Emma Mathews

Carl H. Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati

“I am strong-willed with a passion for independence, wild animals, and exploring new places.”

Age: 32

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Fun fact about yourself: Prior to moving to Cincinnati in 2018, I spent 3 months living in Kenya at a luxury Safari Camp in the Masai Mara assisting with CRM.

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of New Mexico – Bachelor of Science in Biological Science (Minor in Psychology)

Where are you currently working? University of Cincinnati – Senior Clinical Research Coordinator (Department of Neurology). I also work part-time at Rhinegeist Brewery as a Private Events Bartender.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I have excelled in all areas of my professional career. One of my best achievements has been successfully moving up the career ladder in clinical research. I started as a clinical research assistant, moved up to a clinical research professional, and am currently a senior clinical research professional. I have advocated for myself every step of the way and have positioned myself as one of top seniors in my department.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? I work at UC and have many friends who attended UC for undergraduate and graduate degrees. In addition, it is a highly ranked online MBA program.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? I love the flexibility in schedule. I am very busy and like that I can watch the lectures on my own time and can organize my time however I’d like while keeping deadlines in mind.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? The ability to easily have group projects and structures on how to record group presentations in an online setting.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? While it is more difficult to build bonds with classmates, the overall online experience is great for a master’s program because it allows the students to live in different areas of the world and gives a lot of freedom for time management.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Prioritize assignments based on due dates while also slowly working on final projects throughout the semester when you can. Be realistic about how long an assignment may take. Don’t forget to give yourself a break occasionally and have a day off from schoolwork when you can.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? My online education has helped me understand my department’s structure and why management functions the way it does. It has helped me better understand some finance/accounting items I currently work with like accounts payable and accounts receivable.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? During my master’s program, I was promoted from a clinical research professional to senior clinical research professional and am on the short-list to become a manager within my department.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential program? I decided I did not want to take a break in my career to pursue my masters, so why not work and go to school? This online MBA program allowed me to keep my current life while adding in schoolwork and managing my social calendar around that.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 6-24 depending on the number of credits.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? Ultimately, I would love to become a business director overseeing several aspects in finance, marketing, productivity, operations, and organizational structure.

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