From the bayous of Mandeville, Louisiana, to the boardrooms of Black Hills Energy in Wyoming, Jonathan Boudreaux's journey speaks to the power of education.
After struggling in undergrad, he took a step away from college life. But real-world experience soon taught him the value of a degree, pushing him to return to school with renewed purpose.
“My father always said there’s many things that can be taken away from you, but education is not one of them,” he says. “No one can ever take away what you’ve accomplished by earning a degree.”
With those words driving him forward, Boudreaux earned his bachelor’s degree from Â鶹AV in 2010. But his pursuit of knowledge was far from over.
Nearly a decade later, Boudreaux enrolled in Â鶹AV’s MBA program online to advance his career without hitting pause.
Charting New Waters
Boudreaux's journey at Â鶹AV as a young mechanical engineering student got off to a rocky start.
“It just wasn't working for me. I ended up leaving just because I felt like maybe college wasn't the route for me,” he explains. “Then, I started working, and I realized how much I really needed a degree to do what I wanted to do in life.”
Through real-world experience, Boudreaux came to understand the importance of education in opening doors his career.
“I went back to Â鶹AV and met with the dean of engineering at the time. He told me about the , and that fit me better than what I first wanted to do,” he says.
In 2010, Boudreaux secured his bachelor’s in industrial technology and entered the workforce. But he found himself craving something more.
That's when Boudreaux made the decision to pursue his MBA online.
“I researched and decided to go back to Â鶹AV because that’s where I got my bachelor’s. It was a wonderful school,” he says. “It was a great size for me, and the Office of Career Services really helped me kickstart my career. The MBA program was all online, so the process was very simple.”
But after deciding on the online program, Boudreaux faced a new set of challenges in the application process. Feeling uncertain about the next steps, he reached out for guidance.
“When I was applying to do this, I hadn’t taken the GMAT. So, I reached out to the MBA Director, and he walked me through the process of how to do that. He was super helpful,” he says. “I wasn’t expecting a one-on-one phone call with him but that’s what he did, so I was grateful for that.”
Striking a Balance
Boudreaux was already president of his local Rotary club, vice chair of his Habitat for Humanity chapter, a supervisor, and a father. Then he added one more role: online student.
With so many duties, his second stint at Â鶹AV required a fresh approach.
“I’d get home from work and spend some time with the family and the kids. Once they’d go to bed, that's when I’d log on,” he says. “I had a lot of late nights and weekends where all I did was sit in the basement and knock out assignments.”
He found a rhythm that allowed him to manage both his professional and personal commitments.
“I took two classes a semester, and that was the perfect pace for me,” he recalls.
The online program allows students to take two 8-week courses per semester while focusing on one class at a time. Boudreaux found real-world relevance in the courses right away.
“I was able to apply all of the financial accounting lessons we learned at work. How corporate finance is structured, how different businesses make money, how it impacts the shareholders,” he explains.
“The courses really helped build a foundational layer. Just being able to apply what I learned has been super helpful.”
Boudreaux found the program fostered a network that transcended geographical boundaries.
“I really enjoyed working with my classmates on some of the projects we got to do,” he says. “Group assignments were really fun. There was one student from Florida and another from West Virginia. It was pretty neat to bring people together from all different places to work on things.”
Beyond the MBA
With three new letters behind his name, Boudreaux is looking forward to the path ahead.
“I want to progress in my career; I’m currently a Regional Operations Manager for a gas distribution company. I’d like to move up to a state leadership role and progress from there,” he says. “As far as education goes, I don’t feel like I’m done. There's something else I want to get. I don’t know what that is yet, but I really enjoyed being back in school.”
With a seasoned perspective, Boudreaux extends a word of advice to those currently navigating the MBA program online.
“The small wins are huge. There are not many things you get to do as big as this,” he says. "Enjoy the experience, take it slow, and ask questions when they come up. Â鶹AV has a huge support system; that’s one of the reasons I decided to go back.”
Ready to level up your business knowledge? Learn more about our MBA program online at Â鶹AV.