Meet Arizona State’s MBA Class Of 2021

Briana Nowak

Arizona State University, W. P. Carey School of Business

Returned Peace Corps volunteer passionate about global development initiatives that create a lasting social and financial impact.”

Hometown: Alpharetta, GA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I lived in Madagascar for two years with no running water or electricity.

Undergraduate School and Major: Georgia College and State University, Business Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Outreach and Employment Coordinator, State of Michigan Office for New Americans

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While working for the Michigan Office for New Americans, I spearheaded a statewide outreach strategy for a program that supported immigrants and refugees in the U.S. job-search process. After a mere three months of implementation, applications to the program increased by 53% after three years of slow growth. As a result, the program was able to serve more clients than ever before. It was rewarding for me to see my clients succeed and get their first professional job in the U.S.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My classmates are incredibly compassionate. There have been several instances where I’ve observed my peers going out of their way to help me and other students. Graduate degrees are competitive, but the willingness that everyone has shown to support one another has been truly touching and unexpected. This program is demanding and time-consuming, so seeing students give up their own time to help others is inspiring. Frankly, it gives me a lot of hope for our future business leaders.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The W. P. Carey MBA provides students with the opportunity to personalize their degree based on their interests and passions. Additionally, W. P. Carey’s partnerships with the School of Sustainability and the Thunderbird School of Global Management provides an even broader learning experience for students. Not only does the curriculum and program structure – which offers seven concentrations and five specializations – provide this flexibility, but the W. P. Carey staff encourages students to follow their passions. Coming from a less traditional business background with specific career goals, I knew the innovative environment at W. P. Carey would help me create my MBA experience. It’s become clear to me that at W. P. Carey business is personal.

Arizona State is renowned for its innovation. How have you seen innovation in the philosophy, curriculum, or resources at W. P. Carey?  W. P. Carey is consistently seeking student feedback to find innovative ways to improve the program and offer great opportunities. One way W. P. Carey has accomplished this is through Camp Carey, a post-orientation camp for students to instill the school’s values on teamwork, self-awareness, and professional growth. I was surprised by how intentional the faculty was in planning the camp and how helpful it was to us as a class to get to know each other prior to starting the MBA.

Additionally, W. P. Carey periodically introduces new courses, such as the Fintech and global immersion courses, based on employer feedback and market trends. The school offers seven concentrations and five specializations to choose from and are continuing to add more to meet market demands. I’m looking forward to pursuing the Global Business Economics specialization and traveling to Peru during spring break for a global immersion experience.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? There were some challenging case questions during my interview, but the question that stands out the most was when I was asked, “If you could only choose one thing to bring with you to your desk what would it be?”

How did you determine which business schools best fit you? When applying to business school, I knew I wanted to continue doing impactful work post-graduation, which likely meant a lower starting salary than the traditional MBA graduate. For this reason, I prioritized business schools that provided scholarships. I knew obtaining a scholarship would allow me to stay true to my passion and career goals without the financial burden of overwhelming student debt.

Additionally, I was looking for a supportive learning community of students and faculty. I have high expectations for myself but also appreciate a supportive, collaborative student community. I was able to get a sense of what the W. P. Carey learning community was like through conversations with alumni and admissions representatives during the application process. Admissions representatives were always very responsive and helpful, which I felt was a great indicator of what I could expect during the program.

Connect With W.P. Carey's MBA program

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