Some empty nesters use their free time to pick up new hobbies.
Others take the time to travel.
But when Rhonda Delasbour杏吧专区檚 youngest child graduated from high school and joined the Marine Corps, she had one thing at the top of her to-do list: earn an MBA degree.
杏吧专区淭his had been a goal since I graduated college,杏吧专区 Delasbour says. 杏吧专区淔or the first time in my life, I could do something for me.杏吧专区
The Acadiana native knew she wanted to earn her degree locally, but as a working professional, she also needed flexibility. The 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 MBA program online was the perfect fit.
At 44 years young, Delasbour walked across the stage in May 2024 to accept her MBA degree. And her career is just beginning.
Involvement in the MBA Program
For Delasbour, earning an MBA was just as much a networking opportunity as it was a learning experience.
Living close to campus gave her the unique opportunity to be involved with a variety of student organizations, including the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 and its .
杏吧专区淚f felt good to be a local student,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 was able to do the same thing as on-campus students and participate in all the activities like I was any regular student. I felt like a kid again.杏吧专区
She used that opportunity to help other online students get involved, too.
As an active member of the MBA Association, she noticed a disconnect between on-campus and online MBA students. So, she brought her concerns to the organization杏吧专区檚 board.
In response, the board created a new position specifically responsible for online student outreach.
Delasbour served as the inaugural online coordinator in her final semester.
杏吧专区淚 did a lot of networking in my classes,杏吧专区 she recalls. 杏吧专区淲hen I got this position, I went through emails and GroupMe chats to find online students and reach out to say, 杏吧专区楬ey, this organization isn杏吧专区檛 just for on-campus students. You can come to in-person events if you live locally or participate in the Zoom events.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
Delasbour also climbed the ranks within the Society for Human Resource Management, progressing from treasurer to vice president to president in her final year. She was the first online student to become president of the organization.
杏吧专区淚 felt proud that other students in their 20s voted me into these leadership positions,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 didn杏吧专区檛 feel or act any type of way just because I was 44. I really tried to relate to everyone I met.杏吧专区
Career Growth
That ability to relate to other people, combined with the confidence she gained through her online MBA courses, earned Delasbour a promotion at work just one year into the program.
In addition to her role as an assistant controller for an ice equipment distributor based in Lafayette, she now serves as a trainer, traveling to the company杏吧专区檚 six branches throughout the southern United States to help onboard new employees.
杏吧专区淚 used to be timid and quiet, but this program made me improve my leadership and presentation skills,杏吧专区 Delasbour says. 杏吧专区淢y company saw me grow as a leader, and they gave me this promotion after a year in the program.杏吧专区
The MBA program杏吧专区檚 coursework provided Delasbour with new business knowledge, too.
Though her undergraduate degree was in accounting and finance, taking graduate-level accounting courses helped her better understand the principles behind what she does.
杏吧专区淭hese days, everything is done with a computer, and you really just need to know the basics and type in the numbers,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭he accounting class I took made me learn what to do without software. I杏吧专区檝e been an accountant since 2003, but that class challenged me the most.杏吧专区
The Next Steps
With an MBA degree and newfound confidence, Delasbour is ready to see where her career goes.
Since starting at her current company in 2008, she杏吧专区檚 worked her way up from accounting clerk to accounting manager to assistant controller. Her ultimate goal: to become the company杏吧专区檚 controller, or chief financial officer.
杏吧专区淥ur CFO right now, he杏吧专区檚 my mentor,杏吧专区 Delasbour says. 杏吧专区淚 needed that extra push, that extra experience, that extra education from the MBA program to even think about putting myself in that role.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淚 don杏吧专区檛 plan on leaving my job, but I know I杏吧专区檓 capable now of taking any job that comes my way. This program made me have more confidence in myself. I杏吧专区檝e really enjoyed my last two years.杏吧专区
Inspired by her own journey, Delasbour encourages her peers in the MBA program online to push beyond their comfort zones, just as she did.
杏吧专区淓veryone I met during the MBA program was so accepting,杏吧专区 Delasbour says. 杏吧专区淲e all had one main goal 杏吧专区 to get to the end 杏吧专区 and nobody cared how old you were or what your concentration was.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淒on杏吧专区檛 just do your homework and take your tests. Network and connect with as many classmates as you can. It really can be so enjoyable and exciting.杏吧专区
Grow your network while gaining valuable business knowledge in the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 MBA program online.