As a corporate officer, Bruce Hughes knew business never stopped evolving. So he went back for an MBA that helped him do the same.
Bruce began in accounting, but after more than 12 years at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, he’d moved on from the financial division to become one of the company’s leaders.
As a corporate officer, Bruce’s workload was more strategic, yet the position came with intense demands and risks. He believed an MBA could strengthen his business skills and present new concepts he hadn’t been exposed to as an undergrad.
The structure of the program really suited me. Each course met one night a week, and I could attend remotely or in a classroom.”
At the Moore School, he found a program that fit the life of a married, working executive who often found himself on the road unexpectedly. The flexibility kept Bruce on track and he graduated without skipping a professional or personal beat. Today, Bruce is president of a vast, seven-company organization that includes the same company where his accounting career began.
Earning an MBA provided me with a strong business foundation that is essential in the business world.”
Professional MBA |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Length | 28 Months | ||
Location | Columbia, SC & 7 distance site options | ||
Testing | GMAT or GRE required* (waivers may be available) | ||
Average Work Experience | 10 Years | ||
*Email pmba@moore.sc.edu for more information.
Earning an MBA wasn’t only an academic accomplishment for Rodger Riddle, it was an event that rewrote his career.
After five years in domestic telecom, Rodger sought more than a job change. He wanted to broaden his horizon beyond the U.S. market.
Goal one was an MBA but stepping away from the workforce wasn’t viable for the newlywed professional who already enjoyed a lucrative, rewarding role. Then Rodger discovered the Professional MBA program at the Moore School. There, he could pursue his higher professional ambitions, all with tuition assistance from his employer.
The program’s flexibility and design were draws. I was living in Greenville then, but was traveling about 50% of the time. I could operate on my own time schedule.”
Rodger graduated in two years, just before the birth of his first child. Now, as a global automotive manufacturing executive, complex subjects such as international finance, market arbitrage and fluctuations, and global currency markets from his MBA days are the root of everyday conversations. For Rodger, the MBA was more than an education. The relationships he built in the program helped him break out of mid-level management into the greater global economy.
You learn so much about how theory applies to real-world situations given the structure and status of the Professional MBA program.”
The Professional MBA program at the Moore School helped Glenn Gonzales transform his skill into a start-up.
After graduating from the Air Force Academy and completing 10 years active duty, Glenn’s ambitions were still rising.
As he considered an MBA, he knew it would be difficult to balance life as a husband, father, working pilot, sales professional and student. Yet all that stood between his business savvy equaling his technical skills was finding the right training.
“The Professional MBA was the best program in the area that allowed me to both work and travel like I did and still gain a great degree from a reputable university.”
With access to regional campuses and technology, Glenn worked closely with his professors and classmates and completed his MBA goal on schedule. A few years later, Glenn launched a unique jet ownership start-up that now boasts a fleet of private jets positioned around the eastern United States with rapid expansion anticipated throughout North America and southeast Asia.
“An MBA opens your eyes. And it definitely will prepare you for the next step whenever you determine what that is.”
At 25, Amy Tinsley saw a common thread in advancement opportunities at Fortune 500 employers: an MBA degree.
When Amy joined one of America’s largest utilities, she expected her government affairs role to last as long as the legislative session. It turned into more than eight years at the energy giant.
A few years in, Amy wanted a way to stand out among the crowded ranks of the Fortune 500 company. Her answer? A professional MBA from the Moore School that would allow her to work and progress her career as she completed her intensive studies.
There’s flexibility. The Moore School realizes that people have a home life and a professional life that they have to balance with their school life.”
Amy took online classes and attended remotely in Columbia, Greenville and Charlotte during business travels. Two years later, she graduated right on schedule. Today, as Amy leads the Automotive Council of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, she’s grateful to have a broader understanding of the businesses she works with closely every day.
An MBA is an asset that sticks with you and makes you more competitive in the job market. It sets you apart.”
Moore School alumnus Bill Harley (’93 MBA) is an experienced entrepreneur who has been part of six startups in the past 23 years. Maneuvering a company through a worldwide pandemic is one obstacle he hadn’t experienced until 2020.