Hannah Hubbard

University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics Online MBA

“I love baking, volunteering for my sorority, and living life with my husband and dog.”

Age: 28

Hometown: Norristown, PA

Fun fact about yourself: I swam with wild dolphins and sea turtles and went snorkeling in a submerged volcano crater (Molokini Crater) when I visited Hawaii for the first time in 2016.

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Georgia – B.S. in Psychology

Where are you currently working? State Farm – Auto Underwriter

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m most proud of creating and managing the performance tracker for the Auto Underwriting Department in the Eastern Market Area for my company.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? Through my research, I felt the Online MBA program at the University of Delaware was the best value I could get at a reasonable cost. The school was well-recognized and the program was 100% online, both of which were important factors for me. The online aspect especially appealed to me because I wouldn’t have been able to afford to leave my full-time job to complete the program.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? My favorite part was being able to complete assignments at my own pace and on my own time and not lose the opportunity to meet, network, and learn from my peers in the program.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? The fact that I’ve made some friends along the way was something I wasn’t anticipating. The University of Delaware did an excellent job of creating an environment for us to connect whether it be through discussion boards or group projects.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? The best advice I can give to thrive in an online MBA program is to practice self-discipline. Even though there are deadlines, it’s up to you to decide when you’re going to study and complete assignments. As a result, it can be easy to let time slip away. I used a planner to write down due dates and my study plans to keep me on track. Practice self-discipline and work in a few mental breaks and you’ll be set up for success!

What would you change about an online MBA Program? I’m lucky because I’ve made some real connections along the way, but I think online MBA programs would benefit from pairing a few students together at the beginning who can be each other’s support system through the program (like the quizzes to pair roommates in college). Online programs require work, self-discipline, and dedication. At times, it can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re still working full-time or have several other extracurricular activities like most of us do. A small support group could help make you feel less alone as you’re getting started in the program.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? I’m not in a formal leadership role, but the leadership courses that teach on things like managing people, teams, and organizations and employee motivation have been valuable when I’m leading project teams. It’s also helped shape what I believe it takes to be a good and effective leader and how to create an environment for companies to be successful.

If you had to do it all over again, would you? Why? Absolutely with no hesitation. I believe the leadership courses and the diverse schools of thought I’ve encountered through this program are the most valuable things I’ll take away. I loved how I was able to learn so many topics (e.g. emotional intelligence; globalization; managing people, teams, and organizations) throughout the program. I believe I wouldn’t have such a well-rounded education had I not gone through this program.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I ultimately want to be in leadership where I can foster a positive culture, help people push the boundaries of their knowledge and skills, and motivate them. I also want to help them to pursue bigger and better roles within the company where they can showcase their skills and strengths, but continue to have opportunities to learn new things.

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