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See the World Without Missing a Beat: Short-Term Exchange Programs for McCombs MBAs

December 20, 2025 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Your MBA is already demanding. Between core classes, recruiting, and trying to maintain some semblance of school-life balance, the idea of spending a semester abroad might feel impossible. But what if you could gain international experience, build a global network, and explore a new industry in less than two weeks?

That’s exactly what McCombs short-term exchange programs (STEPs) offer. These intensive programs pack the benefits of studying abroad into a 5-14 day experience that fits into your MBA schedule without derailing everything else.

What Makes STEPs Different

Unlike traditional exchange programs, STEPs are designed for the realities of MBA life. You’ll earn 2-3 credits while learning from faculty at top partner universities in Denmark, Sweden, Mexico, Germany, and Austria. Your classmates typically aren’t other McCombs students. You’ll be in the room with MBA candidates from business schools around the world, which means every discussion brings multiple perspectives and expands your network far beyond Austin.

The programs focus on specialized industries and business practices unique to each location. Whether you’re exploring sustainable mobility in Germany’s automotive heartland or understanding emerging markets in Mexico, you’re getting knowledge you can’t find in a textbook.

Why It’s Worth Your Time

The research backs up what participants already know: short-term international programs deliver outsized value. Students gain firsthand understanding of how business operates across cultures, which makes you more adaptable and marketable to employers looking for global talent. You’re not just learning theory. You’re visiting factories, meeting CEOs, and seeing how companies actually operate in different regulatory, cultural, and economic environments.

The condensed format creates an intense bonding experience. When you’re navigating a new city with classmates from Singapore, São Paulo, and Stockholm, you build relationships fast. Those connections often turn into career opportunities, partnerships, or simply friends around the world who can offer perspective when you’re facing a tough business decision.

And here’s the practical part: these programs happen during breaks or right after the semester ends, so you’re not choosing between international experience and internship recruiting. You’re adding to your MBA, not trading off.

Talita Lammoglia, FT ’26: Doing Business in Germany STEP

Lammoglia joined the Future of Mobility in the Energy Landscape program at the University of Cologne in Germany because she wanted to understand how other countries approach

the energy transition. “Germany stood out not only for its strong automotive and industrial tradition, but also for its commitment to building a more sustainable society,” she explains.

Over 12 days, she and 17 MBA students from programs worldwide visited Cologne, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Nürburgring, Wolfsburg, and Stuttgart. The itinerary included power plants, automotive factories, Siemens facilities, Formula 1 racetracks, and the Porsche Museum.

What made it special? “The global trip was thoughtfully tailored and coordinated by local residents,” Talita says. “They would recommend traditional or seasonal dishes during dinner or give us their daily lives perspectives on mobility topics.”

She was struck by the level of automation in Germany’s factories. “During our visit to a gas power plant, the only humans we saw were in the control room.” But the experience went beyond industry tours. “I loved visiting Berlin, seeing the Berlin Wall and learning more about the country’s post-World War II history.”

Her advice? “I highly recommend this program for its high-quality content, excellent organization, and the opportunity to network with MBA students from different business schools.”

Mackenzie Snyder, FT ’26: Doing Business in Mexico STEP

As a Spanish speaker interested in international business, Snyder saw the Mexico program as a perfect fit. She’s an entrepreneur setting up business in Texas and wanted to explore potential partnerships with Mexican companies.

The program, hosted by IPADE Business School, packed an impressive amount into five days. Students analyzed business cases on Mexican companies, then met the actual leaders running those businesses, from the CEO of Mexico’s largest airline to a social entrepreneur revolutionizing cancer treatment.

“The IPADE professors were top notch,” Mackenzie recalls. “They did a phenomenal job bringing together students from around the world and highlighting different perspectives in the room.”

Company visits ranged from the Bimbo Bread factory to Kidzania, an amusement park teaching financial literacy to kids, to a nonprofit reintegrating adolescents who were victims of human trafficking back into society.

The program didn’t shy away from difficult topics. “Learning about the amount of violence and insecurity caused by the Cartels and other organized crime in Mexico” was challenging, Mackenzie admits. But those hard conversations added depth. “I was most shocked to learn how little faith my IPADE peers had in their government.”

Her takeaway? “There is a huge difference between reading articles about a place across the globe, and being on the ground, walking the streets and talking to the natives on their turf.”

The Bottom Line

STEPs aren’t just about adding a line to your resume. They’re about becoming the kind of leader who can walk into any room, anywhere in the world, and understand the context. You’ll return with stories, connections, and insights that change how you think about business.

The logistics are straightforward: tuition varies by program, there’s an education abroad fee, housing arrangements depend on the specific program, and you’ll need to book your own flights. But the investment pays off in ways that extend far beyond the trip itself.

If you’re wondering whether you can afford the time, ask yourself this: can you afford not to have international experience in today’s business world?

Ready to explore the world while earning your MBA? Learn more about short-term exchange programs and other experiential learning opportunities through McCombs+, your gateway to hands-on global experiences that complement your coursework and set you apart in the job market.

How McCombs Global Connections Takes MBA Learning Worldwide

December 3, 2025 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

When Jacob Martinez boarded his flight to Italy, he was looking for more than just great coffee and fashion. He wanted to push himself out of his comfort zone. When Jordan Wood landed in Bali after a 24-hour journey, she wasn’t just starting a vacation. She was beginning a business consulting project with a local company, navigating unfamiliar regulations and cultural nuances that would challenge everything she thought she knew about entrepreneurship.

This is what McCombs Global Connections is all about: taking business education off campus and into the real world.

The Global Connections program described here is specifically designed for Full-Time MBA students, though all McCombs MBA formats include global components that take students abroad.

What Makes Global Connections Different

Global Connections isn’t a spring break trip with some business visits tacked on. It’s a rigorous three-credit course that starts weeks before you ever pack your bags. Students spend the semester in weekly classroom sessions studying the destination’s industry landscape, whether that’s supply chain dynamics in Southeast Asia, energy markets in China, or sustainability challenges in East Africa. By the time you board the plane for the 8-10 day international component, you’re already deep into the work.

The competition to participate reflects how valuable students find these experiences. With roughly 33 spots per trip and 120-150 students bidding their elective points, getting selected means something. Recent destinations have included Rwanda, Kenya, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Turkey, Dubai, South Africa, South Korea, Chile, and Argentina. Each trip is designed around a McCombs professor’s expertise and combines firm visits, executive networking, and cultural immersion that you simply can’t replicate in a classroom.

Jacob’s Journey: Finding Adventure in Italy

For Jacob Martinez, the Italy Global Connections trip was about stepping into the unknown. As someone who loves fashion and coffee, Italy seemed like the obvious choice. But what he got was far more than he expected.

“I was able to experience Italy in a way that I would not have been able to otherwise,” Jacob says. The structured itinerary gave him access to companies and cultural experiences that most tourists never see. But the real value came from something less tangible: the relationships he built with his classmates.

“The best part of my experience was forming closer friendships with my fellow classmates. Traveling really is a bonding experience,” he explains. There’s something about navigating a foreign country together, solving problems on the fly, and sharing meals in unfamiliar places that creates bonds that last well beyond the trip.

Group photo from the 2025 Global Connections trip to Rome, Italy.

The most challenging moment came after the official trip ended, when Jacob decided to take his first solo trip to Milan. “I told myself to enjoy the adventure, and it was an amazing experience,” he says. That decision to extend his travels turned into a personal breakthrough. “I was very surprised to learn that I am more adventurous than I thought! I can’t wait to explore more countries.”

Jacob’s takeaway is clear: “Having a global experience during the MBA program is an amazing opportunity. It gives you the chance to learn another culture from a business perspective and then be immersed in that culture in a way that would not otherwise be possible.”

Jordan’s Experience: Rethinking Business in Bali

Jordan Wood’s Bali trip focused on sustainability and entrepreneurship, and it started long before she left Texas. Her team connected with a Balinese company to work on real consulting projects that would improve their business operations. But this wasn’t your typical case study.

“This was more complex than typical coursework because we had to navigate different policies, regulations, and cultural factors. We couldn’t rely on our usual assumptions because we weren’t familiar with the local culture and consumers,” Jordan explains.

Working on these projects forced her team to think differently and collaborate in new ways. “Working on these projects also gave me a chance to collaborate with classmates I might not have gotten to know otherwise. We formed strong relationships that carried through the entire experience.”

Jordan and her classmates at the Taman Saraswati Temple for the Global Connections trip to Bali in 2025.

Once in Bali, the experience came alive. The group stayed in Ubud and Seminyak, visiting the companies they’d worked with to see operations firsthand. They learned to cook Balinese cuisine with a local family, met ex-pats who had relocated to start businesses, and even experienced a 14-course meal at Chef Will Goldfarb’s Room 4 Dessert (yes, from Netflix’s Chef’s Table). They explored temples, learned about local religions, and gained perspectives that made their business projects suddenly make sense in deeper ways.

“The highlight of this experience was connecting with people,” Jordan says. “Coming from the US, we often assume we have the best approaches to many things. But traveling in Bali showed me different ways of doing business and living life that were often just as good, if not better.”

She was particularly struck by how welcoming everyone was. “I had expected that a country with many different religions might be more formal or reserved, but people were eager to connect and share their experiences with us.”

MBA Global Connections trip to Bali in 2025.

The biggest lesson? “This trip taught me that travel and connecting with people are the best ways to expand your worldview. It’s not enough to just visit new places. You need to talk to people and learn about their experiences.”

Why It Matters for Your Career

Global Connections isn’t just about adding stamps to your passport. In today’s business environment, understanding how to work across cultures, build relationships with diverse teams, and question your own assumptions isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Global Connections 2025 group in Spain at Moeve.

Students who participate in international experiences typically see career benefits that extend well beyond graduation. They build professional networks that span continents, develop the cultural competency that multinational employers actively seek, and gain real-world problem-solving skills that can’t be taught in a case study.

As Jordan puts it: “Leaders who succeed today are those who can work across cultures, build relationships with different types of people, and stay open to learning from anyone. The Bali Global Connections course gave me international experience, but it also gave me a new way of thinking about business and leadership.”

Your Turn

Global Connections is a part of the McCombs+ Global & Experiential Learning Program. McCombs+ provides many action-based co-curricular and academic initiatives designed to grow influential business leaders.

Whether you’re drawn to exploring energy markets in the Middle East, studying supply chains in Southeast Asia, or understanding sustainability challenges in Africa, there’s a Global Connections trip that matches your interests and career goals. The application process is competitive, but that’s exactly what makes the experience valuable.

As Jacob discovered, you might be more adventurous than you think. As Jordan learned, the best solutions often come from unexpected places. And sometimes, the most valuable learning happens when you’re sharing a meal with new friends halfway around the world.

Ready to see where Global Connections can take you? Start exploring your options and get ready to bid those elective points on an experience that could change how you see business, leadership, and yourself.

From Austin to Bali: How One McCombs MBA Student Made Waves in Water Sustainability

When second-year MBA student Cody Steverson packed his bags for Indonesia this summer, he wasn’t heading to a typical internship. Instead, supported by a $10,000 Sylff Fellowship and the backing of McCombs+, he was embarking on a mission to tackle one of Southeast Asia’s most pressing challenges: access to clean water.

What is McCombs+ Global Career Accelerator?

“Many people think of Bali as a paradise, but it’s grappling with a massive water problem,” Steverson shared in a recent Sylff Association feature about his experience through Global Career Accelerator program offered through McCombs+. This initiative offers MBA students up to $10,000 in Sylff Fellowship funding to work with NGOs and sustainability organizations abroad, creating opportunities for real-world impact while building global leadership skills.

The water challenge Steverson encountered illustrates why these international experiences matter. Contaminated drinking water contributes to the deaths of over 10% of Indonesian children under five due to diarrheal diseases. In Bali specifically, untreated sewage, business waste, and plastic pollution have severely degraded water quality in rivers and coastal areas.

Most families rely on plastic bottles that have been sitting in the heat all day or spend precious energy boiling water before drinking it. It’s exactly the kind of complex global challenge that McCombs+ prepares our students to tackle through hands-on, experiential learning.

How International Fellowships Create Business Impact

Terra Water Indonesia, a mission-driven startup and longtime partner of our Global Connections program, produces high-quality water filters made entirely from natural, locally sourced materials. These ceramic filters, crafted from clay, activated carbon, and colloidal silver, can purify water from virtually any freshwater source—taps, wells, rivers, even rice paddies.

“For a typical Indonesian family that usually buys bottled water, the lower-end models would pay for themselves in just two months,” Steverson notes. The technology works—it’s been rigorously tested by multiple universities and the Indonesian Ministry of Health. But there was a gap between innovation and adoption.

Experiential Learning Programs that Develop Global Leaders

That’s where Steverson’s McCombs training kicked in. Despite the filters’ effectiveness, Terra faced a classic startup challenge: lack of market awareness. “People didn’t know we existed. They’d never seen anything like our filters before,” he told the Sylff Association.

Rather than just analyzing the problem, Steverson applied his business training to real-world challenges—the kind of experiential learning that defines McCombs+ programs. “One of the most valuable things my McCombs coursework gave me was an appreciation for the importance of understanding the environment you’re operating in,” Steverson reflects. “That mindset pushed me to do on-the-ground market research in Indonesia to figure out where Terra Water could create the most value.”

The business environment in Indonesia couldn’t have been more different from the U.S., yet Steverson was able to adapt quickly and find creative solutions. Through our Global Career Accelerator initiative, students don’t just observe international organizations; they actively contribute to growth strategies and business development. He negotiated with a Michelin-starred restaurant to start using Terra’s filters, turning the chef into a brand advocate and opening up an entirely new market segment. He partnered with a hotel that now highlights the filters as part of their sustainability efforts. He even reached out to the Makadaya Foundation, a major Indonesian startup accelerator, securing a purchase of eight filters and establishing a relationship that hadn’t existed before.

But the impact extended far beyond business results. “Over the course of the summer, I circumnavigated the planet, from running a marathon in Copenhagen, to the Pyramids of Giza, to the Taj Mahal, to jungle treks in Bali,” Steverson shares. “I saw some of the most breathtaking places in the world, but the real highlights weren’t places at all. They were people. The friendships I made, the meals shared, and the conversations I had are what made every moment meaningful.”

Real Impact, Real Results

This is exactly what McCombs+ is designed to do—provide our students with individually tailored experiences that go far beyond traditional academics. Through our Sylff Fellowship program, we can offer up to $10,000 to students working with NGOs or sustainability organizations abroad, creating opportunities for the kind of experiential learning that develops influential business leaders.

Steverson’s experience exemplifies our commitment to action-based learning. He wasn’t just observing Terra’s operations—he was actively contributing to their growth strategy, representing the company at a TEDx event in Jakarta, and laying groundwork for future collaboration between Bali-based sustainability startups and internationally minded McCombs students.

The experience also provided unexpected career clarity. “I originally took an internship in Indonesia because I thought I wanted to live and work abroad,” Steverson explains. “What surprised me most was realizing that, while travel is incredible, living out of a backpack for three months made me appreciate the comfort of having a home base and a strong community.” This insight has reshaped his post-MBA career plans toward partnership and program management roles where he can build relationships and foster collaboration – work that values the deep connections he discovered mattered most to him.

Expert Advice for Future Global Career Accelerator Participants

Cody’s advice for future participants? “If you’re considering an international experience as part of your time at McCombs, the best advice I can give is to lean all the way in,” Steverson says. “Be open to new cultures, new foods, new customs, and new ways of thinking about the world. Step out of your comfort zone at every opportunity.”

He emphasizes how transformative this mindset can be: “There’s something incredibly rewarding about immersing yourself in a society completely different from your own. It reshapes how you see the world and your place in it. You start to understand not only the challenges different communities face, but also the creative, resourceful ways they solve them. That kind of perspective stays with you, and it will shape how you approach global business and policy challenges for the rest of your career.”

The sustainability sector, he notes, is particularly welcoming: “Organizations focused on sustainability are actively searching for passionate, talented people. If you care about the work someone is doing and believe you can contribute, don’t hesitate to reach out. The community is full of people who genuinely want to make a difference, and they are often eager to mentor, collaborate, and open doors for others who share that mission.”

Lasting Impact, Global Connections

By the end of his internship, Steverson had not only strengthened Terra’s partnerships with local businesses but also created a bridge for future McCombs students to engage with sustainability challenges in Southeast Asia. He gained invaluable cross-cultural leadership experience while making a measurable impact on a pressing global issue.

This kind of meaningful, hands-on experience is what sets McCombs apart. Our students don’t just learn about global business—they actively shape it. Through programs like our Sylff Fellowships and ongoing partnerships with organizations like Terra Water, we’re preparing the next generation of leaders to tackle the world’s most challenging problems with both business acumen and social consciousness.

Interested in experiential learning opportunities through McCombs+? Our team provides access to global programs, industry expert seminars, micro-consulting projects, and professional coaching designed to accelerate your leadership development through real-world action.

Start Your McCombs Journey

Ready to begin your MBA journey? Learn more about the Hildebrand MBA at Texas McCombs. For detailed information about application components and deadlines, check out our Application Process page.

Elective Options in the Texas McCombs Working Professional MBA Programs

January 22, 2025 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Our Working Professional MBA programs in Austin, Dallas, and Houston deliver the same world-class education to ambitious professionals seeking to advance their careers while working full-time. With our renowned McCombs faculty teaching across all locations, students benefit from a recently redesigned curriculum emphasizing technology, leadership, and global acumen – precisely what today’s business leaders need.

Your MBA journey begins with a foundational first year focusing on essential business concepts through core courses in Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Marketing, and other fundamental disciplines. Starting in May of your first year, you’ll begin personalizing your education by taking a Global Studies course. In the second year, you’ll continue with four additional strategic electives: a Technology-focused course and three General Management electives.

The schedule (Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston and Evening) balances intensive learning with professional commitments. Both the fall and spring semesters feature two electives:

One intensive 4-day elective at our Austin campus
One elective at your local campus (Dallas or Houston)

chart showing the curriculum and class schedule

Working Professional MBA Curriculum

Global Studies Elective

The Global Studies elective, offered in your first-year spring semester, exemplifies our commitment to developing well-rounded business leaders. This course culminates in a transformative week-long international trip to one of nine global destinations.

“Kenya was incredible! The global trip exposed me to new cultural and business perspectives, practices, and lessons, teaching me the nuances of conducting business globally. Seeing strategies adapted to different markets firsthand enriched my approach to global strategy in my role and aligns with my goal to work more extensively in the diverse landscape of global business and give back as a citizen of the world,” Sofia Angeles (Dallas MBA, ’25) said.

“The global trip to Vietnam provided insight into the unique business landscape and challenges there, reinforcing my interest in international business,” Reanna Jones (Evening MBA, ’25) said. “This firsthand experience has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of how to navigate cross-cultural business environments, aligning with my future career aspirations.”

Led by McCombs faculty, these immersive experiences combine company visits across various industries with cultural exploration.

“I was very interested in the global trip to Chile to see what working in Latin America would be like. I grew up in Venezuela until I was 10 but had never worked in Latin America so getting to spend a week in Chile and see how business was conducted there really opened my eyes to the possibility of working abroad in the future. My goal now is to have an expat assignment in either Latin America or the Middle East,” Nicole Gonzalez (Houston MBA, ’25) said.

Students from all three Working Professional programs travel together, creating unique networking opportunities and lasting connections while gaining invaluable global business insights.

“I am currently very excited for the global trip! It is such a unique opportunity to bond with classmates across all the MBA programs while experiencing a whole new culture together,” Arshad Chowdhury (Houston MBA, ’26) said. “Traveling, learning, laughing and tackling real-world business challenges with your classmates will create memories and connections that go much deeper than the classroom. Plus, it’s a great chance to expand our network globally!”

Technology Elective

In response to rapidly evolving business landscapes, the program integrated dedicated technology electives focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its business applications. This ensures graduates are well-equipped to lead in an increasingly tech-driven business environment.

“We consistently hear from stakeholders about the critical need to develop students’ agility and ability to navigate ambiguity in an ever-evolving business landscape,” Rebecca Gavillet, Managing Director for Working Professional MBA Student Affairs said. “Incorporating Technology electives encourages learning about emerging technological solutions and equips students to manage effectively using data-driven strategies.”

A Sampling of General Management Electives

The three General Management electives allow you to deepen your expertise in areas most relevant to your career goals. Our elective offerings are dynamic, and carefully curated to reflect current business trends and emerging professional needs.

The following sample electives for the 2024-2025 academic year showcase the breadth and depth of our curriculum:

Investment and Energy Finance – A comprehensive course exploring the current investment environment through two key lenses. The first part addresses Investment Analysis, covering topics like the Capital Market Line, Efficient Financial Markets, and the Capital Asset Pricing Model. The second part focuses on energy markets, providing critical metrics to understand complex energy market dynamics, including oil price forecasts and market indicators.
Advanced Applications of Marketing – A hands-on course focusing on marketing strategy development. Through realistic marketing simulations, students gain experience in market segmentation, resource allocation, product design, pricing strategies, and promotional development.
Strategic Innovation and Entrepreneurship – This course develops students’ understanding of value creation for both existing firms and startups. Through evidence-based and experiential learning, students develop skills in recognizing opportunities, creating compelling value propositions, and designing organizations for innovation.
The Art and Science of Negotiation – An immersive course emphasizing practical negotiation skills through simulations, role-playing, and case studies. Students develop a comprehensive toolkit for navigating complex negotiation scenarios.
AI and Machine Learning for Managers – A comprehensive introduction to AI technologies from a business perspective. The course covers foundational AI concepts, frameworks for assessing business value, opportunity identification, risk mitigation, and ethical considerations in AI implementation.
Advocacy – Designed to help leaders effectively communicate and champion their ideas. Students learn to persuasively present concepts to diverse audiences, build partnerships, and successfully influence others to adopt innovative approaches.

Students may choose elective courses that interest them, that challenge them, or that build upon their current skills to bring back to the workplace.

“My elective choices allowed me to specialize in areas crucial to my career, like advocacy and strategic negotiation. These electives equipped me with tools to manage high-stakes discussions, balancing the bottom line with credibility and long-term influence. This blend of core and elective courses has made me more adaptable and confident in my professional role,” Sofia said.

Advice for Prospective Students

To make the most of your elective choices:

Consider courses that complement your current role
Look for opportunities to expand into new areas of expertise
Elect courses that address specific challenges in your industry
Select electives that align with your long-term career goals
Use intensive formats to deep-dive into complex topics

Continuing Education for Alumni

Texas McCombs MBA is committed to students’ continued growth even after graduation. Alumni can audit elective courses for $20 (subject to faculty approval and seat availability), allowing them to stay current with evolving business trends throughout their career. This unique offering ensures that graduates can continuously refresh their skills, stay connected with the latest business insights, and maintain their competitive edge in a rapidly changing professional landscape.

The McCombs MBA Advantage

The McCombs Working Professional MBA programs offer electives that are strategically selected to provide immediate value to working professionals. Our elective curriculum balances three key elements, including immediate workplace applicability, future career advancement preparation, and personal interest as well as growth opportunities.

The elective offerings within Texas McCombs’ Working Professional MBA programs are designed to provide students with a highly relevant and impactful learning experience. Whether it’s gaining hands-on insights through the Global Studies course, mastering cutting-edge Technology like Artificial Intelligence, or deepening their expertise in a particular topic through General Management coursework, the curriculum prepares graduates to lead in an increasingly global and tech-driven business environment. By thoughtfully curating electives that align with both current market trends and individual career goals, we ensure that each student’s MBA journey offers immediate value and long-term growth potential.

Applications for the Working Professional MBA are open, with the final deadline on May 30, 2025.

For more information:

Austin Evening MBA: TexasEveningMBA@mccombs.utexas.edu
Dallas/Fort Worth Weekend MBA: TexasMBADFW@mccombs.utexas.edu
Houston Weekend MBA: TexasMBAHouston@mccombs.utexas.edu

First-Semester Residency Experience for McCombs MBAs in Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston

January 10, 2025 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Texas McCombs brings the power of a UT Austin MBA to working professionals based in Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. Designed for ambitious professionals in these dynamic markets, the programs meet on alternating weekends, allowing students to maintain their career momentum while earning a degree from one of the nation’s top business schools. Our renowned McCombs faculty travel from Austin to you to teach all MBA courses over the two-year program, delivering the same rigorous curriculum as our Austin-based programs.

Our Working Professional programs at McCombs are intentionally structured to foster connections and community. Not only does each new incoming class start their MBA experience with a one-week Academic Intensive in Austin at the main UT campus, but when returning to their respective campuses, the class will participate in a required first-semester residency program. During the first semester, students will stay at the Virgin Dallas or Hotel ZaZa in Houston (depending on their campus) on Friday nights of class weekends. This unique feature of our Dallas and Houston programs serves as a foundation for building a professional network and creating a tight-knit MBA community.

: Virgin Hotel Dallas

: Hotel Zaza Houston

“Staying at the hotel has been game-changing for forming relationships! Being in the same space makes it easy to grab a quick dinner, have impromptu study sessions, or just hang out and unwind after a long day. It’s created this immersive environment where we’re always connecting and supporting each other, which has helped me dive fully into the program and build some awesome friendships along the way,” Arshad Chowdhury (Houston MBA ’26) said.

The residency requirement, which occurs on Friday nights during seven weekends in the first semester, transforms standard class weekends into immersive MBA experiences. By staying together under one roof, students naturally create opportunities for meaningful interactions beyond the classroom. Whether you’re brainstorming over breakfast, conducting impromptu study sessions in the hotel lobby, or sharing stories over dinner at nearby restaurants, these moments forge connections that extend far beyond your MBA journey.

For working professionals juggling demanding careers and MBA studies, the residency program offers multiple advantages:

Maximized Time Management: With no Friday evening commute, students can transition seamlessly from work to class to networking, making the most of the weekend schedule.
Dedicated Focus: The hotel environment provides a professional setting away from daily responsibilities, allowing students to fully immerse themselves in the MBA experience.
Natural Networking: Sharing a common space creates organic opportunities for relationship-building with classmates from unique industries and backgrounds.
Work-Life Integration: The program’s structure helps students balance MBA commitments with personal life – students can participate fully in Friday evening activities while maintaining family time on other weekends.

The residency experience adapts seamlessly to various lifestyles. Local students appreciate the flexibility to briefly return home if needed – whether to walk the dog or check in on family – before rejoining classmates for evening activities. For those balancing family life, the residency offers a unique opportunity to occasionally include spouses and partners in social activities, helping them feel connected to your MBA journey while also providing you with dedicated time for uninterrupted networking and studying away from the busy home environment. Students traveling from outside the metropolitan area benefit from eliminated commute times, while all participants gain a dedicated space for fostering meaningful connections.

“The hotel residency has been a relaxing, end of the week experience that both cohorts look forward to. After class, we all meet and discuss our work week as well as our upcoming Saturday class. I’m truly grateful that McCombs offers us fun and unique ways to spend time with each other outside of just class time,” Marcus Patterson (Dallas MBA ’26) said.

Both the Virgin Dallas and Hotel ZaZa Houston offer sophisticated environments conducive to both studying and socializing, with comfortable spaces for group work and nearby venues for team dinners and informal gatherings. The carefully chosen locations and upscale amenities create an ideal setting for both formal and casual interactions that strengthen class bonds.

Many of our students identify the first-semester residency as a pivotal element in their MBA journey. Beyond the immediate benefits of community building and networking, the relationships formed during these weekends often evolve into lasting professional partnerships and friendships. Alumni frequently cite these shared experiences as instrumental in creating the strong bonds that define the McCombs network.

“The hotel residency helped to turbo charge the relationship building with the staff and my peers. Getting to spend additional hours outside of class getting to know each other on a personal level really helped me get closer with students not in my cohort or study group. Even though the hotel residency is only for one semester, the friendships formed during that time are still strong to this day,” Nicole Gonzalez (Houston MBA ’25) said.

“The hotel residency created a unique, shared experience that facilitated lasting connections with classmates in a collaborative setting,” Sofia Angeles (Dallas MBA ’25) said. “Daily interactions-built familiarity, evolving into genuine friendships and a professional support network. These bonds have been instrumental throughout the program, offering a solid foundation both now and into the future. Huge bonus for commuting students like myself!”

The best part? This transformative component is already built into student’s tuition, making it a seamless part of their MBA investment. Whether you’re collaborating on case studies late into the evening, meeting classmates’ families during weekend visits, or planning your next career move over coffee, the residency program creates the perfect environment for building the relationships that make the McCombs MBA experience truly exceptional.

Sign up to receive Weekend MBA news here, and register for an admissions event at our Dallas/Fort Worth or Houston campus to meet program staff, current students, and alumni.

Applications for the Weekend MBA are open, and the final deadline to apply is May 30, 2025.

Learn more on our website and contact us with any questions.

Questions about Weekend MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth? Contact: TexasMBADFW@mccombs.utexas.edu

Questions about the Weekend MBA at Houston? Contact: TexasMBAHouston@mccombs.utexas.edu

Executive MBA Immersion New York City Immersion - Fall 2023 Written by Sean Ashby, MBA ‘25.

Executive MBA NYC Immersion: Leadership and Cultural Exchange

January 4, 2024 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

This post is written by Sean Ashby, Executive MBA ’25.

Every semester the Executive MBA cohort takes a trip off campus for a long weekend where students get exposure to different industries and participate in rigorous experiential learning opportunities. Last semester we went to New York City where we got to network with alumni, visit Morgan Stanley, and got an executive seminar on thinking on your feet and conveying emotion with a business-focused improv class on Broadway.

Our class arrived Wednesday afternoon, excited for the experiential learning opportunity that awaited us. We all had a family-style Italian dinner at Carmine’s. It was a sight it was to see an entire Executive MBA cohort seated upstairs enjoying some New York City Italian cuisine.

one photo of the Carmine's neon sign outside. photo two features the inside of the restaurant with students eating.

Executive MBA Students out to dinner at Carmine’s in New York City.

Bright and early the very next morning we met with the Head of Strategic Client Solutions and Co-CEO of Macquarie Capital, Miki Edelman. This intimate setting proved to be a blessing as we got to ask questions about Miki’s career and learn the details of what helped take her career to the stratosphere in her industry. Miki not only shared her challenges and successes but gave us all advice on how to make our way into the C-suite.

Laura Correnti, Partner at Giant Spoon, an ad and marketing agency, spoke to us about the importance of branding in the marketplace.

Following the intimate career discussions with two industry insiders we went to Morgan Stanley where we spent the afternoon learning about the operations of the financial giant. From AI and Crypto initiatives to investing strategies for high-net-worth individuals and families, we all got exposure to the teams making the financial world turn.

man lecturing in front of a screen in a classroom

Lecture with Morgan Stanley.

The cohort spent the evening on a rooftop bar off of Broadway meeting alumni and networking over hors d’oeuvres. Meeting alumni in the city was refreshing. We all learned of their post-Executive MBA outcomes and gained new connections.

Despite the late night, we all attended the executive seminar and improv sessions on Broadway led by Professor McDermott. Many of us were anxious at the thought of being on a stage in front of our cohort, but the nerves quickly dissipated as we maneuvered through various exercises. The seminar that we all were once apprehensive for became a crowd favorite by the end. We all learned more about ourselves and our classmates and came away with new skills that were directly transferable to the business world.

Students performing improv at a Dunder Mifflin set.

Students preform improv on a Dunder Mifflin set.

Professor Luis Martins led us to a close on Friday and Saturday as we discussed the dynamics of power and politics in the corporate setting. As we discussed case studies and strategies to make better decisions Professor Martins instilled upon us the duty we will have as leaders to get it right for our peers and subordinates. “Design trumps management” as we have routinely discovered throughout the course.

An optional guided tour of The Met was the perfect aperitif for an immersion week steeped in leadership development, branding, decision-making, and thinking on your feet. Like the UT motto “What Happens Here Changes the World”, what happened in New York City helped mold us into future leaders and decision-making athletes for the corporate world

Hook ‘em!
Sean Ashby, EMBA ’25

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.

Good luck and Hook ’em!

Executive MBA Dallas Immersion: Moving through Transitions toward Transformation

May 2, 2022 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Each semester the Executive MBA program hosts an off-campus, Immersion class weekend, to provide opportunities for in-depth experiential learning. The first Executive MBA Class of 2023 Immersion took place in New York City in November 2021. The second immersion was hosted in Dallas, Texas in March 2022. The class has two more planned for Washington DC and the Austin-area Hill Country. Each is linked to course content and includes executive/company visits, alumni networking, cultural experiences, and time to network and bond with classmates. Immersions provide real-time, real-place exposure, and direct application to what Executive MBA students are learning in the classroom. Read more about the Executive MBA Immersions here.

The MBA Insider content below comes from Lexy Scheen, EMBA ’23. She writes about her experience during the inaugural Executive MBA Immersion weekend in Dallas, TX.

It’s hard to believe we’re nearing the end of our second semester as Executive MBA students and have just wrapped up the second immersion of the program. While our trip to NYC was focused on change, this weekend was centered around transitions. It’s abundantly clear that the transitions the class of 2023 is going through at work, home, or in the classroom, are becoming transformational.

Our week started with an inside glimpse into our cohort’s favorite HR guru’s workplace, Order My Gear (OMG). Jaclyn Unruh helped host a fantastic event at her office and led us through a compelling discussion with her CEO, Dave Dutch. Dutch was refreshingly honest, and transparent about his role, and what it takes to become a CEO; qualities he told us are imperative to holding that title. Dutch has led through many corporate transitions, and his message was something familiar to us all; culture is key.

Thursday, we kicked off our time in the classroom with Professor Angie McDermott and Deidra Stephens leading the Executive Seminar. We discussed the results of our 360 assessments, a tool where our managers, peers, direct reports, and friends rated us on our leadership qualities. This was, let’s just say, an eye-opening, and humbling experience. Much to our dismay, it turns out the Class of 2023 is not perfect after all! Joe Semma, of Alix Partners, spent the lunch hour with us discussing several big corporate transitions and the strategy behind them. He was knowledgeable and forthcoming about the highs and lows of corporate transitions. Thursday afternoon we discussed corporate strategy with Professor Toh. He led us through an acquisition game that demonstrated strategy behind corporate integrations and brought out a lot of passion and laughs from the class.

Thursday evening, Alma Moore facilitated another fabulous networking event with many star-studded longhorns of MBA classes past. These panels are always inspiring and full of some incredibly impressive leaders. The most striking thing about these events is always how approachable these important and influential people are. Every one of them openly offered help and guidance to the audience.

Friday was spent with one of our cohorts’ favorite professors, Britt Freund, discussing Supply Chain. While supply chain is certainly a hot topic these days, Professor Freund is possibly the only person who can make supply chain exciting for an entire cohort. He brought in UT MBA alum Ken Do from PepsiCo to discuss supply chain in the “real world.” Then, he let us embark on “the beer game.” We became responsible for getting cases of beer from the factory to retail locations, through wholesalers, and distributors. Though it was “just a game,” this competitive cohort was quite passionate about the outcome, which made for a very lively and entertaining afternoon (despite the lack of actual beer involved)!

It was over happy hour cocktails at our “EMBA Connects” social hour Friday night that I realized our group has gone from 60 strangers getting to know each other, to 60 friends who would do anything to help each other. It’s evident from the photos of that evening, and the entire weekend, that this group respects, admires, and genuinely likes one another.

More karaoke ensued post-dinner Friday night, with video proof that will live in infamy. Luckily, this group knows how to rally and was bright eyed and ready for Saturday. Professor Toh taught us about corporate hierarchy and organizational strategies before we took a trip the AT&T Discovery Center. We had a fun tour, followed by a compelling talk with Steve McGaw, SVP of Corporate Strategy for AT&T. The talk on “AT&T’s Transformational Journey” was the perfect way to wrap up the immersion.

The weekend was filled with so much more than can be encompassed in the classroom and scheduled events. We had dinner together, deep conversations over cocktails in the hotel bar, worked out together, laughed together, and shared even more about ourselves with this special group. We know that what happens at UT changes the world, and what’s to come from this class is going to transform it. But first, we might need a nap!

Hook ’em!
Lexy Scheen, EMBA ’23

Learn more about the Texas McCombs Executive MBA on our website, and contact us with any questions at TexasEMBA@mccombs.utexas.edu. Sign up to receive Executive MBA news here, and register for an Executive MBA event to meet admissions and program staff, current students, and alumni.

The Executive MBA program application is open for Fall 2022 enrollment. The next and final deadline to apply is June 15, 2022.

Executive MBA New York City Immersion: Changing for the Best

January 10, 2022 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Each semester the Executive MBA program hosts an off-campus, Immersion class weekend, to provide opportunities for in-depth experiential learning. The first Executive MBA Immersion took place in New York City in November 2021, and the remaining Immersions for the EMBA Class of 2023 are currently planned for Dallas, Washington DC, and the Austin-area Hill Country. Each is linked to course content and includes executive/company visits, alumni networking, cultural experiences, and time to network and bond with classmates. Immersions provide real-time, real-place exposure, and direct application to what Executive MBA students are learning in the classroom. Read more about the Executive MBA Immersions here.

The MBA Insider content below comes from Lexy Scheen, EMBA ’23. She writes about her experience during the inaugural Executive MBA Immersion weekend in New York City.

One definition of immersion is “deep mental involvement.” There really is no better description of the 3-days our Executive MBA cohort spent together in New York City.

The learning theme of the weekend was “Leading Planned Change.” Fitting, as I believe my classmates will agree that we have all changed so much in the three short months we’ve been together.

A jam-packed first day began with a Veteran’s Day celebration. We honored the four veterans in our group and visited The Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum Complex.

A change simulation took place Thursday afternoon. Led by Dr. Luis Martins, our study groups had spirited discussions around best practices for implementing company transitions. We ended the day with the privilege of meeting and hearing from an incredible panel of top corporate executives across many industries. Many of our speakers were former longhorns and were in our Executive MBA shoes not too many years prior. They are proof that hard work, dedication, and being just crazy enough to go back to school while balancing full-time careers, and families pays off in the end.

Executive MBA students work in teams to compete in a change management simulation hosted by Professor Luis Martins as part of their Leading People and Organizations course, held during their first immersive experience in New York City at the American Management Association, Thurs Nov 11th.

Despite many Executive MBA ’23 songbirds karaoke-ing until the wee hours, the group rallied for the portion of the agenda we likely dreaded the most; improv class. But, as with most things in life we stress over, improv class turned out to be a huge hit and a major topic of discussion for the remainder of the weekend. It reminded us of the art of listening, which came in handy as our speaker series continued into Friday afternoon. Professor Steve Limberg brought financial reporting to life through discussions with Blue Apron and Moody’s.

students in a circle with their hands in the air

Executive MBA students developing communication skills while engaging in Improv for Business Leaders during their Executive Seminar course, led by Professor Angie McDermott and co-led by the Executive MBA Career Management Team Sarita Soldz and Alma Moore.

Saturday morning, we turned to a conversation with Paul Levy. Levy’s impressive transformation of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a case we have been studying all semester. The access to such a profound list of leaders is a tribute to the dedication of the McCombs faculty who are ingrained in these experiences with us.

Executive MBA students after speaking with distinguished guest Paul Levy hosted at UTNY Campus as part of their Leading People and Organizations course led by Professor Luis Martins on Saturday, Nov 13^th.

Early in the year, we learned from Professor Angie McDermott that, “what got us here won’t get us there.” This immersion drove that point home. To be effective and engaging leaders, we must be honest, transparent, and collaborative. Luckily, it’s become clear those three attributes are stamped into the DNA of this amazing group of individuals. In three short months, we’ve helped each other through business problems and trusted each other with very personal conversations. We’ve enjoyed the social side just as much as the classroom through dinners, happy hours, and Broadway show nights. This is a special group. Everyone has a seat at each other’s table.

I am honored to be part of the EMBA ’23 cohort, grateful to learn alongside them, and eager to see how much transformation takes place over the next eighteen months.

The UT motto is “What Happens Here Changes the World,” and what happened in New York City changed us all into better leaders, and people.

Hook ‘em!
Lexy Scheen, EMBA ’23

The Executive MBA program application is open for Fall 2022 enrollment. The next deadline is February 15, 2022, and the final deadline to apply is June 15, 2022.

Redesigned Executive MBA
Program Experience Launching Fall 2021

February 3, 2021 / Texas McCombs MBA / Comments Off

We are excited to announce the Texas McCombs Executive MBA has been redesigned to meet the changing needs of today’s experienced professionals. The new program offers more flexibility and a stronger focus on leadership and organizational strategy. You can learn more about key updates below, which will take effect for Executive MBA students starting the program in August 2021.

More Flexibility

The Executive MBA program structure will offer more convenience and flexibility for busy executives and for those traveling from outside of Austin for the program with two delivery updates:

One 3-day (Thursday – Saturday) class weekend per month
Program completion in 20 months

The on-campus classroom experience, opportunities for networking, and strong community culture will remain as hallmarks of the program.

Diversified Curriculum

The Executive MBA curriculum will offer additional electives and new course offerings taught by world-class McCombs faculty. Topics have been expanded to give students a broader base of knowledge required for executives with an overall increased emphasis on leadership, strategy, and analytics:

Core curriculum additions, including Valuation for Executives, Business Analytics and Decision Modeling for Executives, Strategic Marketing, Strategic Human Capital, and Leading for Impact
An expanded slate of elective coursework offers greater customization. In the new program design, students will now take four electives from a choice of ~10-12 courses.
Increased leadership content including a new Executive Seminar course, an Executive Crisis Challenge simulation with an emphasis on ethics and communication, and a new capstone course “Leading for Impact” to develop executive leadership through introspection, practice, feedback, and opportunity to drive change in real organizations.

“Market research and feedback from employers helped inform updates to the curriculum and program format. This evolution will prepare our Executive MBA students for what’s ahead and will keep them competitive in high-level executive leadership roles.”

– Joe Stephens, Senior Assistant Dean & Director of Working Professional & Executive MBA Programs.

Executive Immersions

Each semester will include one Executive Immersion class weekend, which will be held off campus and provide opportunities for in-depth experiential learning. Immersion weekends are currently planned for New York City, Washington, D.C., Dallas, and the Austin-area Hill Country. Each is linked to course content and will include executive/company visits, alumni networking, cultural experiences, and time to network and bond with classmates.

Immersions will provide real-time, real-place exposure, application to what Executive MBA students are learning in the classroom and will align with semester themes for content:

1st year, fall semester theme: “Language of Business” with Executive Immersion in New York City
1st year, spring semester theme: “Leading in the New Economy” with Executive Immersion in Dallas
2nd year, fall semester theme: “Leading at the Policy Level” with Executive Immersion in Washington, D.C.
2nd year, spring semester theme: “Executive Visioning” with Executive Immersion in the Austin-area Hill Country

“We wanted to be active and present in regions where there is significant business impact and innovation taking place and where students can easily access our strong Texas McCombs alumni network.”

– Joe Stephens, Senior Assistant Dean & Director

The Executive MBA program will also include a 6-day Global Immersion course in the summer between the 1st and 2nd year. The 2022 Executive MBA Global Immersion location is to be determined, but previous destinations include Southeast Asia, South Africa, East Africa, India, Eastern Europe, China, and South America.

Learn More

Sign up to receive Executive MBA news here, and register for an Executive MBA event to meet admissions and program staff, current students, and alumni.

The Executive MBA application for August 2021 is open now, and the final deadline to apply is May 25, 2021.

Learn more on our website, and contact us with any questions at TexasEMBA@mccombs.utexas.edu.

Full-Time MBA Program Receives STEM Certification

December 17, 2020 / Texas MBA Admissions / Comments Off

Top-Ranked Programs Emphasize Quantitative Management and Analytics

We are excited to announce that the Texas McCombs Full-Time MBA Program has received STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) certification for 14 of its 22 concentrations, demonstrating a high level of quantitative rigor across the program.

“The breadth and depth of our full-time MBA curriculum is a unique complement to our close-knit class of 260 students, and we wanted to focus our STEM certification efforts on areas where we’re seeing strong and active job recruitment post-graduation, such as business analytics. The fact that these 14 concentrations were judged to meet STEM standards after an exacting review by our faculty, university office of graduate studies, UT System, and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board points to the strength of our offerings in these subject areas.”

– Tina Mabley, Assistant Dean for Full-Time MBA

Texas McCombs received the STEM designation after a rigorous review of the MBA curriculum and how the programs are categorized by the National Center for Education Statistics under a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. The approval process went through several levels including the McCombs School of Business faculty, the University of Texas at Austin Office of Graduate Studies and Provost, the University of Texas System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. As a result, the existing single Full-Time MBA degree program was split into three degree programs, two of which (Management Science & Quantitative Methods and Financial Mathematics) are classified with STEM codes. These degrees are earned by completing specific concentrations within the Full-Time MBA program.

Beginning with the graduating Class of 2021, the following concentrations will have the STEM degree designation.

Management Science & Quantitative Methods degree code:

Information Management
Supply Chain & Operations Management
Business Analytics
Brand & Product Management
High Tech Marketing
Marketing Analytics & Consulting

Financial Mathematics degree code:

General Finance
Corporate Accounting
Investment Management
Corporate Finance
Energy Finance
Clean Tech
Private Equity
Real Estate Finance

Several of McCombs’ one-year, specialized Master of Science programs are also STEM certified, including Business Analytics, Information Technology and Management, Finance, Marketing, and Technology Commercialization.

“Our goal at McCombs is not only to educate students from across the globe but also to make them competitive for business professions that the market is dictating. STEM certification is an indication that our programs and our curriculum are both thorough and rigorous.”

– Interim Dean Lillian Mills

The STEM-designated degree program was established by the U.S. government to address a shortage of qualified workers in STEM fields and benefits all students by providing exceptional educational experience and broadening career opportunities. Additionally, the degree designation benefits international students by giving them up to three years to work in the U.S. without an H1-B visa through OPT (Optional Practical Training), instead of just one-year for non-STEM degrees.

Insider Information for Prospective Texas McCombs MBA Students