Cole Lindberg’s BA’24, MBA’25
Industry-relevant skills attracts employers before graduation
In a highly competitive job market, the skills and experience gained through two WU degrees helped Cole Lindberg BA’24 MBA’25 land a job before graduation.
Program Snapshot
- Degree Type
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MBA
- Program Type
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Graduate
- Credit Hours
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60-65
- Time to complete
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2 years
- Campus
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Salem
Student Success
Hadisa Gowhari MBA '23, gained the experience and connections she needed to land her dream job while she finished her degree. After completing two internships with Intel, the tech giant offered her a job as a senior financial analyst.
Hadisa's Story
Internships lead to a full-time position at Intel for Hadisa Gowhari MBA’23
Despite owning and managing two businesses in her home country of Afghanistan, Hadisa had to work hard to build a career in the States. She worked with the counselors and resources at Willamette to find an internship that would help her on her professional path.
Alumni Stories
Graduates of the MBA program have gone on to have thriving careers in a variety of sectors. They have taken on leadership and decision-making roles with major brands, government offices, non-profits, and start-ups. Learn more about how our alumni are making their mark.
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Gianna Marchese BA’22, MBA’23
From Willamette to Warner Bros.
Whether she’s brainstorming publicity strategies in LA or coordinating press tours in NYC, Marchese is making her mark in the industry. Most recently, she’s worked on the team promoting The Color Purple.
Introducing Some of Our Faculty
MBA students benefit from a faculty comprised of industry experts who are actively working in a variety of leadership roles. They bring their real-world experience to the classroom, offering students meaningful insights into the world of business, government, and non-profit organizations. Professors connect one-on-one with students and act as mentors, providing career and academic advice.
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Meet Dean Autrey
Dr. Autrey brings a wealth of accounting experience to the classroom, having performed a wide variety of forensic accounting services throughout her career. The recipient of several awards for outstanding teaching, she takes an interdisciplinary approach to educating her students.
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Meet Jane Machin
Dr. Machin brings expertise in marketing, branding, and design thinking, shaped by both research and industry experience with companies like Unilever. An award-winning teacher and scholar, she helps students apply creative thinking to real-world business challenges.
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Meet Kieran O'Connor
Dr. Kieran O’Connor brings expertise in leadership, organizational behavior, and decision making, with research on authenticity and ethics in organizations published in top journals such as Harvard Business Review. He helps students apply theory to real-world challenges, building practical and ethical leadership skills.
Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to give you both breadth and depth. Required courses build a broad foundation in management, while electives let you explore areas of interest. Hands-on experiences, including the first-year PACE program and up to three semesters of internships, help you develop skills you can apply throughout your career.
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GSM 5108 PACE: Practical Applications for Careers and Enterprises
Build career-ready skills through immersive, hands-on learning experiences that reflect real workplace dynamics. Work in teams to solve meaningful challenges, strengthen your leadership abilities, and make informed decisions. Deliver results for a nonprofit or public client through a consulting project that adds tangible experience to your resume.
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GSM 6121 Politics and Public Policy for Managers
Engage with real-world issues at the intersection of business, government, and society. Analyze how organizations respond to evolving laws, policies, and global pressures through applied exercises and discussion. Strengthen your ability to make informed, ethical decisions grounded in accountability, fairness, and transparency.
Program Requirements
Our MBA for career change and early career professionals is a 60-65 credit program. Most students complete the requirements within two years.
Admissions Information
Our program welcomes applicants from across the U.S. and around the world. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required, but prior work experience is not. The GMAT and GRE tests are optional.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Our merit-based scholarships help make a hands-on, career-focused education at Willamette more accessible. Awards range from 10% to 100% of tuition, and almost every full-time MBA student receives scholarship assistance.
