If there's one thing Jordan Schilling knows, it's how to rebuild.
The Franklinton, La., native cut his teeth as a project manager in the property restoration industry of New Orleans before facing a disaster of his own when his house burned down.
"I didn't really lose that much," he says, "but I did have to move."
Schilling resettled in Lafayette where the fresh start prompted him to consider the next stage of his career and how he could proactively shape it.
The online MBA degree program through the Â鶹AV offered flexibility to build on his experiences while navigating personal and professional change.
Unmatched Culture
Schilling worked his way up from technician to project manager in New Orleans, gaining hands-on experience along the way.
When he left his role to relocate to Lafayette, he saw the opportunity to expand his skillset by earning an MBA.
"I wanted to increase my tool belt to be a better manager and a better leader," says Schilling. "I wanted to have the education and the confidence to lead more effectively."
Settling into his new city reinforced that Â鶹AV was the right place to study, even if he wasn't taking courses on campus.
"I fell in love with the city. The culture is unmatched. It's my favorite place in Louisiana, by far," he says.
"I took a chance and dove into the MBA at Â鶹AV, and I didn't look back. I was determined to follow through."
Unrivaled Flexibility, Support
Schilling treated the MBA degree program as a full-time job.
Â鶹AV offers online MBA courses in 8-week terms, meaning he could complete four courses in the span of a semester by enrolling in two courses each term.
But students can also take lighter course loads; flexibility Schilling needed once he accepted a remote project manager role after his second semester.
"I was really grateful to have been able to do that," he says. "When I started working full time, I didn't want to compromise my grades or work quality. I have a 4.0 right now, and it makes me feel like I made the right decision for my schooling."
In addition to transitioning to a new full-time position, Schilling moved twice while earning his degree. The first move was just two hours east, closer to Schilling's hometown. Then new opportunities took him west to the mountains of Utah.
Schilling says consistency was crucial to succeeding in online courses. He says dedicating even two hours each evening helped him stay ahead.
"The program is rigorous. If you don't study, you're going to get run over," he says. "When everybody else is doing other things, you have to stay disciplined. It's about fitting it in your schedule where it makes sense, because you'll learn more effectively that way and still live a normal life. You'll carry that discipline into your workplace, and people will notice that."
He also knew who to call if he got stuck, relying on his academic advisor to help him stay on track while taking advantage of academic support resources, like the University’s online writing lab.
"The tutors and the reviewers in the writing lab were really great. They sent good critiques and were helpful for being able to think a little more critically when writing," he says.
Applicability
Research-focused coursework and engaging group projects gave Schilling a framework to connect classroom concepts to what he'd been practicing professionally while gaining new tools.
It also gave him a chance to apply his skills beyond his area of expertise.
As part of MKTG 524: Marketing Management, Schilling and his classmates were tasked with developing a business concept for the Lafayette area. His group proposed an event planning and wedding venue business.
"It was really fun to have the freedom to pick a business that was interesting to all of us and apply concepts from the program," he says. "I really like how the program has a lot of emphasis on group work. All the classes I had with group work went really smoothly; they were just set up really well."
Meanwhile, IBUS 550: Multinational Value Chain, opened Schilling's eyes to the complex logistics, regulations, and business strategy behind importing and exporting goods between countries.
"We kind of take it for granted, but seeing the business behind getting products moved from place to place — what's allowed, what isn't, what the regulations are — that was really interesting to me," he says.
Staying Open
Schilling can easily point to tangible skills, like industry trend analysis and identifying optimum break-even points, built through his coursework in finance, data analysis, and management.
But his biggest takeaway from the MBA degree program online was a fundamental shift in how he approaches problems.
"The program has provided tools to do deeper research, to involve others in a decision," Schilling says. "Thinking critically from a manager's standpoint — thinking like a leader instead of just reacting — that's really what it's provided."
For anyone on the fence about enrolling, he says to embrace change. Don't assume you need to follow a linear path or that there will be a perfect time for your next step.
"Be open to doing things a different way," Schilling says. "Adjust to your season of life, and don't be afraid of the coursework. It's about how you finish. Trust the process."
Take yourself — and your career — to the next level. Earn your MBA degree online through the Â鶹AV. Request information to connect with an enrollment specialist and learn more.