“Once you get into the day-to-day, it’s almost impossible to return to this level of learning.”

My manager gave me this advice on my first day in a new role. He was referencing the “honeymoon period” of a new job where you are only expected to learn and train before launching into your “normal job.” While he was talking about the first few weeks with a new company, it resonated with me how this applies to our time in the Professional MBA program.

It’s easy to get caught up in how you’re going to balance work, school, family, friends or life in general. However, we’re all making the financial and time investment to pursue this degree. It’s a rare opportunity for us to step back from being an employee, parent and partner and focus solely on learning, even if it’s only for a few hours a week.

By leaning into this opportunity and allowing ourselves the grace to wholly focus on these courses for a few hours a week, we’re able to realize the full value of the class content and the relationships we build with our classmates. We expand our technical knowledge and learn to navigate interpersonal professional dynamics in an environment outside of the workplace. We have the chance to practice leading, try new techniques and then turn around and use those learnings to take our careers to the next level.

Take full advantage of these learnings and this time to dedicate to them. Give your full attention to that core class outside of your comfort zone. Take a chance on an elective in that subject you’d love to learn more about but are hesitant to try because it doesn’t align with your current role. After all, graduation will be here before we know it.

-Holly Miller
’23 MBA candidate
Current position/company: Business Line Program Manager for Amazon