Rachel Grusin

Boston University, Questrom School of Business

“It’s never too late to take a chance and do something new or different.”

Age: 41

Hometown: San Diego, California

Fun fact about yourself: I’ll tell you a secret…I have an obsession with designing cheese boards, but I’m not very good at it and my favorite pattern is paisley. Funny enough, I don’t actually own anything in paisley.

Undergraduate School and Degree: I completed my undergrad at the University of California in San Diego, where I double majored in Political Science and Public Law (graduated with high honors (Pi Sigma Alpha)). I went on to complete my MA in Teaching at the University of Southern California (graduated with high honors (Kappa Delta Pi)).

Where are you currently working? Legal Aid Society of San Diego

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? As a career switcher, I take great satisfaction and pride in making a successful transition from the world of higher education to the nonprofit sector. With a sense of purpose, unwavering determination, and persistent efforts, I was able to achieve a successful shift into the nonprofit space, where I now work for the largest public service law firm in San Diego County. The journey was demanding, but I remained focused and devoted to my goal of changing careers. Today, I look back at this accomplishment with a sense of humility and wonder – but also with immense fulfillment and satisfaction knowing that changing careers is possible and all this hard work has resulted in an incredible adventure of unparalleled learning and growth. Remember: Success is defined differently for everyone, and timelines are relative.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? I think what makes Boston University and this online program special is the simple reality that it provides an unparalleled graduate-level education at an unparalleled price. It’s a program designed for a diverse range of learners, each in different stages of their career, and I found this to be inviting and useful. The modular approach to business administration at the graduate level is unique. It combines practical skills with theoretical background knowledge that I find genuinely useful in my day-to-day work and in the world. It would be easy to say I chose this program because of the stellar reputation BU has and the exceptional faculty of experts we get to learn from. The truth is, this program has created incredible value for me in many ways. I am continually surprised by the innumerable uses of the lessons I have learned throughout this program and how essential they have become to my career growth.

What was your favorite part of an online MBA program? The faculty – hands down. I would say I truly enjoyed the live sessions and lectures. We have access to some brilliant people and highly experienced experts from many areas in and around business administration. The faculty and the learning facilitator team were enormously supportive and accessible, making the process of transitioning between modules with completely different subject matter and focus seamless.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? The lectures! They were always lively and engaging, and live sessions were always packed with attendees who asked thought-provoking questions and shared their valuable insights. Seeing such enthusiasm and dedication among professionals in an online program was refreshing. It truly made the learning experience all the more enriching.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? As an undergraduate, I was very active with various associations and clubs on campus. I enjoyed the sense of community and the opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals and make friends. As an adult professional and a graduate student, I’m drawn to the flexibility that digital communication offers. This flexibility is invaluable and allows me to connect with others regardless of time or location. Whether collaborating on a project, discussing ideas, or simply socializing, I appreciate the convenience and accessibility of digital communication in my graduate studies.

How has your online education helped you in your current job?  The education and training I received during this program have been instrumental in helping me develop skills integral to my career path. Of the countless skills I’ve obtained over the course of six terms, a few have moved the needle on my comprehension and synthesis capacities in ways I could not have predicted. One is how to leverage data effectively and turn raw numbers into actionable insights – this skill alone has significantly improved my decision-making processes and problem-solving abilities. The program strongly emphasized storytelling and communication strategies, which taught me how to present complex information in an engaging and understandable way (to colleagues and management) and how to listen and pay attention to gain deeper insight. The comprehensive training provided by the program offered numerous other advantages, including advanced strategic thinking and a deeper understanding of global business dynamics, along with a solid quantitative framework I found highly useful in my current role.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Absolutely. I started my career transition from higher education to the nonprofit sector by working as a business development officer at a small environmental nonprofit organization. After two years while still in the MBA program, I have been promoted to a role in project coordination and management with the most prominent public service law firm in San Diego County. I can confidently say that my MBA has directly led to my success in my career transition and promotion, opening doors that I otherwise would have never had the keys to.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential program? I enrolled in an online MBA program mainly because of its flexibility, which enabled me to continue working full-time while pursuing my education. This was critical for maintaining my professional progress without disruption and provided the opportunity for me to apply the latest knowledge directly to my professional work in real-time.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 8-10 per week.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I want to advocate for inclusive business education and explore the possibilities of approaching business administration curricula with an eye for equity and accessibility. I believe that business is more than just economics and management; it affects the lives of us all—globally—in ways we don’t even realize. I aim to collaborate with organizations, universities, and NGOs to provide inclusive education and valuable training opportunities to support and empower the most underprivileged and impoverished communities worldwide.

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