Jindal School of Management Alum Discusses the Importance of an MBA for Success

Ryan O’Neil, head of marketing for the SAP S/4HANA solution at SAP Software, recently offered advice for students considering an MBA. O’Neil particularly discussed his experience earning his master’s degree at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Naveen Jindal School of Management.

O’Neil originally sought a master’s degree to expand his business knowledge and better understand business operations across multiple departments. While earning his degree, O’Neil additionally became aware of the need to stay competitive with other MBAs in the job market. This realization was primarily a result of Accelerated Master of Business Administration programs increasing in popularity, allowing undergraduate students to take on graduate coursework and achieve an MBA within 4-5 years.

O’Neil additionally lauded certain benefits of earning an MBA for working professionals who have been in the workplace for a significant time. According to O’Neil, earning an MBA can help re-energize one’s experience in the workplace, with the chance to take classes at night and then apply the new knowledge the next day. Furthermore, he emphasizes the importance of partaking in hands-on work and real-world scenarios, both opportunities he was given through the Jindal School of Management.

Despite challenges such as balancing work, education and family, O’Neil recommends the MBA experience highly, touting knowledge as the highest reward he achieved. According to O’Neil, the ability to use his newfound knowledge to connect the dots in business has allowed him to overcome new challenges in the workplace. “I am very driven to create value for the company that I work for, regardless of my role.  It has given me a foundation to continually contribute to the business and demonstrate the value that I deliver.”

regions: Dallas

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