December Graduate: Frances Anderson
Hometown: Tarboro, North Carolina
Major(s): Finance and Marketing with additional specializations in Psychology and Spanish

Favorite Moore School memory: Last week, I presented my final project for my last marketing course. I left feeling a range of emotions. I immediately felt relieved, accomplished, and excited. Then, as I was walking to my car, passing the flags and wood paneling that define the Moore School, it all began to feel very bitter-sweet. I am sad to be leaving this chapter in Columbia and the Moore School, but I know I am more than ready to get started on the career it has prepared me for.

Plans after graduation: I am moving to Raleigh and will start working for Tom James Company in April. Until then, I will spend the holidays with family and then travel to Australia and New Zealand for six weeks.

Advice for younger students: Take advantage of all the resources the university offers. It is amazing how many helpful tools are available to us. Another tip is to not be afraid to reach out to familiar faces in class. Ultimately, we are all here to get a degree. Finding study partners along the way was extremely helpful for me.

 

 

 

J.D./MBA graduate India Whaley didn’t have to go far to find the exceptional education she was looking for

When it came to the Moore School, it was love at first sight for MBA and USC School of Law J.D. candidate India Whaley, who graduates in December 2022.

Whaley said when she saw the Moore School being built, she was intrigued by its unique architecture. Most importantly though, she said she “knew I would get the best of both worlds, a state-of-the-art building with a phenomenal education,” while staying in close proximity to her hometown of Irmo, South Carolina.

“I was welcomed with new and familiar faces. That moment solidified my place as a J.D./MBA student. I knew I was where I belonged,” said Whaley, recalling the joy of walking into the Sonoco Pavilion as a first-year MBA student.  

Whaley chose to earn an MBA and J.D. to prepare her for a career in strategic leadership. Thanks to her dual-degree, Whaley said she will be able to advise her future clients on structuring deals while also negotiating and financing transactions.

“I am driven by entrepreneurial energy and focused on delivering results for clients,” she said. 

While earning two degrees simultaneously has been challenging, Whaley said she has already started to see the her efforts pay off. She was able to secure a position with Truist Bank that she will begin post-graduation. She will work as a credit track analyst with the bank’s Leadership Development Program, which is a comprehensive, structured and rotational training program that provides future leaders of Truist with a strong foundation in the financial services industry.

“The MBA program has prepared me to be self-motivated, detail oriented and well organized,” she said. “The STEM-based program has helped me strengthen my analytical, financial and problem-solving skills to excel in collaborative environments.”

In the next five to ten years, Whaley said she would like to be planning and managing commercial real estate projects throughout the east coast.

Whaley said she also appreciated the opportunity to network and collaborate with her PMBA and law school classmates.

“I am glad I did both programs because I made double the connections and created long-lasting friendships,” she said.

 

 

December PMBA graduate’s feeling of accomplishment ‘extraordinary’

Professional MBA candidate  Billy Yarborough, graduating in December 2022, has been a self-proclaimed die-hard Gamecock all his life.

When he decided to get his MBA after serving for seven years as a U.S. Marine, he was happy to learn the university he already loved also had a business school with a “stellar reputation.” In addition, he was pleased to be able to attend a school where he said his military service was valued and appreciated.

Yarborough said he chose to get his MBA “to improve my core business competencies and my understanding of different industries,”. “I place a great deal of value in face-to-face interaction and instruction. I knew getting my MBA would allow me to broaden my network and connect with peers, instructors and other business professionals that I might not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet. These connections have helped expand my perspective on today’s business environment.”

According to Yarborough, the PMBA program has prepared him to achieve his long-term goals by giving him both the intangible and tangible skillsets needed for successful business leaders.

“My MBA education has strengthened my understanding of the challenges that today’s business leaders face,” he said. “I’ve also learned to make quicker and more well-informed decisions, confidently, that are reinforced by highly researched principles and doctrine.”

Yarborough is currently the regional vice president of sales for financial technology firm nCino, Inc. Thanks to his PMBA education, he said he has even bigger plans for his future.

In the next 5-10 years, he said he sees himself “leading a team within the global revenue organization of my company that is instrumental to the long-term and sustainable success of the firm.”

For those considering the Moore School’s PMBA program, Yarborough said enrolling in a part-time MBA program while balancing a career does require a bit of work.

“But the PMBA program provided me with some of the most fulfilling and rewarding education and training I have ever received. The late nights and weekends devoted to homework, projects, research papers and studying are worth it. Like anything in life, you get out of the program what you put into the program. This program demands more focus, organization and dedication than you may have ever been used to, particularly for those with full-time jobs. However, if you put in the effort, the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction you will receive at the finish line is extraordinary.”

 

 

 

Current position: Whirlpool Corporation - Senior Analyst, NAR Equipment Procurement
Program: Professional MBA

Why did you choose to get your MBA?  I decided to get an MBA because I have a deep passion for continuous learning. I felt that an MBA would provide me with an opportunity to grow and develop while serving as an impetus for achieving my short- and long-term career goals. Additionally, I knew that getting an MBA would provide me with an unforgettable learning experience while building sustainable relationships with other students.  

What made you choose the Moore School? I chose the Professional MBA program at the Darla Moore School of Business because it provided me with the opportunity to apply key course concepts in real time. As a working professional and student, I was able to take all the knowledge that I gained in the classroom and apply it to my role in the field of supply chain management. By applying course content contemporaneously, I was able to increase my productivity and add more value to my company.

Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? In the next 5-10 years, I see myself as a global procurement director leading a diverse team of sourcing professionals. 

How has the Moore School's PMBA program prepared you to achieve those goals? The PMBA Program at the Darla Moore School of Business has prepared me to achieve my career goals by elevating my business acumen and challenging me to think differently. This educational endeavor has taught me numerous lessons around servant leadership, strategic thinking, leading diverse teams and building sustainable connections within an organization. Moreover, the PMBA program has supplied me with invaluable tools for nurturing my talent and growth as I continue to advance my career in the business world. 

What is your favorite Moore School memory? My first favorite Moore School memory is serving as a speaker for the student panel during the 2021 PMBA Orientation. This experience allowed me to share my PMBA experience and provide incoming students with invaluable advice for how to successfully navigate the PMBA program. My last memorable Moore School moment is attending the PMBA virtual cooking & networking experience. This engaging event allowed me to connect with other students while cooking dinner with The Chef Blu.

Is there anything else you would want people to know about the PMBA program and/or the Moore School? The PMBA program is a great program for individuals who want to pursue an MBA while still maintaining a full-time career. This program provides its students with numerous opportunities for unmatched growth and development while opening doors for program participants.

 

 

Current position: NTT Data Services - Industry Consulting Manager
Program: Professional MBA

Why did you choose to get your MBA? I chose to get my MBA because I wanted to expand and deepen my business-related acumen. I also felt the advantage I would receive in earning an advanced degree would open new opportunities beyond my current field by providing skills that reach across industries. 

What made you choose the Moore School? I chose the Moore School because it was a great opportunity to get an education from a top institution in South Carolina while still living and working in Charlotte, North Carolina. The opportunity to network not only with students in Charlotte but also across South Carolina was a highlight to the program. 

Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? In 5-10 years, I see myself helping companies design and optimize their business strategies. Because of the PMBA program, I feel like I am better prepared to apply my skills across industries since the foundations I learned are so transferable. 

How has the Moore School's PMBA program prepared you to achieve those goals? The PMBA program has helped me to hone my business skills and has provided a network of talented classmates who I can continue to learn from even after my time in the program. 

What is your favorite Moore School memory? My favorite Moore School memory is the classes I took and friendships I made through pursuing the Strategic Innovation Certificate. The drive between Charlotte and Columbia was well worth the time with a great professor like Professor Laura B. Cardinal. As with most of the classes, there were real world applications that I was quickly able to implement in my daily work. The strategic innovation work proved to be what spoke to me the most.

Is there anything else you would want people to know about the PMBA program and/or the Moore School? Working full time while also balancing schoolwork can be daunting. The PMBA program and the staff at the Moore School continue to do a great job developing the program to help students manage that balance while achieving their goals. You leave the PMBA program knowing you have advanced your career with the investment you have made.