ALL THINGSWPC
Mel Collins, Rob Maloney, and Catherine Phillips
Mel Collins (MBA ’25)
Rob Maloney (MBA ’22)
Catherine Phillips (MBA ’24)

The Power of Connection: Modernizing the MBA

The Power of Connection:
Modernizing the MBA
Good business leaders know how to connect with their employees, other organizations, and their communities. They lead with empathy and authenticity and encourage others to share their ideas and build a better future together.

The W. P. Carey School of Business has modernized its MBA with this in mind—leveraging intentional high-touch programming to ensure students see firsthand how powerful connection can be in driving organizations to do great things. Our transformative Connected MBA curriculum and experience shape students into leaders who do, build, and catalyze.

Do: Learn by doing. Practice new skills in a supportive environment and spark connections with classmates and faculty.

Build: Make an impact, establish your thought leadership, and create a career path on your terms.

Catalyze: Become an action-oriented, connected leader with strong human skills.

“Collaboration within the MBA program and cross-functionally with other graduate programs teaches us leadership and followership,” says Catherine Phillips (MBA ’24). “It also empowers healthy debates and conversations where preconceived notions and ideals are affirmed and challenged. These experiences are shaping me into a thoughtful leader and change agent.”

In addition to gaining the competencies you’d expect from an MBA program, ASU graduates become connected leaders with the skills to unite an organization with a shared purpose and values. Connected leaders don’t necessarily have all the answers; they are good listeners and proactively make space for great ideas to rise to the top.

“Something I learned at W. P. Carey that changed my perspective about things was the importance of everyone bringing their authentic perspective to the table,” says Rob Maloney (MBA ’22). “We can learn from each other’s experiences, and together, we can arrive at better questions that lead us to better answers.”

The Connected MBA enables transformation, and throughout the program, students connect with themselves, others, industry, ideas, their community, and the world. Complementing the school’s Where Business is Personal® ethos, entrepreneurship and innovation are key to our curriculum and student experience.

“We have incredible professors who make an effort to connect in the classroom and outside—guiding not only coursework but also leadership, team dynamics, career, and personal and professional growth,” says Mel Collins (MBA ’25). “The support is there to help you make the most of your educational and career outcomes.”

“We strive for our program to be a springboard for students to get where they want to be throughout their careers,” says Kate Eaton, associate dean and clinical professor of marketing.

Ready for what’s next? Learn more: wpcarey.asu.edu/mba-programs