Alumni Spotlight: Mixing it Up – An Alumna’s Journey from Cubicles to Cocktails
On any given day, Anna Ma could be solving complex problems for business clients, carving elaborate designs in wood, pouring tropical drinks at a wedding, or managing a team of event staff at a private event.
Her impressive work experience includes research operations roles at Google, Intuit, and Meta, and moonlighting as a catering professional on evenings and weekends. Coming from a family of Asian immigrants, she was taught that job security should be the top priority in her career, so she often worked two jobs at once. But Anna realized after moving from Silicon Valley to Texas that she didn’t want safety anymore— she wanted flexibility, creativity, and opportunities for human interaction. She wanted a career on her own terms.
Anna turned to The 12-Week MBA to help navigate the diverging paths she was facing
“I’ve always had two parallel career tracks—working in corporate and also taking gigs that made me happy. I rent out my apartment. I’ve been in the service industry for eight years. But I was worn out and unhappy. I needed to chart a new course that aligned my aspirations with my skills. And I couldn’t take two years off for a traditional MBA.” Anna said.
The 12-Week MBA provided an immersive experience in the world of business and leadership. Anna learned how to manage risk, ensure profitability, understand financial statements, and lead a team. She found the hands-on approach to learning more effective than the other skill-based programs she had taken.
Photo: Katelyn Powell
