I had arrived at a point in my career where I needed to expand on the knowledge I had gained, and I didn't feel I could achieve the depth of education I was seeking in a work environment. At the time, I planned to continue my career with the same company and felt a Wharton MBA would benefit both the firm and me.

Before Wharton, I took on various financial roles at one company, mainly in their Treasurer's Corporate Finance group. When the company demutualized, I had many great opportunities to work on the capital initiatives of their IPO process. The leadership at the firm was strong and guided my career through the years leading up to my Wharton MBA.

Wharton definitely influenced my desire to make a career change after graduation. The experience I had gained and network I had built expanded my options, which led to my decision to enter the Structured Finance industry. My Wharton MBA opened doors that allowed me to enter into a new industry and take my career in a different direction.

A Fellows perspective
I was at an earlier stage in my career than many of my classmates, but I wanted to advance to the next stage by building a solid academic business background. My company at the time had a long history of supporting educational programs so when I approached my manager about an executive MBA, I received enthusiastic support. I had to be equally committed to my job, my studies, and my personal life over the two years. This was a fine balancing act every Wharton student learns quickly. The support of my Wharton network helped make those two years successful on all fronts.

The commute — the best arrangement possible
Initially, I thought the commute from New York would have been an added stress to the already intense experience, but soon I realized it was the best possible option (even over New York programs). Leaving the work environment allowed me to fully focus and absorb the course material in the short period of time we were on campus. The overnight stay was essential to building great relationships with classmates and professors. I can't stress enough the importance that staying overnight on campus had on my experience as a Wharton MBA student and my current Wharton network.

Filling in the gaps in your knowledge
At work, you learn the skills you need to advance in your career, but there are always gaps of knowledge. Wharton helps you fill those gaps with a thorough academic foundation in business. Studying Advanced Corporate Finance while I worked in the Treasurer's Corporate Finance group provided me with skills I was able to apply instantly. My Wharton MBA expanded my breadth of knowledge beyond what I would have learned in the work environment alone.