Courtnay Griffin decided to pursue her MBA at Berry College while working full-time as the City of Rome grant and housing director. At the time, she was established in her career and seeking professional growth. But soon after beginning the program, her world was upended by the COVID-19 pandemic and a transition to a city transit role, with a community system facing a critical point of reinvention.
“Suddenly, I felt like my whole life was in this rebuilding phase,” says Griffin. “What I was learning felt brand new, but it was such an appropriate moment for me to be in that program. I was literally taking what I was learning and applying it piece by piece, day by day.”
As her classes explored organizational systems and process improvement, Griffin was revitalizing operations within Rome’s transit system. While discussing branding strategies in class, she was rethinking logos, uniforms and public identity. Just months before graduation, she was in California selecting a new fleet of buses. But the changes didn’t come without conflict.
“One quote I repeat to myself from my senior seminar is, ‘People are emotionally tied to their habits,’” says Griffin. “My professor was trying to help me understand how difficult change could be for others, even when necessary.”
Beyond the practical coursework and advice, she describes her cohort peers as invaluable. As her first year was mostly online because of COVID-19, Griffin was grateful for the following year of in-person connection: “Our conversations were richer. There was more camaraderie. I would highly recommend in-person components of an MBA for working through real scenarios.”
She also reflected on pursuing a mid-career MBA. “Many students were fresh out of their senior year of college,” she says. “But I could not have timed the experience better. My scenarios in class were never imaginary, and the MBA gave me the time and resources to resolve a lot of real problems. If you are looking to get to the next level or move into a position of leadership, there is so much to gain from an MBA like Berry’s.”
