For ambitious professionals seeking to elevate their careers without taking a break, the Texas McCombs Working Professional MBA program, encompassing the Evening MBA, Weekend MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth, and Weekend MBA at Houston, continues to be a launchpad for success. The impressive outcomes of the Class of 2023 stand as a testament to the program’s commitment to empowering students to achieve their professional aspirations while working full-time.
When students enter the program, the identify themselves along one of four career paths:
- Enhancers aim to continue an upward trajectory in the same career function or industry.
- Switchers know they want to transition to a different role, function, and/or industry.
- Explorers are curious about other opportunities and want to learn about different career paths while pursuing their MBA.
- Entrepreneurs want to start their own business.
One such success story is Jaenero Gaither from the Dallas MBA program, who now works as a Supply Chain & Operations Consultant at Ernst & Young (EY). Jaenero entered the program as a supply chain analyst, considering herself an “Enhancer.” However, by getting involved with student organizations like Graduate Women in Business (GWiB), McCombs Ambassador Committee (MAC), and the Consulting Club, she quickly realized her “Explorer” mindset. Although introverted, Jaenero took the advice of the Career Management team and alumni, conducting informational interviews that helped her combine her supply chain experience with a newfound interest in consulting.
Through McCombs’ recruiting resources, Jaenero achieved her goal of landing a role at EY. She credits her ease in securing the position to those informational meetings and additional career conversations with alumni at the firm. Today, Jaenero is known for solving complex supply chain problems and guiding clients through difficult transitions. She remains connected to McCombs, volunteering whenever opportunities arise.
Stefani Sereboff, Senior Assistant Dean for Career Management & Corporate Relations at Texas McCombs.
Photo by Lauren Gerson.
In an exclusive interview with Stefani Sereboff, Senior Assistant Dean for Career Management & Corporate Relations, we delve into the achievements of the graduating class and the unwavering support provided by the McCombs Career Education & Coaching team.
Q: Can you speak to the salary increases and mobility among graduates? What employment trends are you noticing among working professional grads?
A: In our 2023 employment outcomes, our working professional students secured an average salary of $148,657, which is a 30% increase from when they started the program to post-graduation. 80% of our 2023 Working Professional MBA graduates made a career change in industry, function and/or role which highlights the desire of our students to grow in their careers which can be accomplished through career education, coaching and effective planning.
Our career education and coaching team specializes in meeting working professional students where they are at when they enter the program and providing them with education, support and resources to navigate their next career goals successfully.
Q: Can you elaborate on the types of roles or industries that graduates from the class of 2023 have entered?
A: Our working professional students’ top industries for the Class of 2023 were energy, manufacturing, consulting, technology, and financial services. We saw growth in energy, manufacturing, and financial services from the year prior. We see many students grow in their careers as well moving from manager to director and/or director to executive levels.
Q: How does Texas McCombs support its Working Professional MBA students in achieving their career goals?
A: Our Working Professional MBA Career Education & Coaching team provides dedicated team members to each program with a focus on career education, planning, resources, and support to empower our students to secure their ideal career path. We offer unlimited one-on-one coaching for our students and a thoughtful roadmap to lead students from career exploration though their entire career journey successfully.
We include alumni mentoring, programming, and networking opportunities throughout the two years at McCombs. Upon graduation, we introduce our students to alumni career management which provides coaching, resources and support for life for our alumni.
Q: How does Texas McCombs continue to evolve its career management resources to meet the changing needs of Working Professional MBA students?
A: We spend ample time researching market trends, insights, resources, and skills need for the future workplace. As our team researches, we identify new content, technologies, and experiential learning activities to incorporate in our student career experiences. It is key to us supporting our students for their future career growth.
The achievements of the Texas McCombs Working Professional MBA Class of 2023 serve as a powerful testament to the program’s excellence and commitment to empowering ambitious professionals to unlock their full potential. With its robust career management resources and the guidance of the experienced Career Education & Coaching team, McCombs continues to pave the way for transformative career journeys, enabling students to confidently navigate the path to success.
If you have any questions about Texas McCombs, we’re here to help. Please visit our website for details on applying to each program and follow us on Instagram for an inside look into the Texas McCombs MBA. Hook ’em!
