How this amazing Florence woman balances it all—working full-time + crushing her MBA

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Grace Williams can do it all. She works full-time and crushes her MBA, all while having time to read and watch her favorite reality TV shows with her boyfriend.

We got a sneak peek into a day of her life as a Recruiter and online MBA student at The University of North Alabama—check it out.

Day in the life of Grace

Breakfast, commute + starting the day

There are two types of people—those who wake up two hours early to start the day leisurely and those who are out the door 20 minutes after their feet hit the floor.

Grace is the latter of the two, and she usually grabs protein shakes to drink on her way to work. Once she arrives at her job, she settles into the day by answering emails and returning texts and phone calls. As a Student Recruitment Relationship Specialist, Grace spends most of her day on the phone helping students.

She’s always been passionate about helping others. After majoring in Sociology at UNA, she started working in case management with adults with intellectual disabilities before deciding to pivot in her career.

Now, she’s interested in bringing her philanthropic spirit to the corporate world, studying her MBA online with the end-goal of working in Human Resources.

“I am doing the HR concentration for my MBA because I really like investing in people and helping them become the best they can be. I want them to understand their benefits, feel engaged as employees and have growth opportunities in their roles.”

Grace Williams

Classes during lunch break

After catching up on emails and phone calls, Grace typically heads over to Starbucks to grab her favorite bacon and cheese egg bites. She then works a bit longer before taking a lunch break and knocking out some classwork for her MBA.

The MBA classes are offered in an asynchronous format, meaning that the lectures are often pre-recorded so the students can tune in on their own time.

As an online MBA student, Grace appreciates this flexibility and the availability of her professors.

“Even though the UNA MBA is a large program, the student-to-professor ratio is great. Plus, many of the professors have teaching assistants, so you don’t feel like you’re just getting lost in the shuffle. The professors and assistants have always done an excellent job responding quickly and being willing to answer my questions.”

Grace Williams

Looking for the perfect work-life balance? Apply for UNA’s online MBA today.

Work-life balance

After getting some school work done during lunch, Grace logs onto meetings with students and eventually finishes up work for the day. But her time in the office doesn’t stop there.

When it comes to working full-time while getting a master’s, Grace recognizes that it helps to have a work-life balance system in place. After wrapping up work each day, she stays in her office to complete her MBA coursework. That way, when she goes home, she can enjoy a relaxing evening of dinner and binge-watching her favorite shows with her boyfriend.

“I like staying in the office to do my MBA coursework because I don’t have to worry about the distractions of home, and I get to truly relax when I arrive at my house. Because the UNA MBA program is flexible, I can have a better work-life balance.”

Grace Williams

Start your online MBA at UNA

For Huntsville residents especially, a work-life balance and university connection are easily achievable when completing an online MBA at UNA.

Online MBA students can live and work in the Huntsville area and complete coursework at a flexible pace, all while being close enough to on-campus resources.

In addition to meeting with professors, they can attend career fairs, network and walk across the stage at graduation.

Grace plans to graduate December 2024 and has loved her experience at UNA.

“What I love about the MBA is you don’t have to have a business background to it. You can come from any type of undergrad degree and still get your MBA and be successful.”

Grace Williams

UNA’s MBA at a glance:

• Cost: $495 per credit hour + fees
• Time to complete:
  • Full time: 12-18 months
  • Part time: 18-24 months
• Format: 100% online or hybrid
• AACSB accredited, making UNA in the top 5% of business schools worldwide.
• No GMAT required.
• The next semester start date is March 7+ UNA is still accepting applications—apply now.

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