After working a career in sales and in the chemical industry, Presney Blackman (McCombs, ‘21) decided to go to business school to transition into a career in technology and entrepreneurship, and she ultimately ended up at UT-McCombs. In her search, Blackman was looking for an MBA program that not only had an emphasis in these two fields, but also had a smaller class size and a good relationship with the local community. In this interview, Blackman shares why UT-McCombs was a great fit for her, as well as her advice for how admitted MBA students can select the right MBA program.
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to come to business school?
Before coming to business school, I worked as an Account Manager for DowDuPont. I had an incredible role at DowDuPont working with our customers and I enjoyed my time there. I wanted to come to business school to explore a career outside of sales as well as pivot from chemicals into technology and entrepreneurship. Going through the DowDuPont merger was a great experience for me, but it also left me feeling a bit out of control of my career. I wanted to put myself in a position where I felt completely in control of my career.
MBASchooled: What were your big questions in considering which school to attend?
I wanted to go to a school that had a big focus on technology and entrepreneurship, one where I felt like I could make an impact (smaller class size), and one that had a good relationship with the city.
MBASchooled: Why did you choose to attend McCombs?
I chose to attend McCombs because I knew the school had a great relationship with tech companies. I wanted to get connected to the Austin start-up scene, and I felt that the culture was a good fit for me. The brand name of the University of Texas was also something I felt would be good for my network.
MBASchooled: What about the culture and your classmates stood out to you about McCombs?
The humility and helpfulness of the students stood out to me the most when making my decision. I knew I would find myself around bright people while at McCombs, but I felt comforted knowing I would become classmates with people who would be extremely helpful when it comes to interviewing and navigating the course load.
MBASchooled: What resources, programs, or information were helpful to you in making your decision?
McCombs Diversity Weekend, The Consortium, and coffee chats with students were very helpful to me.
MBASchooled: How has McCombs helped you work toward your own career goals and aspirations?
Being able to attend Treks to companies in tech in Seattle and the Bay Area and organizations that are affiliated with McCombs, such as Texas Venture Labs and the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship, have been helpful for me as I explore my career opportunities. Also, the knowledge and experience our Career Center at McCombs possess has been extremely helpful as I made my way through the decision-making process when evaluating offers and opportunities.
MBASchooled: What parts or aspects of the academic experience attracted you to McCombs?
Being able to choose the classes we want to take as early as the second half of our first semester really excited me when evaluating my options. I also liked having the option to have an internship experience while school was in session through our MBA+ projects. The global opportunities also drew me to McCombs. We are able to take advantage of global opportunities before even beginning classes, and we have the chance to embark on global study starting during the Spring Break of our first year.
MBASchooled: What has been a surprise, or an unexpected element of your experience at McCombs?
It’s been surprising to me how much liberty we have as students to shape our own experience here at McCombs. I feel empowered to make changes to our program and to begin new initiatives that can hopefully last well into the future.
MBASchooled: What has been your favorite moment or experience during your first year of business school?
My favorite experience during my first year of business school so far has been the dinners that our international students have hosted at various restaurants around the city of Austin. They choose the restaurant and order for us based on our preferences, and they teach us about the food culture in their home countries. It has been one of those “this is why I am in business school” moments and it has expanded my worldview without having to go abroad. I am so grateful for those experiences to be able to connect with people who are different than myself.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for those who are evaluating where they want to attend business school?
I would say follow your gut while allowing yourself to be sensible in making this decision. Choose a school that feels right and has a strong network and reputation in the business world. Make your decision based on your needs for now but also in the future.
Need Help Preparing For Business School? Check out Our Guide on How to Prepare For Business School