How one North Alabama design graduate is now architecting her future with an MBA

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As a 2025 graduate of UNA in Interior Architecture and Design, Olivia Oliphant is now designing her future in project management, pursuing an MBA through the UNA Sanders College of Business and Technology.

While she’s completing her MBA coursework online, she’s still bringing those skills to campus, serving the university and its students as an administrative assistant in the UNA Office of Enrollment Management and the Presidential Mentors Academy.

Read on to learn about her experience so far, her future goals and some unexpected joys she’s found in her MBA coursework and collaborations.

👀 WATCH: Designing a future in business

Originally from Centre, Alabama, Oliphant says her decision to pursue an MBA at UNA clicked during an undergrad class, when she and classmates toured several Huntsville corporate design firms. The nature of large-scale design work intrigued her, and she could see herself in those offices again one day soon, as part of the team.

After researching specific opportunities in corporate design, project management appealed most. She then determined that earning an MBA now would best equip her with the additional business skills she’d need for a competitive edge in that field.

Gaining skills + diverse perspectives

It’s a given that the MBA coursework being online offers flexibility, and that’s also led to some cool collaborative experiences, too, Oliphant says. One project management class has her collaborating weekly with two students in healthcare management and another in finance. Besides different industries, they’re in different career stages with varying backgrounds.

“It’s been very exciting to get to know them and learn all about their lives through our coursework. I also didn’t realize how many different avenues a person could go with an MBA. You can really do anything you want with it.”
_{Olivia Oliphant}

Another unexpected twist? Although she “dreaded” her finance class, it became a fast favorite when she saw how straightforward the math became when applied in business scenarios.

Career growth + future goals

While Oliphant chose her program for long-term goals in commercial design, she’s experiencing the impact of bringing lessons learned into her on-campus work now, including working on her office’s budget and day-to-day operations.

“What I’ve been learning in class has been very beneficial with the budgeting, understanding basic business practices and being a better professional in general. It just makes me feel more confident in my career choices and in my job.”
_{Olivia Oliphant}

She says she sees her MBA as an incredible path to building confidence, skills and connections, further transforming the way she shows up in her work today and where she aims to be in the world of commercial design.

Considering an MBA yourself?

Meanwhile, she’s been enjoying learning how the reasons for pursuing an MBA are as varied as the individuals who choose to do it.

“If you’re considering an MBA, consider UNA. It is so supportive, flexibile and full of opportunity.”
_{Olivia Oliphant, UNA MBA candidate}

Here’s a snapshot of the incredible value + how to learn more:

• The Sanders College of Business and Technology is one of less than 5% of business colleges worldwide accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
• At a total cost of less than $21,000, UNA’s MBA program is less than half the cost of most.
• There’s no out-of-state tuition pricing or extra fees ($600 per credit).
• Students may apply for many scholarship opportunities, some of which offer up to 30% of tuition for individuals, including military, alumni, federal and state employees, and more.
• Learn more about UNA’s MBA program here.

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