To transition her career without having to start at the bottom of a new field, Patel decided that earning an MBA at Georgia Tech would be the logical route. And it's already paid off.

"Georgia Tech's MBA program has been an amazing experience," she says. "I'm graduating in May, and I already have an exciting job lined up in HR management."

Patel, who previously worked in business advisory services for the public accounting firm Grant Thornton, will go to work for Raytheon, a major defense and aerospace systems supplier. She will start a two-year rotational program in HR management, which will expose her to various areas of the company. "Once you finish the program, you've laid the groundwork to move up quickly," says Patel, who proved her worth at Raytheon during a summer 2009 internship.

Personalized Career Coaching

During her job search, she greatly appreciated the personal attention provided by the MBA Career Services office. "My advisor worked with me from day one, helping me explore my career goals, create a distinctive resume, and prepare for internship interviews," Patel says.

That kind of personal attention is a big part of what attracted her to Georgia Tech for her MBA studies.  "I was drawn to the small class size of around 75," says Patel, who earned her bachelor's in business administration from the University of Georgia in 2006. "Size was important to me because I wanted the opportunity to interact with my classmates on both a professional and personal level. Now I really feel like I could tell you something personal about each individual in my class."

As president of the Georgia Tech chapter of the National Association of Women MBAs, Patel strives to educate women about the value of the MBA degree and encourage them to pursue their career potential. "It can seem daunting for anyone to come back to school, but I want women to understand that it's not intimidating here. You're respected, and your ideas are well received," she says. "Our organization provides avenues for women to network once they come to Tech. We bring in women executives as guest speakers and hold various social events, including Lunch and Learns."

Patel has appreciated the many opportunities for all Georgia Tech MBA students to network and build leadership skills outside of the classroom. "From MBA clubs to Thursday night socials, there are numerous ways for students to get involved from day one," Patel says.