Erik Franey

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

“People-oriented person who enjoys learning and having a positive impact on the world.”

Age: 28

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee 

Fun fact about yourself: I got married on a hiking trail in the pouring rain (eloped on Mt. Rainier!)

Undergraduate School and Degree: Tennessee Technological University, Bachelors in Computer Engineering (Magna Cum Laude)

Where are you currently working? I work at the Tennessee Valley Authority as an Analyst in the Business Planning organization. In my current role, I support the reporting of enterprise performance measures that track progress towards TVA’s strategic initiatives.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of leading an energy efficiency program study at TVA that resulted in the largest launch of EE programs in recent years. It was a collaborative effort that required many discussions, complex analyses, and the ability to convey the benefits of EE to leaders. It meant a great deal to be a part of an effort that resulted in such a large contribution of clean energy to the company’s portfolio.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? Due to the close proximity of UTC with my company (TVA), there is a close relationship between the two entities. Many TVA employees have received degrees from UTC, and TVA has contributed to UTC in several ways like research funding or training opportunities. Through my job, I knew of the reputation of the university and the how impactful completing its MBA program could be. It felt like I had coworkers or other TVA employees in nearly every class, and I actually made a lot of professional connections through the program!

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? My favorite part was the flexibility – though I know that may seem obvious! It’s really hard to overestimate just how much time and energy you save from not commuting, having to manage an ever-changing class schedule, and attending classes in-person while working full-time. I live and work in Nashville, so it would have been impossible to attend UTC in a traditional class setting. I really wanted to go to this particular school above the schools near me, so the online MBA made that a possibility (especially while working full-time!).

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment?  I was honestly surprised on how effective group projects would be. I would have expected difficulties working with people I had never met in person or who had different schedules than me. Instead, the group projects in this online program felt more productive and efficient than the groups I was a part of in my undergrad. So definitely a good surprise!

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? An online experience is definitely a bit different than in-person. You have to be very self-motivated, as much of the learning is done through readings rather than lectures. You have to work to hold yourself accountable; in my undergrad, the hardest part about lectures was just getting yourself to them. In an online program, you have to put in extra effort to learn the material – reading, doing your own research, and committing to discussions. The readings contain so much great content, if you are motivated to push yourself you can learn a tremendous amount.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Find a good pace for yourself, especially if you are working full-time. If your work is ramping up into a busy period or you are a part of an intensive project, don’t be afraid to reduce your course load. You’ll be most effective at work and in school if you strike a good balance on workload. Also, find an optimal time and space each week to do your work. Having a setting where you can concentrate without distractions will allow you to be most effective. Finally, look for ways to apply what you are learning in class to your work. It will reinforce the concepts you learned and give you great examples to use in class.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? My online education has directly helped me in many ways in my current job, especially in my most recent Strategic Management course. Although my background is in engineering, I’m currently working in one of the most “corporate” roles of my career. The concepts I’ve learned in finance, accounting, and economics show up often in my work, and having a heightened knowledge of those fields has been very valuable.

My Strategic Management course has had a tremendous influence on my daily work. My role falls within the Business Planning organization, where we help develop tactical plans for each TVA business unit that align with the strategic objectives the company has decided on. I can very directly apply to my role what I’ve learned relating to strategy, various strategic models, and concepts like the Balanced Scorecard. As a result of my classes, I have found myself being able to contribute more to conversations and have the confidence to speak to fields I wasn’t previous comfortable with.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? During my MBA program, I was offered a position in a new organization. Although I was not seeking out a new role at the time, I was recommended for a position due to some past work I had done with the group’s Senior Manager. I received the promotion after interviewing, and I believe my pursuit of an MBA contributed to being selected for the position. I could speak with more clarity and confidence than I would have prior to my MBA, and the concepts I was learning in class could directly contribute to the role. The role represented a shift in my career from being in a more customer-facing organization to being in a more corporate-style group.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential program? For me, I was very interested in attending UTC. I had seen the value of the university’s MBA program, as I had watched several of my coworkers complete the program before going off to impressive leadership positions. Due to living in Nashville, I would not have been able to attend this particular university otherwise. I am confident I made the right decision, as I am very excited to become a UTC alum and see how my MBA contributes to the trajectory of my TVA career.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 10-15

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My ultimate long-term professional goal is to be a leader at my company, starting at a first-line manager and aiming for a senior manager or director level. When I first started my career, I anticipated being a long-term subject matter expert who would just apply my technical skills to an individual contributor role my entire career. As I went on, however, I realized how much I liked working with people. Programming in the corner was not where I would get enjoyment, it would be through working with others and leading.

I enjoy collaboration, leading discussions, giving presentations, and especially helping others achieve their highest potential. I have set the course for a leadership path and have been working to develop leadership skills in my workplace daily. I feel that an MBA is a critical component of my journey, and the knowledge I have learned about business and leadership will be essential for achieving my long-term goal of becoming a leader.

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