Rachel Barnitt decided to pursue a Gies iMBA to achieve her long-term career goals of bridging the communication gap between technical experts and business leaders.
The Charles Schwab senior technology risk manager in data security earned her bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Arizona in 2017. She had always planned to go back to school for a technology-related advanced degree and often asked colleagues about their education journey and timing of when they returned to school. Then the pandemic hit, and by January 2021 she began exploring her options in earnest.
“I knew if I didn’t do it now, I was never going to do it,” she said.
Initially, Barnitt focused on cybersecurity, which would build on the handful of certifications she has earned in this area. But when she looked at master’s programs on the subject, she found that many of them were new and unproven, and the content was not up to date with what she was doing at work. She then broadened her search to include business degrees.
“With the world going online, there were so many options from top-ranked schools. I was attracted to Gies because the iMBA was well-established with a strong infrastructure to support remote learning,” said Barnitt, who is already applying what she’s learned.
“The classes make me think more strategically and long-term, instead of the next deadline. The management and finance classes have been particularly helpful as I look to understand better how to run a business. I can now more clearly see a path to future job growth,” she said.
The structure of the online MBA program lends itself to hands-on learning and connects her to students with diverse backgrounds from around the world. The iMBA includes 72 credit hours focusing on core business mastery and leadership skills. Learners take a core curriculum of management, economics, value chain, and finance; then they’re able to dive deeper into areas that best fit their goals, such as business analytics, marketing, entrepreneurship, and more
“I have been blown away by how engaging it is. It is the same if not better networking than if I was part of an in-person program. I have made great connections and friends with people I’ve never met. Plus, a small group of us in the Phoenix area organize meetups, which will now become easier as COVID-19 restrictions ease,” said Barnitt, who also participated in Gies’ iConverge, an optional annual networking and professional development event that brings together hundreds of students and alumni eager to connect.
Barnitt shares her experiences and perspective as an online ambassador for the Gies program. She often speaks with prospective students, answering questions about how to balance earning an MBA with a demanding full-time job and personal life.
“I focus on the flexibility of the iMBA at Gies,” said Barnitt, who uses as an example her global business specialization capstone. “For this two-week, intensive group project we could choose teams based on our schedules and time zones, which everyone appreciated. For every course throughout the program, you have multiple live sessions to choose from, so you don’t have to be in a certain place at a certain time. And if you can’t make them, you can watch the class video when it fits in your schedule.”
Barnitt added that Gies not only teaches business concepts, but how to navigate the demands of the program.
“They have good planning resources and there are always advisors ready to help. There’s also a Workplace student group, where you can always get an answer to your question on the spot. The faculty and staff support us, and the students support each other all along the way,” she said.