When Hope Perri sat down with her manager for her performance review, she had a clear goal in mind. As a senior associate at consulting firm Alvarez and Marsal, she wanted to become more engaged in the business – she was interested in learning how to improve leadership skills.

“I just put it out there,” Hope recalls. “I asked, ‘What if I went back to school?’”

Her manager’s response was immediate: “Go for it.” Hope knew the statistics at her firm — nine out of ten managing directors have earned their MBA. She was ready to join that cohort — and explore her career advancement pathways.

Finding the Right Fit

In 2023, Hope enrolled in UT Austin’s Weekend MBA program in Houston — a working professional graduate program designed for those like Hope who want to pursue a part time MBA while working. (That’s one of two Weekend MBA programs offered by UT, the other located in Dallas.) The program brings Austin faculty to Houston, creating an accessible option for working professionals who can’t relocate that helps it stand apart from other programs.

“We get Austin brought to us every other weekend,” Hope explained.

The decision wasn’t just about career advancement. During the pandemic, Hope had missed the face-to-face relationships with teachers. Going back to school, she believed, would help her “reclaim that in-person experience, those relationships with my professors,” she said, which would help “solidify” her learning while supporting her evolving leadership philosophy.

Making the Sacrifice Work

The time commitment was significant — giving up weekend time that could be spent with family. But Hope saw it as an investment in her future.

“I wanted to know that I had achieved my dreams and my career aspirations,” she said. In choosing to do an MBA, Hope wanted to give herself “the tools to put my family in the very best position that I possibly could.”

Hope had long been drawn to UT. “The football games, the school pride, the incredibly prestigious academics — it was unlike anything I’d seen growing up. I told myself, ‘I have to find a way to get to UT.’”

Inspired by a New Management Style

While in the MBA program, she learned a new leadership philosophy that changed her approach to management. Before the program, Hope had been a self-titled “helicopter parent” at work — when her employees would “trip and stumble, I immediately came in to fix it,” she said. But this, she learned, wasn’t effective. Instead, it meant that Hope “was doing the work twice, holding their hand through it,” to ensure accuracy. But Professor Martins guided her in a new direction, teaching her to give employees opportunities to empower themselves and develop. “Now I’m there to help if needed,” Hope explained, “but I won’t touch your task. That’s not what you need from me, and it doesn’t work long-term.”

Building Unexpected Connections

Instead of the cutthroat environment she expected, Hope found something completely different. She knew the MBA program would be about networking — but she didn’t realize what else she would come away with.

During Orientation’s Accounting Boot Camp, Hope laughed when her professor told her that the person seated next to her would probably become her best friend. But when she met Sarah Terrazas, she gained more than just a study-partner. Hope and Sarah would work together late nights, yes, but they would also go on to develop a deep friendship. “I have the world’s greatest best friend from this program,” Hope said. This is the “best friend I called when I found out I was expecting my daughter,” she said, as well as “the biggest reason I was able to continue my second year while pregnant. Wherever I looked, she was there supporting me — with water, a kind word, a decaf coffee.”

“But it’s not just that,” Hope continued. “Our entire class is incredibly close. We are so invested in each other. I came out of this program with friends who I can’t wait to continue to cheer on in all aspects of their lives.”  The friendships and support network she found have become a cornerstone of her experience. “When you’re working full time and balancing life, having people who understand your schedule and push you forward makes all the difference,” she said.

Learning That Translates

The faculty connection proved equally valuable. “They genuinely care for you,” Hope said. “I’ve been able to go to my professor and get his opinion on things at work, and ask ‘Am I thinking about this the right way?’” The insights she gained directly applied to her daily work — a key element of MBA career progression.

The curriculum’s broad, interdisciplinary approach gave Hope a perspective on multiple business areas.  Students learn core business concepts – finance, accounting, statistics and marketing — while studying alongside working professionals from sectors they want to explore. “You’re not being taught what to think; you’re being taught a framework, which you can apply whatever way you want,” she said. “McCombs graduates are taught to think for themselves first.”

Community Impact

The program emphasizes what Hope calls “cohort three” — the community of the class, the community of their families, and the community of Houston. “We try to foster the connections between all of them; not just the class, but the people who are making a sacrifice for you.”

The Houston community runs especially deep. “If we have a passion and a drive to give back to that community, to stay in that community,” Hope said, “we can take the lessons and knowledge and lived experiences that we’re having in Houston and put that forward to make Houston a better place.”

Hope’s commitment to both her studies and community paid off — she received a promotion at Alvarez & Marsal during the program, demonstrating how the MBA experience can accelerate career growth in real time.

More Than an Education

For Hope, UT represents more than a school — it’s a support system. Her weekend MBA program is a family, she said. “And you don’t need to be in Austin to experience that.”

This supportive environment has helped her develop a leadership philosophy she can carry with her beyond campus. “If you want to challenge yourself to be a better person, and a better thinker,” Hope said, “UT is where you should be.”

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.

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