A Degree of Convenience Too

It goes without saying that online MBA degrees offer flexibility, convenience, and the chance to improve your career. But who knew that the Kelley Direct online MBA program could help busy executives relocate too?

Relocate While Earning Your MBA

“Many people talk about online degrees and the time saved by not having to commute to classes and the comfort of participating from home,” says Christine Nevill, risk officer at J.P. Morgan Chase. “For me, it was worth much more. It allowed me to take advantage of a fantastic career opportunity that required me to relocate in the middle of completing my degree. I didn’t have to weigh the pros and cons of accepting the offer or finishing my degree. I didn’t have to apply to a new school or worry about transferring credits.”

Now that is convenient.

Nevill began researching MBA programs while working for J.P. Morgan Chase in Houston. Although she was eager to get started on her MBA, it was important for her to maintain the momentum she was building in her career. Kelley Direct was the perfect way to do both. “I considered relocating for a full-time program, but favored a part-time program that would allow me to keep working toward my current goals,” she recalls. “I also wanted a degree that would be recognized nationally, since I anticipated moving to another part of the country within the next few years. The Kelley Direct program simply made sense. It was the highest-ranked school with an online program.”

Getting To Know Other Students

She says the best thing about her experience was the other students—and their wide-ranging areas of expertise. She especially enjoyed the in-residence weeks of the program, and the chance to put faces with names. “I hear that students in other online degree programs often feel disconnected, and that they don’t have the opportunity to get to know anyone,” says Nevill. “For KD students, those issues don’t exist. We were organized into teams during the first in-residence, which was the first week of the program. My team was amazing. It included a finance executive, an engineer/program manager, a plant manager/R&D engineer in Puerto Rico, and a marketing wizard/translator from California who's living in Tokyo. The diversity of our team was a tremendous advantage, not just because we had a varied skill set that helped with homework, but it enhanced the overall learning process.”

She acknowledged that the in-residence weeks were demanding, but says “the intensity allowed teams to bond quickly, learn one another’s strengths, and set a great foundation for the rest of the year.”

The Foundation For Success

In her current role at J.P. Morgan, Nevill works with managers to identify and assess risks, and ways to mitigate them. A typical day might include meeting with a manager to conduct a review; researching a regulatory, legal, or tax requirement; reviewing requirements for a new system; or researching solutions to client questions or requests.

No matter what her day looks like, though, Nevill enjoys the challenges of her work and its diversity. She is looking forward to her long and productive career—and so are her bosses. “Every employer wants employees who are driven to continuously improve both their technical and leadership skills,” she says. “Earning an MBA from a school like Kelley does just that, not only by sharpening the skills but also by strengthening the foundation for long-term success.”

In Brief

Tips on Juggling Work and School:

“The most important thing was having effective time management skills. Although my work schedule was fairly well established, it could be unpredictable at times. I made it a goal to always have school work finished at least a day in advance, so that if a work issue came up, I wouldn't miss an assignment or disappoint my team.”

Career Goals:

“The most important goal of my career is to continue to learn from and be challenged by my work. Having an MBA enriches the tools and resources that I have available for tackling unfamiliar subjects and engaging colleagues, ultimately expanding my career opportunities.”