Your background in business ownership and development provides valuable experience, but your career gap and desired pivot create some challenges. Let me help you think through this strategically.
The schools you listed offer decent value but may not provide the strongest platform for your goals. Strategy roles typically come through three paths:
--> Major consulting firms hiring from top-tier MBA programs
--> Internal strategy teams hiring people with consulting experience
--> Industry strategy roles filled by people with deep sector expertise
At 41 with a career gap, consulting firms are less likely targets. More viable paths include:
--> Corporate strategy in oil & gas/energy, leveraging your industry expertise
--> Strategy roles in midsize companies where your entrepreneurial experience adds value
--> Finance roles in energy/industrial companies where you understand the business context
For these goals, consider:
--> Rice Jones ($125k) - Strong energy connections, good finance placement, brand recognized by Houston employers
--> UT Dallas ($53k) - Excellent value, strong Dallas corporate connections, growing finance reputation
--> SMU Cox ($120k) - Strong regional network, good placement into Texas corporates
The key is targeting schools where your experience will be valued and which have strong connections to employers who will appreciate your background.
Before committing, I suggest:
--> Networking with alumni in target roles to validate the path
--> Speaking with career services about placement for career-switchers
--> Getting clear on geographical preferences as this impacts school choice
Your background in business ownership and development provides valuable experience, but your career gap and desired pivot create some challenges. Let me help you think through this strategically.
The schools you listed offer decent value but may not provide the strongest platform for your goals. Strategy roles typically come through three paths:
--> Major consulting firms hiring from top-tier MBA programs
--> Internal strategy teams hiring people with consulting experience
--> Industry strategy roles filled by people with deep sector expertise
At 41 with a career gap, consulting firms are less likely targets. More viable paths include:
--> Corporate strategy in oil & gas/energy, leveraging your industry expertise
--> Strategy roles in midsize companies where your entrepreneurial experience adds value
--> Finance roles in energy/industrial companies where you understand the business context
For these goals, consider:
--> Rice Jones ($125k) - Strong energy connections, good finance placement, brand recognized by Houston employers
--> UT Dallas ($53k) - Excellent value, strong Dallas corporate connections, growing finance reputation
--> SMU Cox ($120k) - Strong regional network, good placement into Texas corporates
The key is targeting schools where your experience will be valued and which have strong connections to employers who will appreciate your background.
Before committing, I suggest:
--> Networking with alumni in target roles to validate the path
--> Speaking with career services about placement for career-switchers
--> Getting clear on geographical preferences as this impacts school choice
