Meet Our Online MBA and MBA Direct Students
Our students are adaptable, innovative individuals who want to work on cross-functional teams where they can critically analyze problems and succinctly communicate data insights. They are diverse in their personal and professional backgrounds, and represent a spectrum of industries like finance, military, energy and beyond. All of them are tied together as an integral part of the Cox network.
Student Ambassadors
“The tools I am learning in the Cox Online MBA program are giving me new techniques to implement what I’ve learned throughout my career.”
What is the best part of the SMU Cox Online MBA program?
One of the best attributes of the SMU Cox Online MBA program is the ability to learn while on the go. As a frequent traveler for business, it is important that I don’t disrupt my work schedule while maintaining my student work. So having the technology to conduct my live class sessions from hotels, workspaces, colleagues’ offices or my own home when in town has been crucial to my success.
How are the Online MBA classes preparing you to lead?
As a current leader in my organization, the tools I am learning in the Cox Online MBA program are giving me new techniques to implement what I’ve learned throughout my career. What I have enjoyed the most is learning new concepts, different business strategies and terms that will increase my intellectual leadership for the next phase of my professional career.
What professional/personal goals would you like to accomplish with the Online MBA?
Increasing my network with current students and alumni is beneficial for me professionally as I transition out of military service next year.
BRAD WILSON ’23
How are the Online MBA classes preparing you to lead?
The SMU Cox Online MBA offers a rigorous business curriculum, which has prepared me to approach the business world with confidence. I see improvements in how I effectively communicate, make important business decisions on my team and confidently lead team members. I truly have a better working knowledge of the important frameworks and how to apply them in a business environment.
CARLOS REYES ’23
“The SMU Cox Online MBA…has prepared me to approach the business world with confidence.”
“…the program is tailored to individuals at the very early stages of their careers. This alone makes me feel ahead of the game…”
What is the best part of the SMU MBA Direct program?
The best part about the SMU Cox MBA Direct Program is twofold. First, the small cohort-style classes taught by top-level instructors in our synchronous sessions allow me to feel the rigor and educational benefit of going to SMU Cox in a virtual setting. Second, the program is tailored to individuals at the very early stages of their careers. This alone makes me feel ahead of the game, to be fully trained for MBA-level jobs at a very young age.
JOHN BOWERS ’24
What is the best part of the SMU Online MBA program?
The SMU Cox Online MBA program has provided the kind of challenging academic experience I was looking for, helping me to feel more confident in areas of business where I wanted to learn more. The distance learning platform has allowed me to maintain the kind of balance I aspire to between family, personal and academic life, while still offering me plenty of opportunities to engage with my fellow classmates and professors. I’ve connected with some really great people at SMU, and they have become a great source of support and guidance for me as I work towards this degree. Also, much of the coursework emphasizes global perspective, and I was able to experience this firsthand by participating in an immersion experience that took place in Dubai. Having the opportunity to work and partner with a company in the UAE and helping them to solve some of the challenges they experience as a non-profit has been one of my favorite parts of the program thus far.
LAURA HOLLAND ’23
“…much of the coursework emphasizes global perspective, and I was able to experience this firsthand by participating in an immersion experience that took place in Dubai.”
“I’ve learned many ways to continue my growth as a leader and develop cohesive teams.”
How are the MBA Direct classes preparing you to lead?
In my opinion, the strength of the MBA Direct program starts with the professors, who are not only experts in their fields but strong leaders that want to see their students succeed. The combination of analytics and experiential learning has deepened my understanding of ecosystems and helped me give meaningful input in the workplace. More than that, I’ve learned many ways to continue my growth as a leader and develop cohesive teams.
MICHAEL SALVADOR ’23
Alumni Outcomes
SMU Cox attracts some of the brightest, most ambitious minds from all over the world. Our alumni network is a global yet close-knit community – one that is committed to building lifelong connections and supporting one another. The Cox community continues to thrive with over 40,000 alumni, making it a powerful ally for career growth, business and life.
Since starting the program, Jawwad has transitioned from a regional sales role to a Sr. Specialist – Business Applications at Microsoft.
Jawwad Baig ‘21
The SMU Cox Online MBA is rigorous and the courses are thoughtfully structured. The program takes into consideration experience from the workforce and takes into account the leadership and analytical skills future leaders need to be prepared within today’s fast-changing and global environment.
Morgan has been at Altria, a smokeless tobacco company, for the last nine years. When she started the SMU Cox Online MBA program she was an Account Manager. Now she’s a Manager of Brand – Digital Value.
Morgan Holcomb ‘21
The SMU Cox Online MBA program provides access to top-notch professors, a robust and hands-on learning experience and provides a unique advantage with its global immersion versus other MBA programs. It’s efficient, effective and extensive all at the same time.
Reed has worked for Wrist Ship Supply since he started the SMU Cox Online MBA program. He was in the Wrist Acceleration Program, a management training program, and is now the General Manager of Eastern Canada.
Reed Waldenmaier ‘21
Anyone interested in the SMU Cox Online MBA program should know that completing your graduate studies and also working full time is achievable. You will not only apply the course concepts on a daily basis in your workplace, but you will also grow and develop as a leader during the two-year program.
Alumni and Student Profiles
RISHEEK KOSURI ‘23
One of the main reasons why I wanted to do part-time instead of full-time was so I can get work experience while [completing] my MBA. I can position myself really well in the future. I know I have just started my career, but by the time I graduate, I’ll have a significant amount of work experience, rather than putting work on hold to pursue my MBA.
BOBBY PANCHISIN ’21
SMU Cox is known as a top institution for veterans pursuing an MBA. It has a reputation for developing data-driven leaders and that matched what I was looking for: I wanted a school that had a strong network in the region and in the state. And really, that was what stuck out to me the most, you know: they are leaders in the city of Dallas looking to make it a better place. And it all just kind of fit for me.
KIM BOUTHAVONG ’21
I would definitely recommend SMU Cox. I feel like not only is it an excellent program overall, but they also have a veteran community, which caters to service members and helps them get acclimated. For me, I’ve found the SMU Cox Online MBA is a tight-knit community in itself, but on top of that, the smaller veteran network is another support system at SMU Cox that has been valuable to me.
FORMER AIR FORCE IMAGERY ANALYST SETS HER SIGHTS ON SUCCESS BY PURSUING HER ONLINE MBA AT SMU COX
JOE BEST ’22
When I heard about the SMU Cox Online MBA, I really thought through what the degree could mean for me: If I could combine my experience in technological fields with a better understanding of the business side of things, it could really help me grow my career. I didn’t think I’d get accepted, but I’m also big into “shoot your shot,” “what’s the worst that’s going to happen?” So I went ahead and leveraged my service experience and applied. Thanks to the sterling reputation of SMU Cox and the high caliber individuals I know who have gone there, I really believed there was no better place for me to pursue my MBA than SMU Cox.
REED WALDENMAIER ’21
I’m learning a lot and I’ve already been able to apply the skills learned during the program on the job, especially in areas of managing and leading people. I’m bringing what we’ve done in the courses to refine my skills. And I know the more I work on it, the better I’ll get.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW REED IS APPLYING SKILLS FROM HIS MBA IN HIS ROLE AT WRIST SHIP SUPPLY
JT HALE ’23
Like many other students, JT Hale always thought about pursuing a business degree, but also wanted to secure a foundation in a different field first, which resulted in him choosing engineering. Hale found his way to Frisco, Texas after landing a job at an engineering firm and like many MBA students who pursue alternatives early in his career, he knew a business degree was going to be a key to advancement.
ENGINEERING HIS OWN SUCCESS: JT HALE’S PURSUIT OF AN MBA DIRECT AT SMU COX
SAMANTHA SIMANK ’23
Samantha Simank’s experience with her MBA Direct classmates has been highly collaborative. Students break out into group sessions and participate in application-focused course content. She is inspired by the dialogue that goes on during online sessions while students discuss critical business topics and work together to solve real-world problems. Simank hopes to grow these relationships even further as she continues in the program.