Antoine Harden

University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

“I love interacting with people, being a dad, experiencing life, anything outdoors, and USC.”

Age: 46

Hometown: Lorton, VA

Fun fact about yourself: I love to cook. I will eat something at a restaurant and try to recreate it at home.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Eastern University, B.S. in Business Administration and B.S in Health Administration

Where are you currently working? Google, Head of Sales- Public Sector Healthcare & LifeSciences

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Seeing the people on my team grow and excel in their careers.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? USC has always been a dream school for me. However, growing up on the east coast didn’t afford me the opportunity to attend USC in undergrad. I am now able to attend my dream school and get a world-class MBA that has a network like no other school in the world!

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? The best part of our online program is our top-notch professors. They are truly the best at what they do Also, the relationships that I have built have been beyond my expectations.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? Geeting my MBA online has allowed me the ability to still be an active dad, a sales leader, get my MBA, and still have time for myself. I travel a lot for a living, so this way of learning gives me the ability to get assignments done and attend class anywhere in the world.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? My undergraduate experience was amazing. However, I am more mature now and I am actually able to apply what I am learning immediately in my daily activities which is a great benefit. I am truly surprised by how many close relationships I have made here.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Understand that just because this is an online degree; don’t think that you will have a cakewalk. This is hard and it is a lot of work. However, it is one of the most rewarding things I have undertaken in my life. There are a few key things that will help applicants thrive and they are Time Management, Teamwork, Collaboration, and Communication. Finally, ensure you take the time to pick a school that is both a fit for you personally and ensures the school is world-class in whatever your future endeavors are.

What would you change about an online MBA Program? The only thing I would change would be to add an additional residential week. We have an amazing residential intensive week to begin our program. It would be great to offer another midway through the program.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? My online education is the absolute reason I have a job at Google Cloud right now. When I started the MBA program, I was working at a cybersecurity start-up. I was able to leverage the USC network and get to the right people in my area who was hiring and the rest was history! The information I have learned during the program has prepared me for the future.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My ultimate long-term goal is to be a Chief Revenue Officer at an IT company.