Alison Alexander

Flexible Curriculum: Choose Your Own Path

I thought getting an MBA from Booth would be a great way to explore different career paths. I have been in an accounting role throughout my career. I started off in public accounting and then switched to corporate, and after a few years I realized it wasn’t want I wanted to do.

As someone who is looking to explore other options within my company, the flexibility of Booth’s curriculum has been wonderful. It’s made it so easy to take the classes that I’m interested in, and to pursue concentrations I might not have considered given less flexible options. I am able to explore and not worry about having to stay on a certain track or take the classes that aren’t going to put me in the direction I want to go.

The Booth Approach to Business Challenges

Booth professors want you to come up with your most creative answer. They don’t want you to rephrase what you read in the book for class—they really want you think things through. I think the approach at Booth is unique in that you are given specific skills in the classroom setting, but you’re not spoon-fed answers—you’re trained to think about problems in a different way.

I now find myself approaching problems differently than I did before I started the program. I still run into the same challenges every day at work, but I’m much more proactive in the way I handle them. I use the thought process that I’m learning in my classes, and I look for solutions more creatively.

Undergoing a Transformation

I have just received a promotion from my employer, JPMorgan Chase. They’re excited for me to be here. They recognize that I have certain transferable skills as an accountant, but that Booth is teaching me so much more.

I’ve changed quite a bit since I started my Booth MBA. I have developed the confidence to take initiatives, to offer suggestions, and do things outside of my typical role. This new confidence has changed the way that I approach my job.

Also, my employer sees how I’m able to look at problems differently and come up with solutions in a more creative manner. They understand that I have transferable skills from what I’ve been doing for the past couple of years in accounting, and that I can move seamlessly into a different role.