The next generation of women leaders aren’t waiting for the perfect moment to earn an advanced business degree. Instead, they’re redefining what that moment looks like – finding flexible, world-class online master’s programs that support their ambitions on their own terms.
For Christine Park the challenge was overcoming a short career break to raise two small boys. She found that returning to the workforce felt more like a hurdle than a homecoming.
“My short pause had become a liability, and I was left with a resume that wasn’t so attractive anymore,” said Park, now a second-year student in Gies Business’ fully online MBA – known as the iMBA® – and a channel business development manager at a sustainability-focused company. “To keep reinventing myself, I knew I needed to formalize my business knowledge with a world-class education.”
For others, the challenge is navigating the unexpected. Cara Cassner, iMBA ’23, was already immersed in her MBA studies when she learned she was pregnant with her first child. In a traditional MBA program, a milestone like this might have signaled a stop. At Gies College of Business, it was just a shift in gears. Because of the program’s inherent flexibility, she took one semester off to focus on her newborn and returned to finish her degree without skipping a beat.
Park and Cassner are part of a global community of about 1,500 of mid-career women in the Gies Business online iMBA program, which offers core courses on leadership, management, and business analysis as well as focus areas in digital marketing, business analytics, mergers and acquisitions, and healthcare innovation, design, and entrepreneurship. The College also offers fully online advanced degrees in accountancy and management.
“The combination of flexibility, affordability, and reputation was unmatched,” said Parks. It’s what has allowed me to balance a full-time professional role, my family, and graduate school,” said Parks.
Practical Learning with Immediate ROI
For women in their 30s and 40s, time is the most precious commodity. They don’t want to wait two years to see a return on their investment; they need skills they can use on Monday morning. And as the iMBA marks a decade of innovation, its impact is perhaps most visible in how quickly learners apply what they learn.
“What surprised me most was how quickly I reaped the benefits,” said Cassner. “From the very first class, my team noticed me applying new concepts. Now, I’m being pulled into high-level projects I wouldn’t have been considered for otherwise.”
Park has had a similar experience, noting how quickly complex business concepts began “clicking” in her role as director of digital marketing at the non-profit Kendal Corp.
“This program is structured to real life,” said Park. “One of my first classes focused on collaborative leadership and I was able to apply those strategies to my team immediately.”
But the impact isn’t just professional; it’s generational. Park has noticed the discipline of her studies spilling over into her home life.
“When I take an evening class, I see my kids reading their own books and working alongside me,” she said. “I’m proud to be modeling the value of lifelong learning for them.”
A Community of Unmatched Access
While online learning has the potential to sometimes feel isolating, Gies Business has intentionally engineered a digital ecosystem where women – who make up about one-third of the Gies iMBA student body – can find their tribe across time zones.
“We’ve created a holistic strategy to build a continuous community where women can develop relationships and grow,” said Kate Deering, associate director of recruiting and admissions at Gies Business.
Cassner has been impressed by the scope of offerings.
“The global network is incredible; it’s easy to find people in your specific field or job function,” she said.
From virtual meetups to in-person events, Gies Business offers several pathways for connection:
- Women Who Rule: A dedicated interest channel on Gies Connect where students and alumnae meet weekly to share resources and hear from guest speakers.
- Women’s Coffee Chats: A space for prospective students to hear the real story from those currently balancing the program.
- iGBA (iDegrees Graduate Business Association): A student organization offering professional development specifically geared towards women.
- Women of Influence: Access to a Crain’s Chicago Business-sponsored event that offers rising leaders the opportunity to expand their networks.
- Women in Business Conference: An annual event designed to foster mentorship and networking for women at every career stage.
“By nurturing belonging and relationships, we create spaces where women can feel seen, heard, and valued,” said Desirae Louise Hill, iGBA committee co-chair. “Connection is important, especially for online learners. In this way, caring for women and community becomes the focus, and what matters most to women rises.”
For those standing at the crossroads of a career pivot, Park’s journey offers a powerful reminder:
“A career break does not mean a broken career. Your value does not expire,” she said. “I went from a rejected resume to leading a region while earning an MBA from a top university. Reinvention is always possible.”