Some empty nesters use their free time to pick up new hobbies.
Others take the time to travel.
But when Rhonda Delasbour小蝌蚪APP檚 youngest child graduated from high school and joined the Marine Corps, she had one thing at the top of her to-do list: earn an MBA degree.
小蝌蚪APP淭his had been a goal since I graduated college,小蝌蚪APP Delasbour says. 小蝌蚪APP淔or the first time in my life, I could do something for me.小蝌蚪APP
The Acadiana native knew she wanted to earn her degree locally, but as a working professional, she also needed flexibility. The 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 MBA program online was the perfect fit.
At 44 years young, Delasbour walked across the stage in May 2024 to accept her MBA degree. And her career is just beginning.
Involvement in the MBA Program
For Delasbour, earning an MBA was just as much a networking opportunity as it was a learning experience.
Living close to campus gave her the unique opportunity to be involved with a variety of student organizations, including the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 and its .
小蝌蚪APP淚f felt good to be a local student,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 was able to do the same thing as on-campus students and participate in all the activities like I was any regular student. I felt like a kid again.小蝌蚪APP
She used that opportunity to help other online students get involved, too.
As an active member of the MBA Association, she noticed a disconnect between on-campus and online MBA students. So, she brought her concerns to the organization小蝌蚪APP檚 board.
In response, the board created a new position specifically responsible for online student outreach.
Delasbour served as the inaugural online coordinator in her final semester.
小蝌蚪APP淚 did a lot of networking in my classes,小蝌蚪APP she recalls. 小蝌蚪APP淲hen I got this position, I went through emails and GroupMe chats to find online students and reach out to say, 小蝌蚪APP楬ey, this organization isn小蝌蚪APP檛 just for on-campus students. You can come to in-person events if you live locally or participate in the Zoom events.小蝌蚪APP櫺◎蝌紸PP
Delasbour also climbed the ranks within the Society for Human Resource Management, progressing from treasurer to vice president to president in her final year. She was the first online student to become president of the organization.
小蝌蚪APP淚 felt proud that other students in their 20s voted me into these leadership positions,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 didn小蝌蚪APP檛 feel or act any type of way just because I was 44. I really tried to relate to everyone I met.小蝌蚪APP
Career Growth
That ability to relate to other people, combined with the confidence she gained through her online MBA courses, earned Delasbour a promotion at work just one year into the program.
In addition to her role as an assistant controller for an ice equipment distributor based in Lafayette, she now serves as a trainer, traveling to the company小蝌蚪APP檚 six branches throughout the southern United States to help onboard new employees.
小蝌蚪APP淚 used to be timid and quiet, but this program made me improve my leadership and presentation skills,小蝌蚪APP Delasbour says. 小蝌蚪APP淢y company saw me grow as a leader, and they gave me this promotion after a year in the program.小蝌蚪APP
The MBA program小蝌蚪APP檚 coursework provided Delasbour with new business knowledge, too.
Though her undergraduate degree was in accounting and finance, taking graduate-level accounting courses helped her better understand the principles behind what she does.
小蝌蚪APP淭hese days, everything is done with a computer, and you really just need to know the basics and type in the numbers,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭he accounting class I took made me learn what to do without software. I小蝌蚪APP檝e been an accountant since 2003, but that class challenged me the most.小蝌蚪APP
The Next Steps
With an MBA degree and newfound confidence, Delasbour is ready to see where her career goes.
Since starting at her current company in 2008, she小蝌蚪APP檚 worked her way up from accounting clerk to accounting manager to assistant controller. Her ultimate goal: to become the company小蝌蚪APP檚 controller, or chief financial officer.
小蝌蚪APP淥ur CFO right now, he小蝌蚪APP檚 my mentor,小蝌蚪APP Delasbour says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 needed that extra push, that extra experience, that extra education from the MBA program to even think about putting myself in that role.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淚 don小蝌蚪APP檛 plan on leaving my job, but I know I小蝌蚪APP檓 capable now of taking any job that comes my way. This program made me have more confidence in myself. I小蝌蚪APP檝e really enjoyed my last two years.小蝌蚪APP
Inspired by her own journey, Delasbour encourages her peers in the MBA program online to push beyond their comfort zones, just as she did.
小蝌蚪APP淓veryone I met during the MBA program was so accepting,小蝌蚪APP Delasbour says. 小蝌蚪APP淲e all had one main goal 小蝌蚪APP to get to the end 小蝌蚪APP and nobody cared how old you were or what your concentration was.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淒on小蝌蚪APP檛 just do your homework and take your tests. Network and connect with as many classmates as you can. It really can be so enjoyable and exciting.小蝌蚪APP
Grow your network while gaining valuable business knowledge in the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 MBA program online.