THE BALANCING ACT
Strategies from women of the University of Utah Graduate Business Programs
A SUCCESSFUL CAREER, SOCIAL LIFE, FAMILY, AND MORE. CAN WOMEN HAVE IT ALL?
YES.
More women than ever are advancing their careers with a graduate business degree. With increased leadership opportunities comes greater demands on time and energy–and more discussions about achieving a healthy work-life balance.
To gather real-world insights, we spoke with Utah alumnae about their strategies for balancing work, school, and life. Representing diverse professions and personal backgrounds, their advice offers valuable guidance for current and prospective graduate business students.
PRIORITIZE & DELEGATE
It’s impossible to give 100% to every aspect of your life, but re-prioritizing non essential tasks can free up time and energy for what matters most. Executive MBA alumna Elizabeth Sexton managed her time by minimizing grocery store trips, choosing online shopping and delivery instead.
“You learn how to delegate, something that I struggled with coming into my MBA. It was a real shift for me. I have never had others that I leaned on. I learned how to do that through the MBA program.”
Many women find it challenging to rely on a support system for tasks traditionally viewed as their responsibility. But, in order to gain balance in other areas of your life, delegating to others can make a big difference.
USE TIME WITH PURPOSE
Busy professional women are often pulled in multiple directions, balancing times when work takes priority and moments when family comes first. In both cases, using your time purposefully can ease the challenge. For Executive MBA alumna Katrina Holt, this meant setting aside specific time for her family.
“I have two young children, so at night and on the weekends I would have to purposefully plan out my day to ensure that I was spending quality time with them whenever possible,” Holt said. “This meant I was often doing homework early in the morning or at night after they had gone to bed. Sometimes my son and I would sit and do homework together, which still felt like quality time.”
Optimizing your time throughout the day can look different depending on your situation. Want to keep reading that great novel? Try an audio book version during your commute. Is it important to check in on family members every day? Set up a recurring phone call during lunch.
Remember, you’re human! Scheduling time each week for hobbies, relaxation, and personal enjoyment can help prevent burnout.
FIND FLEXIBILITY WHERE YOU CAN
Flexibility in your work, school, and home life can improve your experience and help achieve your goals on a timeline that works for you. MBA Online alumna Josceline Mascarenhas said taking online classes allowed her to balance her job, life, and coursework without traveling to campus.
“I’m in a wheelchair, I’m a mom, and I’m a full-time, extremely ambitious professional. I thought ‘if I’m going to spend all that time in traffic and up and down buildings and stairs, it’s not going to leave very much time for me to actually do the learning.’ The online format brought all of that home to me.”
If you’re looking for flexibility, the University of Utah has you covered. Several of our graduate business programs offer different schedule options to fit in with your life. Our most flexible program is the MBA—with four different formats.
CONFIDENCE CHANGES EVERYTHING
You’ve probably heard it before: confidence is key. When combined with the skills, knowledge, and connections you gain through your graduate business program, confidence can be the extra boost you need to change your career. MBC alumna Krystal Christensen said her experience in the Master of Business Creation program gave her a boost of confidence to grow her business.
“I was successful, but limited in a lot of ways. The MBC program promised the business knowledge I was lacking, but it also targeted my favorite aspect of business: creation. It’s helped me grow from a girl with a business to an entrepreneur with potential and further opportunity at my fingertips.”
GIVE YOURSELF GRACE
Balancing work, school, and life as a graduate business student can feel overwhelming, but these alumnae demonstrate it’s possible with the right strategies. Prioritize, delegate, and optimize your time. Seek flexibility where you can, and most importantly, trust in your abilities and the confidence your graduate education builds. With determination and support, you’ll succeed.
A PROGRAM For EVERY SCHEDULE
If you’re ready to make the next big move in your career while also making time for work and life, we know you’ll find the right graduate business program at the University of Utah.
Check out all the options and learn more at eccles.utah.edu. You can also take advantage of 1:1 meetings with academic advisors, online information sessions, and Q&As with alumni.
