A Lifelong Learner Earns the Gies iMSA to Further Stand Out

For over 20 years, Eric has been an integral a part of AT&T, an organization that’s skilled staggering progress and transitions through the years. He’s contributed to its evolution at many job ranges, beginning as an intern and paving a singular profession path in a number of roles on a number of groups, ultimately touchdown in finance.

But, there got here a degree when Eric determined he wanted extra management over his trajectory throughout the firm. Eric already held a grasp’s in economics and finance and a legislation diploma, however he was in search of one thing to set him aside. “I wished to tell apart myself from everyone,” he reveals.

Eric deliberate his subsequent profession transfer with a strategic mindset and began trying to find a level to not solely bolster his educational accolades but in addition acquire sensible abilities for his present position. He selected to pursue the net Grasp of Science in Accountancy (iMSA) from Gies School of Enterprise on the College of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Recognizing the iMSA on LinkedIn was the beginning of Eric’s journey. “ what? I ought to verify this out,” he thought. Intrigued by the affordability of this system, the status of the college, and significantly the excessive rank of the diploma, he noticed it as a particular alternative. For him, the net setting was an ideal match, as he was eliminating the necessity for an hour-long commute to the closest college. He even says, “I really feel like I get extra interplay with the professor than I’d with a standard setting.”

Upon enrolling, Eric constructed a complete understanding of top-notch analytical strategies by way of the iMSA program. The coursework consists of dwell lectures and different video supplies on Coursera, which Eric used to dive deeper into topics. Eric was significantly impressed by an information analytics course in this system, valuing how he may apply the teachings to his job.

Past the digital school rooms, working with different iMSA learners from all over the world was an enriching cultural expertise for Eric. Via the quite a few group tasks, he linked with friends throughout totally different time zones from Sydney to Ghana, and even some at AT&T. Partaking with such various teams, he realized, was a particular studying expertise, making his research rewarding in distinctive methods.

Between the rigorous curriculum and evolving work duties, Eric was capable of finding a stability. “I dedicate time on Saturdays and Sundays to give attention to my schoolwork,” he shared.

With the iMSA program, Eric did extra than simply strengthen his accounting information. “This diploma actually reinvigorated my profession,” he beams. He credit incomes the diploma for his return to finance work at AT&T, and for a brand new position that closely entails accounting.

Eric’s story is a testomony to the iMSA’s worth, as his enhanced abilities and information have straight impacted his profession path. Nevertheless, his journey isn’t over. By the tip of the 12 months, he’ll undertake much more accounting-based duties at AT&T, and his skilled future is stuffed with potential.

In Eric’s phrases, “Don’t hesitate round an internet program,” as you’ll be able to take pleasure in top-tier studying from anyplace. Benefitting from a versatile educational setting and esteemed school, learners like Eric proceed to face out of their careers as they pursue their skilled ambitions with the Gies iMSA.

Learn more about the iMSA program from the Gies College of Business.