Richard McFarlane

University of South Florida, Muma College of Business

“My passion is precision. In my 15 years of technology, I have diversified my understanding.”

Age: 36

Hometown: St. Andrew, Jamaica

Fun fact about yourself: I am working full time as a Principal Security Engineer while building a consulting company to service technological advancement with precision.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Strayer University – BS in Information Systems concentration in Project Management

George Washington University – M.Eng in Cybersecurity, Policy and Compliance

Where are you currently working? Western Alliance Bank – Principal Security Design Engineer

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am proud of gaining the courage to start my company, Orbitus Consulting, LLC, even with the uncertainty and challenges of the market. I believe that my company will be able to contribute to effective technology development and delivery within less time and investment.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? With my busy schedule, the freedom of completing my course work and lectures worked best. I can watch lectures multiple times if needed and do research while professors speak. The professors were very responsive, so it felt interactive enough to not get lost or confused.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? The freedom to learn on my own time to fit my schedule was the most rewarding part.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? Most of my undergraduate education was online as well, to allow me to grow with experience and education.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Always keep your study scheduling up-to-date so you don’t slip behind. Reserve time to study and complete course material with reminders if needed.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? I have been using knowledge from my program for understanding of information shared during CEO townhalls. Additionally, I’ve furthered my understanding of what business lines affect the banking industry the most to support the business leaders effectively.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? No promotion or recognition has happened yet.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program? As stated above, the most important criteria for me is the freedom to pursue my career growth while studying. The OMBA provided that flexibility.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? AI best practices were encouraged and various professors offered practical ways for us to gain practice. Impacts of AI on industry provided ample opportunity for case-based learning as well.

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

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? Utilize the skills and knowledge I gained to build my business and advance my career in the banking industry.

BEST & BRIGHTEST ONLINE MBAS: CLASS OF 2025

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