Hear about the UT Dallas MBA from the voices of the people who know best.
The best way to understand how the MBA at UT Dallas can impact your life is to hear directly from the people who have experienced it themselves. MBA alumni and current students, as well as faculty and staff members, have a lot to say about what you can expect from joining the MBA program, working hard with your classmates and finally walking off the stage, diploma in hand, ready to advance in your career.
Student Ambassadors
MBA Ambassadors are here to answer any of your questions. They are current students who are passionate about their MBA experience at UT Dallas and have chosen to mentor and guide other students like you.
Benjamin Gomez, Class of 2026
Benjamin “Benji” Gomez is a Management Consultant at Sendero Consulting, currently pursuing his MBA with concentrations in Finance and Real Estate through JSOM’s Online Program. Prior to consulting, Benjamin spent five and a half years in the franchising industry, where he held various roles aimed at providing operational, marketing, and strategic support to franchise owners. His professional career began in financial services with New York Insurance Company, where he focused on selling insurance and investment securities in the Greater Waco area. A 2016 graduate of Baylor University, Benjamin is also a devoted husband to Alivia and proud father to his 1-year-old son, Oliver.
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Yujuan (Joanne) Xu, Class of 2026
Yujuan, a Chinese international student, earned her degree in Financial Management from Shanghai University in 2009. Yujuan demonstrated a diverse skill set in capital market research, financial modeling, enterprise valuation, and investment negotiation. Yujuan aims to utilize her double degree of MBA and MS in Business Analytics at UT Dallas to advance her career in the new era of technology. Outside of academic pursuits, she enjoys workouts, outdoors, travel, and experimenting with new recipes for baking and cooking.
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Debangkur Das, Class of 2026
Debangkur is a current Professional MBA student. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineering, he has developed a keen interest in the intersection of technology and market strategy. His professional journey has spanned diverse roles in Business Development across established software firms and a dynamic startup, where he has led successful marketing and sales initiatives. Debangkur is extremely passionate about identifying the core values of products and strategically positioning them to drive market adoption and revenue growth. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys playing sports, exploring world history, traveling, and experiencing diverse cultures and cuisines.
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Gabriela Guerreiro Class of 2024
Gabriela, a Brazilian international student, earned her degree in Marketing from Anhembi Morumbi University in 2020. Post undergrad, she worked as a digital marketing analyst at Natura&Co and Roche Pharmaceuticals, specializing in digital communication strategy in Brazil. Currently, she is channeling her background in digital communication strategy towards an MBA, focusing on Product Management. Outside of her academic pursuits, Gabriela enjoys the outdoors, playing volleyball, and exploring Dallas.
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Raam Subramanian, Class of 2026
Raam graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Economics and earned the Hollingsworth Leadership Certificate through the Corps of Cadets, a four-year military leadership training program.
Post graduation, he spent seven years as a Public Sector Healthcare Consultant at Deloitte before transitioning to work independently, continuing to serve State Government agencies. Raam is pursuing an MBA with a concentration in Business Analytics and Finance to enhance his technical project management and analytics background. Outside of work, he enjoys playing tennis, writing sketch comedy and plays, and mentoring the next generation.
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Brad Allison, Class of 2026
Brad currently works as a Chemical Water Treatment Consultant for Nalco Water, specializing in Data Centers and Microelectronics. Graduating from BYU with a BS in Chemical Engineering, Brad gained experience in Facilities Operations as an engineering supervisor at the Gaylord Texan, then transitioned to the more technical role of water treatment consultant. He speaks English, Russian, and some Spanish. Brad is pursuing the MBA at UT Dallas to better understand each of the roles and opportunities within large corporations, expand his network, improve his consulting abilities, and continue his personal development. Brad is blessed with an incredible wife and 2 wonderful children. He enjoys all sports, especially disc golf, serving in his local congregation and experiencing different cultures.
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Tyler Resnick, Class of 2024
Tyler is a student in the evening cohort MBA program. Prior to UTD, Tyler received his BS in Business Management from Mercy College while also minoring in Music Industry & Technology. Tyler currently works as a Client Success Manager at a Tech Staff Augmentation company called Andela, Inc. Tyler’s professional passions include eCommerce, digital, tech organizations, product/brand management, and Relationship Management. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking and trying to restaurants with his wife and friends, golfing, exercising, and watching the Dallas Mavericks.
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Victoria Friedhoff, Class of 2024
Victoria graduated from Northeastern University with a MS degree in International Management in 2018. Post degree, she worked for companies in the Food and Equestrian Fashion Industry as a Project, and Product Manager. Her projects were often centered around topics of digitalization, which led her to pursue an additional MS degree in Information Technology while pursuing her MBA. When Victoria is not studying, she enjoys being outside, exploring new hobbies and activities, and Improv theater.
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Dillon Harstvedt, Class of 2024
Dillon is currently in the Professional MBA Flex program. He graduated from Mississippi State University, with a BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering and a minor in Mathematics. Upon graduation, he joined Caterpillar’s three-year Leadership and Technical Development Program (LTDP), after which he transitioned to a Manufacturing and Supply Chain Project Manager role located in Denison, Texas. Dillon is incredibly passionate about operational execution and continuously improving people, processes, and product quality. In his free time, he enjoys weight training, golfing, researching the stock market, traveling, and playing outside with his rescued golden retriever.
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Jared Brooks, Class of 2025
Jared graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Healthcare Studies Pre-Medicine in 2022. Post-undergrad, he worked for The University of Texas at Dallas as a Research Coordinator at the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of Memory and Language. He is currently using his military leadership and analytical skills to pursue an MBA concentrating in analytics and an MS in Finance. When Jared is not studying, he enjoys being outside, playing sports, staying active, and finding new hobbies.
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Ashley Sharp, Class of 2026
Ashley is originally from Scotland and graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a BA in Risk Management in May of 2021. Post undergrad, Ashley worked at AECOM and then PwC where she specialized in Risk Management within the Capital Projects and Infrastructure space. Ashley joined the MBA program to develop her management skills and grow her international network. When Ashley isn’t studying, she likes shopping and pilates.
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Taha Ahmed, Class of 2026
Taha is a current student in the Professional MBA Flex Program. He is currently pursuing both an MBA and an MS in Information Technology and Management. He completed his undergraduate studies at JSOM in 2021, earning double majors in Business Administration and Finance. Upon graduating, he joined AT&T through the Finance Development Program (FDP) and gained experience in various financial roles before settling into a full-time position as a Financial Analyst. Taha is now focused on enhancing his technical skillset and managerial abilities through the Flex Program. He is motivated by continuous learning and is dedicated to growing as a leader that drives innovation and impactful change in business. Beyond academic and professional goals, he enjoys staying active, reading, watching films and television, and following sports.
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Cory Brown, Class of 2025
Cory holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University. After graduation, he joined Texas Materials, a CRH company, where he gained experience in project management, sales, estimating, and logistics. Currently pursuing an MBA, Cory aims to leverage his education to become a leader in strategy and finance for a large organization. Outside of work, he enjoys spending quality time with family, cooking, and staying active through workouts and sports.
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Farid Farooq, Class of 2024
Farid our international student hailing from Pakistan, brings a range of experience to the program. With a background in mechanical engineering, he previously worked at Pakistan’s largest fertilizer chemical plant, Engro. During his tenure there, he demonstrated a diverse skill set, leading teams in overhauling turbomachines, managing contracts, and overseeing procurement portfolios. Currently, he is pursuing his MBA with a focus on supply chain management and a dual masters in Business Analytics, further enhancing his professional acumen.
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Crisbel Rodriguez, Class of 2025
Crisbel is a Business Analyst at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and is a part of the evening cohort PMBA program. She grew up in Katy, Texas and received her undergraduate degree in Information Technology with concentration in Business Analytics and a minor in Mathematics from Texas Tech University in 2019. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and attending live music events.
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Carrie Dembeck, Class of 2025
Carrie has a diverse background in financial and analytical roles within the chemical industry and has recently transitioned into a business manager position. She holds a BS in Accounting & Finance from the University of Houston-Clearlake and an MS in Analytics from Villanova University. Currently enrolled in the UT Dallas PMBA Online program, Carrie is also pursuing a dual degree with an MS in Marketing. She is passionate about leveraging her academic and professional experiences to expand her career while mentoring others and helping them optimize their networks. In her free time, Carrie enjoys traveling, spending time with her fiancé, and enjoying life with their three dogs, family, and friends.
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Arturo Nunez, Class of 2025
Arturo currently works in the aerospace and defense industry as a program manager for emerging technologies. He graduated with his bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering from the University of Arkansas in 2017. Post-graduation, he participated in an operations rotational program where he held roles in supply chain, manufacturing, and quality management. Having worked in the US and in Mexico, Arturo now plans to focus his PMBA on international and strategic management, and to collaborate with fellow cohort students to tap into global markets, gain exposure to different sectors, and expand his professional reach. In his free time, Arturo enjoys fishing, playing soccer, and spending time with his family.
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Amanda Jo, Class of 2025
Amanda is passionate about marketing and driven by a strategic approach to decision making. After earning her bachelor’s degree in marketing from UT Dallas, she gained valuable experience as a consultative sales manager at a graphic design agency, where she honed her skills in project management and data-driven insights. Now, as a full-time MBA student focusing on Business Analytics, Amanda is eager to leverage her expertise in pursuing a career in strategic marketing and product management. Outside of the classroom, Amanda enjoys expressing her creativity through crocheting and unwinding with a good movie, TV show or Formula 1 race!
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Sara Rutherford, Class of 2024
Sara graduated from the University of Alabama with two degrees in Economics and Finance with a concentration in Global Business in 2017. Post undergrad, she worked for Tandem Consulting LLC as an Account Manager with an emphasis on legal accounting & project work in hurricane disaster relief in New Orleans, LA. She is currently using her financial analytical background to pursue her MBA and Masters in Finance, concentrating in Business Analytics & FinTech. When Sara is not studying, she enjoys going on walks, cooking, and shopping.
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Nathan Lewis, Class of 2026
Nathan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Virginia Tech. After graduation, he served as an Executive Officer, Platoon Leader, and Tactical Control Officer in the U.S. Army, where he managed logistics and operations for Air and Missile Defense Units, overseeing multimillion-dollar assets and leading teams in high-pressure environments. Currently pursuing an MBA and a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management at the University of Texas at Dallas, Nathan aims to leverage his military experience and analytical skills to excel in Operations and Supply Chain Management. In his free time, Nathan enjoys golf, fantasy football, and searching for the USA’s best BBQ food.
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MBA students talk about their invaluable academic experiences at the UT Dallas Jindal School of Management, providing advice, perspective, and vision.
Megan Kling, Full-Time MBA Class of 2021
“The Power of Two mentorship program gave me the opportunity to form a meaningful relationship with a professional whom I deeply admire and wouldn’t have had a connection to otherwise. My mentor and I have honed in on my career goals, practiced interviewing, and discussed shared interests and relevant issues as I go through my MBA. This mentorship program is one of the things I looked forward to the most in my first year as a student, and I have already experienced the benefits of forming new networks and speaking to someone with the skills and experience I aspire to have myself someday.”
Justin Drummond-Murray, Class of 2013, Power of 2 Mentor
Having an experienced mentor is critical in helping students pivot their careers. Often, students undersell themselves and their previous experience. As a mentor, I get to help students successfully reposition themselves. One particular student comes to mind – they updated their resume with their mentor’s feedback. They went from having zero interviews to an employer creating a new, more senior internship position to hire them.
Jakeb Spears, Class of 2017
Physician Compensation Analyst, Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting
The UT Dallas Full-Time MBA Program helped me make professional connections in my chosen industry, pushed me to challenge myself academically and professionally, and taught me both the quantitative and qualitative skills necessary to land my post-graduate job as an analyst in healthcare consulting.
Jordan Pedigo, Class of 2016
Assistant Vice President – Division Controller, BOK Financial Corporation
The MBA program provided a number of opportunities to work in team-based settings. These experiences improved my skills in communication, leadership, team-building and presentation. I have gained a new perspective into the challenges that businesses face, and I am ready to use the skills and knowledge gained to help add value in the workplace.
Laura Albright, Class of 2016
Management Consulting Lead Analyst, RealFoundations
The program not only gave me the tools I needed to achieve my goal of a rewarding career in a new industry – the in-class experience, a close-knit community of alumni in business and a rigorous curriculum, to name just a few – but I found a group of like-minded professionals who I am proud to call my friends. If I can do it, anyone can do it!
Nadeem Panjwani, Class of 2017
Software Product Manager, Motorola Mobility
The program helped me bridge the gap by acquiring high-value industry skills, building connections, and preparing for real-world challenges. In retrospective, I feel the three things that contributed most were – my cohort batch, my professors, and the wonderful MBA office staff. I cherish every moment I spent being part of the Full-Time Cohort MBA program and will always be grateful for everything it gave me!
James King, Class of 2016
Compensation, Benefits, & HRIS Manager, A. H. Belo
Switching careers is never easy, but getting my MBA at the Naveen Jindal School at UT Dallas made it far more manageable. As a result, I was able to secure an exciting and challenging career with excellent growth potential—an absolute must for a family man like myself.
Janelle Manuel, Class of 2017
Inbound Analytics & SEM Manager, Mohawk Industries
The instructors are great about bringing real-time events into the classroom and encouraging us to apply our experiences to their material as well. You tend to read more intently and dig deeper for interesting information because you want to make sure that you are an active, knowledgeable participant in the class conversations.
Justin Figueredo, Class of 2016
Army Reserves Captain; UNT Assistant Professor of Military Science; Financial Analyst, City of Grapevine
The Professional MBA program at UT Dallas was invaluable for my transition from active duty military service to the civilian workforce. Because of the relationships formed within my evening cohort and the insight and knowledge passionately shared by the esteemed faculty, this is an experience that I will never forget.
Jared Lange, Class of 2017
Administrator, Business Sustainability and Development, Parkland Hospital
When I researched MBA programs, the following were important: convenient location, accredited faculty, competitive tuition, hand-selected small cohort and strong alumni connections. UT Dallas met all of these needs. Additionally, the professors have been exceptional, and there have been numerous opportunities to connect with alumni.
Abhinav Sharma, Class of 2015
Senior Program Manager, Amazon
The MBA program has helped me grow professionally, academically and personally. Looking back, I am a completely changed person in every aspect, and the Jindal School has played a key role in setting me up for success as I enter a new phase of my life. I am grateful for everything that I have learned.
Wenet Wu, Class of 2016
Sr. Category Specialist, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
As a young professional in the supply chain industry, I needed a graduate program that would challenge me to think outside the norms of traditional supply chain techniques. The MS SCM program at the UT Dallas provided me excellent networking opportunities through student organizations such as INFORMS, SCLC, APICS and ISM.
Conner Rhodes, Full-Time MBA Class of 2021
The Power of 2 Mentor Program has had such a positive impact on my professional development. My mentor helped me understand how I was presenting myself to employers through my resume and we worked together to determine where I could improve. I can attribute my success in finding a summer internship directly to the work that we did together over the course of our meetings. No matter what step of your career journey you are on, I have no doubt the Power of 2 Program will bring a return on investment!.
Cale Hiroms, Class of 2017
Air Force SSgt.; Program Manager, Raytheon
One of the reasons I chose UT Dallas was because of the low tuition costs—using my veteran’s benefits reduced my out-of-pocket costs to almost nothing. The Professional MBA cohort structure has allowed me to connect more meaningfully with my classmates, more so than most other traditional MBA formats.
Alumni Spotlights
Read the success stories from MBA Alumni, current professionals sharing insights about their experience and life after getting their MBA at UT Dallas.
Corey Egan, MBA’10
Co-Founder And Ceo, Ilumi Solutions Inc.
Egan knows what it takes to transform a vision into a successful business. After working for several years in marketing and operations management, Egan along with Swapnil Bora, MBA’11, co-founded iLumi Solutions Inc., and designed an intelligent multicolor LED light bulb that is wirelessly controlled, programmable and customizable with a mobile application. In 2010, they won the UT Dallas Business Idea Competition that the Jindal School-based Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship sponsors every year, and they are committed to transforming and improving how we use lighting.
David Taylor, MBA’09
Chief Operating Officer, Intellicentrics.
Taylor completed his Global Leadership MBA (GLEMBA) degree, which, he says, “opened up (my) ability to be multi-disciplinary and global yet local.” IntelliCentrics, based in Flower Mound, focuses on safety and security in healthcare operations. As COO, Taylor oversees global operations, innovation, technology and people operations.
David Smithen, MBA’05
Americas Transactions Manager, Cushman & Wakefield
Right after graduating from college, Smithen worked with juvenile delinquents at Texas Youth Commission (now the Texas Juvenile Justice Department).
Gerald Youngblood, MBA’10
Director, North America Marketing Advanced Micro Devices
Gerald Youngblood, a graduate of the Professional MBA Online program, credits the Jindal School with preparing him to progress beyond the traditional business environment and into the wireless workplace. He now manages marketing and strategy development at Advanced Micro Devices, a multinational technology company that designs and integrates technology for intelligent devices, such as personal computers, tablets, game consoles and cloud servers.
Frank Martinez, MBA’07, MS’14
Supervisor, Project Management Office; Federal Reserve Bank Of Dallas
Martinez, who started working at The Fed in 2011, keeps returning to UT Dallas and Jindal School to upgrade his skills.
Chris Spartz, MBA’11
Senior Associate – Risk Consulting, Contract Compliance KPMG
At KPMG, Spartz serves in multiple roles including reviewing contracts between his clients and their third party service providers to identify risks within the agreement and help his clients to ensure compliance with contracts, standards, policies and regulatory requirements. “I also collect, manipulate, analyze and interpret large data sets, and use results to develop recommendations for corrective and preventative actions for identified risks,” Spartz says.
Abrahm “Abe” Turner, MBA’08
Performance Improvement Consultant; Insperity
I enjoy being part of the change continuum. I am often the catalyst for change in many of the groups I support.
Jonathan “J.J.” Jones, BS’12, MS’14, MBA’16
Senior Property Manager, Crescent Property Services, LLC
In his current position, Jones manages a Class A commercial real estate portfolio for Crescent, which acquires, develops and operates high-end properties alongside an exclusive group of investors and high-net-worth clients. Crescent currently has $3.5 billion in assets in its portfolio. Jones said his education at Jindal School has opened a lot of doors for him. “I don’t think I’m smarter than I was, but it helped me in my ability to creatively problem solve, navigate multiple fields of expertise and remain confident in a rapidly evolving business environment,” he said. He earned three degrees at the Jindal School – a BS in Business Administration, an MS in Supply Chain Management and an MBA.
Charles Gillis, MBA’04
Executive Director, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, PC
Technology and an evolving mindset about work-life balance is completely changing the legal services profession.
Allen Mueller, MBA’15
Senior Analyst, Fuel Strategy, Vistra Energy
Mueller, a recent Jindal School graduate, has spent a decade in mining engineering and operations, most recently at Luminant Energy in Dallas and Martin Marietta Materials in San Antonio. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degree in mining engineering at Southern Illinois University.
Joshua Levy, MBA’11
Program Manager, Pearson Education
Joshua Levy combined his lifelong love of teaching with the Jindal School’s project management program to map his future as a leader for Pearson Education, the world’s largest education company and book publisher. A few years into his career there, he noticed that many of his colleagues who were going places had graduate degrees.
Brian Livingston, MBA’01 MS’02
President and COO, Firebird Restaurant Group
Livingston holds two degrees from the Jindal School, his MBA and his master’s degree in accounting. His undergrad degree in finance is from UT Austin. He is now with Firebird Restaurant Group, LLC, the parent company of El Fenix Mexican Restaurants, Snuffers Restaurant & Bar, Meso Maya, Village Burger Bar, Taqueria La Ventana and Tortaco, where he oversees the daily operations of 54 restaurants, a food manufacturing company and related companies.
Sejal Desai, MBA’99
Program Director, Entrepreneurs for North Texas
Establishing the Desai Family Fellowship at Naveen Jindal School of Management is just one thing Desai has done to improve the lives of others.
Shaun Robinson, MBA’01
Vice President- Product Management, AMX
Robinson, a Dallas resident, has been at AMX since 2002, and in his current position for three years, where he leads the AMX Product Management team.
Kuntesh Chokshi, MS’01, MBA’04
GM, Sales Director New Business, PepsiCo
Chokshi, a 2017 Minority Business Leader honoree by the Dallas Business Journal, credits his business success to both hunger and curiosity
Capt. Chris Hampton, USN, Retired , MBA’11
Consultant
Hampton, who by his own account was at the doorstep of international relations and global events as an officer with the U.S.
Sarah Hagan, EMBA’11
CFO, Omnitracs
Hagan, a Dallas resident, joined Omnitracs, LLC, in April 2016, after a successful 11 years at Sabre Corp., where she held senior leadership positions in accounting and finance.
Craig Weigel, MBA’03
Human Resources Director, PepsiCo
Weigel, an HR professional for more than 18 years, has worked for multiple Fortune 100 global companies in various roles, including recruiting, mergers and acquisitions, compensation, and business partnership. He is most proud of his short-term projects in Asia and Europe, which broadened his cultural awareness and global business knowledge.
Darla Chapman Ripley, EMBA’97
Associate, Dave Perry-Miller & Associates Real Estate
Darla Chapman Ripley places a lot of importance on maintaining all networks, regardless of industry or location.
Corey Hutchins Woolley, MS’12 MBA’16
Senior Routing Manager, Keurig Dr Pepper
At Keurig Dr Pepper, Woolley manages a team that routes the company’s DSD (direct store delivery) trucks throughout the southern U.S., handling 50 locations and more than 700 delivery routes daily. Woolley, who completed her MBA and graduate degree in supply chain management at Jindal School, designed the companywide process for creating balanced sales and delivery route plans.
