Karyssa Edwards

Bryant University

“I am curious, up for a challenge, and always interested in learning about something new.”

Age: 32

Hometown: Providence, RI

Fun fact about yourself: In 2021, I raised over $10,000 for the Equal Justice Initiative by making and selling tie-dyed clothing.

Undergraduate School and Degree: The Catholic University of America, B.S. in Biology

Where are you currently working? Waters Corporation, Product Manager (Genetic Medicine Chemistry Consumables)

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I made a significant career change, inspired by my experience in Bryant’s online MBA program. After nearly a decade as a laboratory scientist, I transitioned into a product management role focused on genetic medicine chemistry consumables. This was a huge adjustment, as I did not have a background in genetic medicine and I had only completed a few online MBA courses at the time. I was also leaving a major comfort zone, as it was the only company I had ever worked for. Stepping into the unknown and starting from scratch was intimidating, but a year later I’m proud of the effort and commitment I’ve put into growing in this role. It has given me a new perspective on what I’m capable of and reinforced my confidence that I can take on challenges and succeed. It is also incredible to be a part of a team that provides analytical solutions to those who are developing cutting edge cell and gene therapies!

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? I was looking for a program that delivered strong business fundamentals while recognizing how much human behavior shapes the business world. Bryant’s program strikes that balance well, combining analytical concepts and techniques with different perspectives on how to approach real world situations, making it a very well-rounded experience. I also wanted meaningful opportunities to connect with my classmates. In every course, students were placed into “pods” and worked together on assignments throughout the term. That structure allowed me to collaborate consistently and build relationships in a way that might not happen in other programs.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? The flexibility that comes with doing this program through an online platform was a huge benefit. Although there were set deadlines, I was able to manage my workload in a way that fit around my full-time job and personal commitments, making it much easier to stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.

How did your online MBA experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? During my undergraduate experience, I relied heavily on my professors to provide guidance and structure throughout my courses. However, in the online MBA program, I was expected to create my own structure to learn the material and complete assignments. While I may have found this challenging as an undergraduate, my decade of industry experience made me much more motivated to truly understand the content and apply it directly to real-world situations.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Make a genuine effort to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. In an online program, you don’t have as many natural opportunities to connect in person, so being intentional about networking really matters. Going the extra step to build those connections virtually can support you throughout your studies and open unexpected doors in your career.

How has your online MBA education helped you in your current job? Coming from a technical background, I had little formal business education, so my online MBA helped fill those gaps. While finance wasn’t a strength of mine, my role requires building financial models for products in development (forecasting unit volumes, revenue, and pricing strategies). The program strengthened my financial literacy and gave me a clearer understanding of product business cases, which has improved my credibility when presenting to leadership and working with sales teams on commitments. The program also enhanced my problem-solving skills by exposing me to different ways of approaching challenges. I’ve become more adaptable in how I evaluate situations and more confident in justifying my decisions.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? I am still in the program and transitioned into a new role while only halfway through my courses, so I haven’t earned a promotion yet.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program? It wasn’t feasible for me to step away from work to pursue a full-time program. The flexibility of the online MBA also allowed me to transition into a new role and adapt without difficulty.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Bryant now offers a specialized concentration in AI as an option for their online MBA program, but I did not personally take any of these courses.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 7 hours

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term professional goal is to step into a leadership role where I can shape the strategy for developing and commercializing tools for analysis of genetic medicine therapeutics. I aim to leverage both my technical background and business education to drive product strategy, lead cross-functional teams, and bring impactful innovations to market. I’m also passionate about mentoring others and helping them grow toward their own personal and professional goals.

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