Greg Woolen

Baylor University Online MBA Program

“I am a husband and a father. I am a leader and a learner.”

Age: 48

Hometown: I was born and raised in Hutchinson, KS. I now live in the Fort Worth, TX area.

Fun fact about yourself: I love going on vacations with my family. We particularly enjoy going to Disney World whenever possible. This was one of my first childhood memories of vacation as a child and I wanted to instill that love of the “Happiest Place on Earth” in my children.   

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Kansas, BA in Chemistry

Where are you currently working? BNSF Railway, AVP Intermodal & Automotive Service Design

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am proud of my ability to adapt, learn, and problem-solve at a rapid pace. I have worked for 23 years at BNSF Railway in 10 distinct locations, each with new opportunities to learn and develop. I am so very thankful for the leaders and mentors who provided guidance and direction along the way.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? I chose Baylor because it provided the flexibility that I needed. My work and family life required that flexibility as a minimum requirement, and I found that at Baylor.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? I liked that Baylor provided concentrations within their Online MBA Program. In my case, the Global Trade and Supply Chain Management concentration was a big draw for me. There are four concentrations to choose from in addition to the general MBA curriculum.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? It was the ability to network with professors and to develop friendships with your peers. Ultimately, you get out of it what you put into it.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? The biggest comparison here is the flexibility that the online experience provides. I can remember staying up late after attending a home basketball game the night before and not feeling excited to go to class early the next morning. Now, more than 20 years later, with many more obligations and responsibilities, I can determine when I listen to that lecture or work on that assignment. The flexibility of an online program allows me to ensure that I can give my best to my studies.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Know when your assignments are due and avoid putting them off until the last moment. You never know when something will come up that you must take care of, and you end up unable to complete an assignment on time.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? I have spent my entire career with BNSF in operations. This, coupled with my undergraduate education, left me with little to no sense of the business. My education at Baylor has allowed me to prepare differently for meetings, ask more thoughtful questions in meetings, and better understand some of the business discussions and decisions being made.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Yes, I was promoted to my current position at BNSF Railway approximately 9 months after starting the Online MBA program at Baylor.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential program? There are several distinguished MBA programs available in the DFW area that I could have pursued, but none of them provided the ability for me to not miss any work, attend all my kids’ school activities, or have date night with my wife. Baylor allowed me to live my life while earning my MBA.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: I would spend approximately 15-20 hours/week.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term professional goal is to continue to learn and grow as a leader.

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