Online MBA makes it possible to balance career, school, and family
Edmontonian Laurie Wang finds personal and professional success through AU’s MBA program
Whether at work or home, Laurie Wang (Master of Business Administration ’23) isn’t used to sitting still.
As a communications professional, she has won many industry awards and sits on Forbes magazine’s communications council—a prestigious group where senior communications executives connect and share advice with others in the industry.
As an executive with Legal Aid Alberta, Wang’s team ensures Albertans have access to affordable legal services.
The mother of 3 is also an active volunteer in the community.
So when the pandemic hit in 2020, Wang seized it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
“This is the time to learn—and learn because I want to,” she explains.
“I really believe in the democratization of education and information and access. That’s something that we wouldn’t have had before, especially as working women with busy families.”
– Laurie Wang (Master of Business Administration ’23)
Choosing a more flexible MBA program
Even with pandemic restrictions, Wang did not have a lot of spare time to devote to her studies. With a busy career and kids in sports and lessons, she needed a flexible online MBA program that would allow her to study on her own time.
Athabasca University’s online MBA was just the fit. Not only could she study at her own pace, after researching her options she found others like her who spoke highly of AU for their learning and professional growth.
“It was definitely the AU community that tipped the scale for me,” she said. “They were very good at answering my questions and were very responsive.”
The nature of AU as an open university with a mission to remove barriers to learning was also a major part of the appeal.
“I really believe in the democratization of education and information and access,” she says. “That’s something that we wouldn’t have had before, especially as working women with busy families. The ability to give that access to everybody is huge.”
The investment in her education is already paying off. Even before she graduated Wang was promoted to vice-president overseeing Legal Aid Alberta’s marketing, communications, and human resources teams.
Now that her degree is complete, she’s not sitting still. Wang is an active volunteer for Junior Achievement. She’s working to help the next generation learn and develop financial and leadership skills.
“All these programs that shaped me and my brothers when we were kids—Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Junior Achievement, YWCA, and YMCA programs—I’m at a point where I want to give back.”
