When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down America, Alex Fisher made the best of a bad situation by enrolling in the online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Northern Kentucky University (NKU).
“I thought it would be a great opportunity,” he said. “I put going back to school off for a while. I began looking around and researching and decided on NKU. I went in full force.”
Fisher also earned a promotion not long after he started the program in July 2020. He is now a forecasting and financial analyst for the state of Kentucky.
“I was in accounting with the state for 12 years,” he said. “The change happened fluidly and quickly. NKU helped me get the role that I have now.”
The online format was the only way that Fisher could return to higher education without missing a beat with his career and family. He and his wife, Kori, have two children — Lilly (13) and Canaan (10).
“It’s exceptional,” he said. “I have groups and teams with people who work varied shifts, and we still have time to meet and execute the required time together. It’s extremely flexible. It’s helpful with a family and working full time.”
Fisher also likes the accelerated pace of the online MBA program. He is on track to graduate in the minimum 12 months.
“Having five- and seven-week courses is an extremely good benefit,” he said. “It gets you through the courses quickly without sacrificing the content. You don’t have a long introduction. It’s on point.”
Lockdown Learning
Fisher is from Scottsville, Kentucky. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in management from Lindsey Wilson College in 2006.
“I went to college thinking that I wanted to go into business, but I didn’t know which direction to take,” he said. “My ultimate career goal is to do something with executive finance, whether that’s becoming a controller or chief financial officer.”
The MBA program at NKU was appealing to Fisher for several reasons, including proximity to where he lives, in Frankfort, so he could drive to campus if necessary.
“It was 100% online, which was a huge benefit,” he said. “Other MBA programs require some kind of residence or time on site.
“The credit hour position for a graduate was exceptional. I also liked the rating that NKU has with its credentials for the MBA program nationally and the accessibility of the staff. That’s very important — especially doing it online.”
Fisher chose finance and data analytics for his two areas of emphasis. The online MBA program offers 11 concentration options for students, who choose two areas each.
“The stack of finance and data analytics is highly valued in the marketplace,” he said. “In fact, all of the stacks are competitive in the marketplace.
“I like finance and data analytics because that’s a skill set I can immediately put to use — it’s not something that’s going to outdate itself. The coursework is very today and definitely not dated.”
Not surprisingly, the information that Fisher is learning in the program is applicable to both job roles he has had while still a student in the program.
“It’s information that sets you up for higher-level management executive positions,” he said. “You can use it now and when you get there. The program is flexible with that content.”
Bringing It Home
The pandemic has not only allowed Fisher to earn a master’s degree but also to spend quality time with his children, who are also doing schoolwork online.
“I can relate to their school,” he said. “I don’t always make a perfect grade. Things don’t always go the way I think they should. The test doesn’t always work out at 100%. It’s okay. You have to keep going.”
Fisher will be the first person in his immediate family to earn a graduate-level degree, adding an extra point of pride to the accomplishment.
“I am the oldest of my five siblings,” he said. “Earning a master’s degree was a step out on something different and new. They are encouraged by and supportive of me.”
When the pandemic ends, Fisher will emerge with an MBA and a rung higher on his career ladder.
“I have got a lot of value already, but it’s the potential value with the coursework that I am really looking forward to,” he said. “I will qualify for many of the positions I am hoping to get. With my background and the degree, it will merge itself pretty quickly down the road.”
Fisher believes that enrolling at NKU was a wise decision that will continue to reward him as he wraps up the program in the coming months. His advice for potential online MBA students?
“Just do it,” he said. “Even if it’s one class a semester, five weeks is a short amount of time. You can get through the coursework quickly. If you take two classes per semester, you can have an MBA in one year. Does it require a lot of effort and focus? Sure. But, it’s worth it.”
Learn more about NKU’s online MBA program.
