Kwi Jessica Ha

Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Hofstra University

“Christ-led 1.5 generation Korean immigrant committed to growth and excellence and dedicated to inspiring others (especially my children) through diligence, humility, and purposeful leadership.”

Age: 44 years old

Hometown: Carle Place, New York

Fun fact about yourself: I live by the Korean motto: “Work hard, play hard”. During my MBA global practicum to Japan, we were going to be stuck in a bus for 3+ hours. I started a karaoke party, and it became one of the most memorable and fun parts of the trip. We were still singing after we parked in front of the hotel and even got the professors to sing!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Chamberlain University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Where are you currently working? Northwell Health. Advisor, Clinical Quality Management & Performance Improvement.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I was a stay-at-home mom without a career. I started my career as a medical assistant when I became a single mom, returned to nursing school in my 30s to show my son that faith and diligence carry you through adversity.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? It was Zarb’s nationally-recognized excellence, flexibility, and a strong sense of community for working professions. The program is known to combine flexibility, rigor, and personal attention that is difficult to find in online programs. The program challenged me to grow as a leader while allowing me to balance career, motherhood, and personal purpose.  

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? Meeting people with diverse backgrounds, networking, and developing lifelong relationships through the cohort model.

How did your online MBA experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? The learning environment was more flexible and self-paced and felt the interaction with professors was more personable and more readily available via different channels.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Proactive engagement! Lean into your cohort and don’t be afraid to ask questions. A large part of the MBA is about networking and making connections. By proactively engaging, you’ll develop valuable leadership skills as well as communication skills that are essential to growth both professionally and personally.

How has your online MBA education helped you in your current job? Being knowledgeable in your role is a given. Sharing that knowledge and using it as leverage to strategize and collaborate with others for patient safety is an asset I gained from my online MBA education.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Northwell Health operates 28 hospitals and over 1,000 outpatient facilities across New York and Connecticut. Before my online MBA education, I was a regulatory advisor for one large hospital with many Article 28 sites. My MBA degree gave me the qualification needed for me to transition to a role in the corporate sector. This new role allows me to support all the hospitals within Northwell Health now.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program? Work-life balance is very important for me. I wanted to ensure that my pursuit of the MBA degree wouldn’t take away too much time from my children. Due to its flexibility and asynchronous curriculum, the online MBA program allowed me to spend the time needed after my daughter went to bed. It meant less sleep for me but not less time spent with the kids.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? AI was part of our curriculum. We learned about different models of it and how it is being utilized in different sectors. I was fascinated by the advancements made in healthcare with AI’s contribution. I think my key insight was recognizing AI’s profound potential and the integral human component that is required for oversight and direction.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 14-28 hours.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My ultimate long-term professional goal is to lead and strategically shape the future of regulatory compliance within a large, complex healthcare system, potentially in an executive role. I believe that by diligently performing my current responsibilities and proactively seeking ways to contribute beyond the status quo – as I’ve learned from experience – doors open to opportunities where I can leverage my expertise to drive systemic improvements in patient safety and operational excellence.

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