I had the opportunity to interview Evening MBA Candidate, Nathan Goodman, to learn more about why he chose Leeds and learn what his experience has been like in the program.
Previously, Nathan spent six years in the United States Army. He is a 2009 graduate of Colorado State University, and has been working for Eaton Corporation as a Project Manager since 2015.
What made you choose Leeds for your MBA?
Because of my location in the South Denver area and my family, I prioritized my MBA options based on cost, feasibility/completion time, and quality; Leeds was the best fit for these requirements. After attending the information session at the South Denver Campus, I learned that although the campus was an extension of CU Boulder. I would still get the same professors and quality education as those who attended in Boulder.
Why did you choose the evening MBA program?
I chose the Evening MBA program out of necessity; I currently work for a great company, have a wife and now two kids (a 3yr. old and 1 mo. old), and I couldn’t afford to stop working in order to pursue this aspiration. The Evening MBA program is 2 years with minimal breaks and everything from meals to books was organized by the Program Director.
So far, what has been the most valuable part of your MBA experience?
This program combined with the timing in my life has expanded my ability to manage work/personal commitments. While I don’t think I could handle much more, it’s tempered me through some really trying times and strengthened my relationships with my wife and family.
I’m also really looking forward to the Global Perspectives course this spring—we will be visiting Beijing & Shanghai. Since Eaton is a global company, I’m interested to see if international work could be in the cards for me after graduation. This trip is a great opportunity to expand my network and business perspective.
Working full-time and going to school is obviously very time consuming—how do you manage it? What advice might you have for others considering this path?
There have been some rough patches for my family—I’m very thankful to have a supportive wife and parents who live nearby and can watch our kids on occasion. My advice to others is to realize going in that you will rarely have a weekend without schoolwork, and that life will be more difficult for the duration; just remember that it’s only 2 years long and the pressure comes and goes in waves. Do the best that you can and don’t be afraid to ask for help from your classmates if it’s too much.
