How Can You Apply an MBA to Your Career Right Away?
Applying MBA skills at work can begin before graduation. As students develop new ways to examine problems, they can bring those approaches into the decisions and challenges already in front of them.
Dr. Lynn Hunnicutt, Dean of the College of Business at Concordia University Chicago, points to design thinking and artificial intelligence as two examples. In her view, the immediate benefit comes from changing how students approach their everyday work.
Use Design Thinking to Approach Workplace Problems
Dr. Hunnicutt describes design thinking as a structured way to think about problems and apply creativity. Rather than reacting only to the visible issue, students learn to explore the problem and consider how it could be addressed.
That process can be useful in many roles. You do not have to lead a department to examine a recurring frustration, question an assumption or suggest a different approach.
CUC’s MBA course descriptions include Design Thinking, which focuses on creative thinking and problem-solving. For a working professional, these ideas provide a connection between academic study and challenges that already feel relevant.
Start With a Challenge You Understand
An everyday issue is often a useful place to practice a new approach. Consider a task that repeatedly causes confusion, delays or unnecessary work.
For example, imagine that a team receives incomplete project requests. A professional could examine how requests are submitted, ask colleagues what information is missing and propose a clearer intake process.
The purpose is to understand the problem before choosing a solution. That makes it easier to consider options that address the cause rather than only the immediate symptom.
Use AI as a Thinking Partner
Dr. Hunnicutt also describes learning to use AI as a way to gain a thinking partner for questions that arise at work. Once students understand what a tool can do, they can explore ways to use it in their current roles.
A professional might ask an AI tool to generate questions about a proposed process or identify possible weaknesses in an idea. The output can create another starting point for evaluation.
The professional still needs to check accuracy, consider organizational context and follow employer rules for using workplace information. The learning opportunity comes from evaluating the response thoughtfully and deciding what is useful.
Look for Changes in How You Think
Immediate application does not always involve a visible project or a new job title. Dr. Hunnicutt notes that students may use what they learn quietly in the background.
A change might show up in the questions you ask during a meeting, the way you define a problem or your willingness to consider more than one solution. Those habits can influence daily work even before you have a formal leadership role.
Keeping a short record of the concepts you use and what you learn from them can help make that progress easier to recognize.
Connect Graduate Study With Your Current Career
When evaluating an MBA, consider whether the curriculum addresses problems you want to understand more deeply. Courses feel more relevant when you can connect them with real responsibilities and opportunities to practice.
Explore Concordia University Chicago’s online General MBA to learn more about its approach to business education. For another faculty perspective on the role of technology and judgment, read How AI Is Changing Leadership Decision-Making.
About the Contributor
Dr. Lynn Hunnicutt is Dean of the College of Business and Professor of Business at Concordia University Chicago. Her interests include decision-making and vocation.
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