Lisa Sciannella

University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business

“Driven, inquisitive leader who embraces change, organized, resilient, compassionate, personable, and hardworking.”

Age: 37

Hometown: Frederick, Maryland

Fun fact about yourself: I’ve hiked at least one mile of the Appalachian Trail in every state it runs through, from Georgia to Maine.

Undergraduate School and Degree: B.S. Mathematics & Secondary Education (Math), University of Maryland, 2010

Where are you currently working? Helpsy, Chief of Staff

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The achievement I am most proud of is the role I have played in helping create meaningful, dignified work for employees at Helpsy. Beyond business growth and partnerships, what stands out most are the individuals whose lives have improved through stable employment, fair wages, and recognition for their work. Knowing that I have contributed to building an environment where people feel valued and supported is incredibly meaningful. It reflects the type of impact I strive to have in my career, where business and purpose align.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? As a loyal Terp, it felt natural to return to my alma mater. The Smith School’s strong reputation and the flexibility of the online MBA made it the right choice for balancing career growth with my professional responsibilities.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? My favorite part was the flexibility, which allowed me to maintain a full work schedule while balancing travel and caring for my young daughters. I also really missed learning, as I had not been a student since graduating in 2010, so logging into Zoom for class often felt like stepping back into that mindset again. It was amazing that I could do that from anywhere, even while my kids were upstairs in bed.

How did your online MBA experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student?
The biggest difference was how I viewed and managed time. As an undergraduate, time felt almost limitless since I was not balancing the same level of responsibilities. This time around, I was just as motivated, but far more intentional because time was very limited. Efficiency, planning, and prioritization became essential. It also felt different approaching the experience as an adult. Having chosen and invested in the program myself, I had a deeper sense of purpose and ownership compared to going straight from high school. I found myself genuinely excited for parts of the experience that I might have taken for granted before, like selecting electives or reviewing a new syllabus at the start of a course. That shift made the entire experience more meaningful and engaging.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? My best advice is to be intentional with your time. Get on a schedule early, stay organized, and plan your week in advance. Assignments, especially cases and group projects, often take longer than expected, so build in extra time. I also found it helpful to complete a strong draft a few days before it was due so I could revisit it with fresh eyes. I leaned into early mornings instead of late nights, which helped me stay focused and consistent.

Just as important, is finding the right people. Surround yourself with classmates who are equally committed and bring different perspectives, and take the opportunity to learn from them. I made a point to ask classmates and professors what they were reading outside of class, which led me to ideas and books I would not have discovered otherwise.

Early in the program, I read Cal Newport’s Deep Work, which changed how I approached my time and focus. Creating dedicated, distraction-free blocks for meaningful work made a significant difference in both my performance and overall experience.

How has your online MBA education helped you in your current job? As Chief of Staff, I have a broad view across a mid-sized organization. While my undergraduate background in mathematics gave me strong analytical skills, I lacked formal training in areas like finance, accounting, and strategy. The MBA has helped me fill those gaps and view the business more holistically. I now better understand how decisions impact the full organization, from financial performance to long term strategic direction, which has made me more effective in my current role and more confident in applying these skills going forward.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? While I did not earn a formal promotion during the program, the MBA has positioned me to take on greater responsibility and apply these skills at a higher level going forward.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program?
I chose an online MBA because it was the most seamless fit for my life. It allowed me to continue working full-time while balancing travel and family responsibilities, without stepping away from my career. I was also able to apply what I was learning in real time, which made the experience both practical and impactful.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? AI was integrated into coursework as a tool to enhance problem solving and technical skills, particularly in my data mining and predictive analytics course. I learned how to effectively prompt AI to generate code and approaches that I would not have developed on my own, which expanded both my efficiency and creativity.

It also became a valuable study tool. I used it to generate additional practice problems and reinforce concepts beyond assigned materials. At the same time, one of the most important insights I gained was the need for critical evaluation. AI can produce confident but incorrect answers, so learning when to trust it and when to validate outputs became just as important as using it. Overall, the experience helped me view AI as a powerful tool that complements, rather than replaces, strong analytical thinking.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 20-30 hours

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term goal is to take on leadership roles where I can solve complex, meaningful problems and drive impact at scale. Throughout my career, I have been drawn to work that creates positive outcomes, whether through education, social or sustainability-focused initiatives. I aim to continue applying strategic and analytical thinking in environments where business success and broader impact go hand in hand.

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.