Back in August 2021, I had such a mixed bag of feelings with starting the Professional MBA program. While it was a dream to continue on my education and work to obtain my master’s right after undergrad, life had a different plan for me, and I had to wait nine years for that dream to become a reality. I was excited to start school again, overspending at Wal-Mart, purchasing 5-subject notebooks, pens and post-it notes, but at the same time, I was also nervous because I did not know if I would be able to handle two classes a semester and work a full-time job. Thankfully, on the first day of class, that nervousness went away. It was a sigh of relief to see a room full of cohorts, including the person that sat at the same table as me at orientation, Maulik Desai! I appreciate how the PMBA program seems to be focusing on building relationships and working as a team. Desai and I have worked together in a number of classes, each time resulting in a high grade! To be able to ask questions to someone sitting next to me during class or planning to meet up somewhere after class whether to socially hang out or study for an exam, that opportunity would not have existed if it was not for being in the classroom.

I decided to accelerate the program and have been doubling up on classes. By doing so, it has allowed me to be in classes that helped me meet an incredible group of guys that started the program back in 2020 and are scheduled to graduate in December 2022 (Michael Haney, Travis Jones and Benjamin Davis). There have been times when I did not want to attend class, but these guys motivate me by reminding me that after class, we will go across the street to a rooftop bar where we’ll eat, drink and talk about class and life. That reminder has helped me sit through some of the longest classes I have endured. Even though I have been doubling up, there are some core classes that I have had to take where I have met people that have started the program this past spring in 2022, Joseph Francis and Chris Klepper. What I like about these guys is that they seem to have the same camaraderie as the other three guys mentioned. Each person who I have met in this program have a unique story about them, and it is only by attending class and hanging out with them after have I been able to get to know them. I took Klepper out salsa dancing one night after class, and even he told me that he never expected the night to turn out like that! It has been an honor to meet everyone, and I hope that our friendships will continue once we are done with the PMBA program.

Jaime Rivera, ‘23 Professional MBA expected graduation, ‘12 finance
Fitesa staff accountant (and future CMO!)