Balancing career growth and family with the Evening MBA

For years, McKennah Schroeder (Evening MBA '26) knew she wanted more out of her career. An advertisement for the Evening MBA at W. P. Carey inspired her — highlighting an opportunity for in-person professional development and growth that would allow her to continue to work and support her daughter.

For years, McKennah Schroeder (Evening MBA '26) knew she wanted more out of her career, but the challenge she faced was finding a path forward that fit with her life. She spent her undergraduate years at Arizona State University balancing studies, full-time work, and family responsibilities.

After graduating, Schroeder continued to work for the same employer for over a decade. It provided stability for her young daughter, but wasn't the best use of her talent or potential. "I knew that I was capable of so much more," she says. "I needed something where I could get the degree, I could get the connections, and I could keep my income without having to change my living situation drastically."

An advertisement for the Evening MBA program at ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business inspired Schroeder — highlighting an opportunity for in-person professional development and growth that would allow her to continue to work and support her daughter. The program immediately provided her with new skills and confidence, while laying the foundation for a successful career.

Investing in a network

During her undergraduate degree, Schroeder spent most of her time studying, working, or visiting her mother in Casa Grande. She didn't have time to join student organizations or socialize with her classmates often.

She wanted to avoid a similar experience with her MBA, and she knew how important it was for her career to build connections and expand her network. Luckily, her Evening MBA cohort made this easy, with classmates she describes as “very social” and “interconnected.”

"I made sure to switch up my group members every single class for projects so that I could meet as many people as possible in depth," Schroeder says. "I wanted to meet people and get to know them and see how they work, because in a bigger workplace, there's going to be a lot of different types of people to work with."

Learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom — including a week-long trip to Washington, D.C. — maximized Schroeder’s ability to learn about different career paths and the ways that business and public policy interact. It was also a chance for her to further expand her professional network.

"It was interesting getting to go and hear from lobbyists and people close to politicians and lawmakers," Schroeder says. "We also got to meet MBA students from other colleges, as well as some of the online and second-year MBA students, while I was in the first year."

Starting a new chapter

Before graduating from the Evening MBA program, Schroeder was able to accomplish one of her biggest goals by landing a new job as a raw materials buyer at the manufacturer Tessenderlo Kerley.

"I really wanted to find a new position where I would have growth," she says. "I wanted some place that would place a priority on giving me work that stimulated me, that was more than just data entry, and that used a lot more of my social skills and my desire to find problems and fix them."

Schroeder credits her newfound confidence and network for making it a reality. After applying for this position, she discovered that an MBA classmate worked at the same company. They talked about the role and the organization, and her classmate spoke highly of her to the hiring team, which helped lead to a quick job offer.

Schroeder’s other goal for the program was more personal: wanting to prove to herself and her daughter that she was capable of achieving her dreams while working and being a mother.

"I wanted to be a role model for my daughter and show her that with this MBA, I didn't have to give up my life in order to provide something better for her," she says. "Although I am still sacrificing, I didn't have to give up my dreams of higher education and a more fulfilling job just because I'm a mom. I want her to see that."

Schroeder plans to stay connected with her W. P. Carey MBA network after graduation and recommends that future students stay open to opportunities and connections, wherever they appear. The Evening MBA experience is truly what you make it.

“You never know who's going to help you get your next job,” she says. “I never would have thought that I would be working where I'm working at now. The decision to come to ASU altered my trajectory.”