram to connect and learn more. ⬇️

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A post shared by BGBA @ Texas McCombs (@mccombsbgba)

Contact BlackGraduateBusinessAssociation@mccombs.utexas.edu to talk to current members.

Visit Texas McCombs MBA to learn more about our programs and upcoming events, or take a peek into student life on Instagram. Please reach out to the MBA Admissions Team with any questions.

Admissions Announcement: Texas McCombs Full-Time MBA Adds Round 4 for Fall 2023 Entry

February 20, 2023 / Texas MBA Admissions / 3 Comments

The Round 3 application deadline to the Texas McCombs Full-Time MBA program is slated for March 28, 2023. However, economic uncertainty has impacted many prospective students around the world. With many prospective students facing layoffs or uncertainty in their professional situation, our team believes an additional application round will be helpful for those needing a little more time to work on their application and evaluate their next professional step.

In response, Texas McCombs will add a fourth round to the Full-Time MBA Class of 2025. The Round 4 application deadline is Thursday, May 11, 2023.

Stacey Batas, Director of Full-Time MBA Recruiting and Admissions, provides insight on the addition of a new application round and advice for navigating the application.

Who is eligible to apply in Round 4?

Any U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the U.S. is eligible to apply in the new round. Round 4 is not open to international applicants due to issues with visa documentation timelines.

Are you still offering application fee waivers or test waivers to Round 4 applicants?

Yes! We have one more application fee waiver-eligible event, open to both Round 3 and Round 4 applicants in this application cycle. In order to obtain the waiver, you must register for and attend our Application Overview Virtual Session on March 7 at 8AM CT. Register here.

As with other rounds, test waiver petitions are also available and can be found on our website. If you are considering applying in Round 4 and would like to submit your application without a GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment exam, please read this document carefully to see if you’re eligible and submit the waiver form by no later than May 4, or 7 days before the deadline.

Are there still financial aid or scholarship opportunities available to Round 4 applicants?

It’s hard for the admissions team to predict merit-based scholarship availability for future rounds, since it depends on how many scholarships we have to award at that point in the cycle. Admitted students will be notified within their acceptance letter if they receive any merit-based scholarship funding from McCombs.

How will Round 4 work? When will decisions be released?

Round 4 will work much like our other rounds – you need to submit your application by 11:59 PM CT on May 11, 2023.Decisions will be released on or before June 8, and the enrollment deposit deadline for those admitted will be June 15.

I was laid off. How do I explain being laid off in my application?

Though unfortunate and stressful, lay-offs happen! Once you upload your resume on the “Employment Information” section of the application, there will be a question asking whether or not you’re currently employed full-time. If the answer is no, you’ll be given a chance to explain your situation. This response is limited to 255 characters, so you don’t have to go into full detail here! If you’d like to include additional details about your employment to the admissions committee, complete the optional statement for us to review.

I was laid off and I don’t have a professional recommender. What are my other options?

There are lots of great sources for recommendation letters! Here are some of our tips to help you choose a recommender who knows you well and can speak to your strengths.

What are the benefits of applying in Round 4 vs. applying next cycle?

The biggest benefit is that you potentially won’t need to wait a full year to enroll! Round 4 is a great option for those who definitely know they want to go to McCombs, but who may have figured that out a little later in the game. We’d also like to dispel the myth that having to reapply the following cycle is a bad thing. We value re-applicants and never look down on someone who applied late cycle and then re-applied the following fall.

What advice would you give to an applicant submitting in Round 4?

Get to know us! We’re hosting campus visits until late April and will be hosting virtual events to help you navigate the application process. Attending our events can also help you craft your essay and prepare for the video assessment.

Visit Texas McCombs MBA to learn more about our programs and upcoming events, or take a peek into student life on Instagram. Please reach out to the MBA Admissions Team with any questions.

MBA Student Spotlight Veronica Mabry Weekend MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth '23

Student Spotlight: Veronica Mabry, Weekend MBA ’23

February 16, 2023 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Written by Elain Yao.

Veronica Mabry is a first-generation college student in the Texas McCombs Weekend MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth program who is balancing the demands of school, work, and family life. Despite the many challenges of juggling a full-time job, parenting, and pursuing a graduate degree, Veronica has always had a strong desire to pursue an MBA. With a lifelong passion for academics and an undergraduate degree in communications, Veronica saw an MBA as a way to broaden her understanding of business.

“I really saw the value of being able to evaluate how business decisions are made. Every job function I have sat in, I can look at through a different lens, like, is this commercial viable? Is this going to maximize value? Now I can justify any decision I make because I have such a strong foundation under me with this MBA.”

Veronica did not follow the traditional path of completing her undergraduate degree, working professionally for two to three years, and then pursuing an MBA. Instead, she decided to continue her education after a decade of working and starting a family. Veronica was drawn to the Weekend MBA in Dallas for its convenience, reputation, and opportunities it would provide for her future career. As a full-time working parent, she appreciated the program’s flexibility, which allowed her to balance her studies with her other responsibilities.

“I started looking at working professional, evening, and part-time programs. I still wanted the respectability of a ranked MBA program and a name like McCombs because of the recruiting, network, and alumni that are so valuable.”

Veronica spends her busy weekdays helping her son get ready for school, working 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, going to the gym, dedicating time to her husband and son after work, and studying late in the evenings. She attends classes on Friday evenings and Saturdays, while her husband takes on solo parenting duties, and devotes Sundays to spending quality time with her family. Despite the long hours and packed schedule, Veronica sees the Dallas/Fort Worth weekend program as a way to further her education and advance her career without sacrificing her other commitments.

“I knew I wanted to attend grad school, but the clarity of it being an MBA came recently and I am so glad that I chose McCombs because I can’t imagine going through a different program.”

In pursuit of an MBA, Veronica has faced her fair share of internal and external challenges. Internally, she has struggled with the unknowns of day-to-day life as a working parent, including the potential for illness or unexpected family needs. Externally, she has encountered challenges with how she is perceived by her classmates, particularly as one of the few women in the program with children. She has sometimes felt isolated as “the mom of the group”.

“We have great parents in this program, but I do think it’s harder for mothers because we are the primary caretakers. It’s hard to engage and socialize in the same way as everyone else and that’s a hard reality.”

Nonetheless, Veronica has made great friends in the program and found support through Texas McCombs’ Graduate Women in Business organization, claiming that clubs and organizations were the softer components “that really made me feel like at the end of the day, when I had multiple offers in front of me, that Texas McCombs was the right decision.”

Veronica and other MBA students take a photo outside of the colosseum in Rome, Italy.

Veronica and other Texas McCombs MBA students outside of the colosseum in Rome, Italy on a McCombs+ Global Connections Trip.

Ultimately, Veronica has learned that pursuing her dreams and ambitions while also being a parent is possible. She encourages other women considering an MBA program to go in with clear expectations, understand their resources and support system, and not let the guilt of pursuing their own goals hold them back. As she puts it, “investing in yourself is never the wrong choice.”

Texas McCombs MBA students take a photo in rome, italy.

Texas McCombs MBA students in Italy on their McCombs+ Global Connections trip.

“I think as women it takes an extra level of care to get rid of the self-doubt or guilt about our decisions. Identifying your people is so important. And I’m not just talking about the people who are going to help with your children. I’m talking about mentors and friends who are going to remind you of the long-term vision, the ones who are able to say, ‘I see that you are stressed, and yes this is really chaotic right now, but here’s the bigger picture.’ It’s so important to have those people who can help you zoom out a little bit.

At the end of the day, it’s less about what path you choose or when, it’s what you make out of those life experiences that matters.”

Learn more about the MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth and stay up to date with all things McCombs by subscribing to our newsletter. Follow us on Instagram to see more about student life. If you have any questions, please reach out to MBA Admissions. Hook ’em!