Advice for Moms Earning an MBA

MBA for Mothers: Professional Ambitions, Personal Aspirations

An MBA is a lot like motherhood: it is one of the most challenging and rewarding things you will ever take on. Both require vision beyond the present. There are long nights, emotional ups and downs, and pushing past your comfort zone. Both an MBA and motherhood encourage you to discover your inner strength and the need for a supportive network.

There will always be a need to balance the personal alongside the professional, which for many women, means when to start a family or deciding when to go back to school while raising children. Completing an MBA while balancing family obligations is anything but easy, and the Scheller College of Business is intent on providing the opportunity and support mothers need to accomplish their professional ambitions alongside their personal aspirations.

It has been said that “You can’t be what you can’t see.” While we embrace the groundbreakers, when it comes to mixing babies with an MBA, it’s nice to know the road is a well-traveled one. Enrollment numbers for mothers, or soon-to-be-mothers, vary across Scheller’s Full-time, Evening, and Executive MBA programs as each offers its own unique timeframe, flexibility, and requirements.

“Timing is everything. We didn't know when a pregnancy would happen, but I knew I wanted to get my MBA. Staying flexible was important. Just as important was having the full support of my partner. When I picked my classes, I talked to my husband to make sure he could handle everything while I was in class. I think it is important our kids see us go after our dreams and do something for ourselves.”

– Tanesha Steward
Evening MBA '24 Assistant Chief Counsel and Director, Georgia Tech

“Embarking on an MBA journey while balancing family commitments might seem daunting at first. At Scheller, I discovered that I didn't have to compromise one for the other. The program offered me the flexibility to take a semester off to prioritize caring for my baby and then seamlessly resume my coursework. This assurance of flexibility boosted my confidence in pursuing my MBA, especially considering my plan to start a family during my time in the program.”

– Nikita Jadhav
Evening MBA Data Analyst, The Home Depot

“In order to balance motherhood with my MBA, I had to become very disciplined with my time. This meant creating strict schedules, setting aside dedicated study times after my children were in bed, and making the most of weekends for both family activities and coursework. I learned to ask for help when needed, whether it was from family members for childcare or from classmates and professors for academic support.”

– Lauren Bateman
Executive MBA '24 Senior Financial Analyst, FedEx

Communicate

If you have a partner, work together to manage childcare and the mental load of other household duties. Communicate your needs and specific areas you might not be able to show up for like you might otherwise.

Make Connections

Talk to those who have gone before you. Discover how they handled the load and implement what works best for your unique situation. Scheller will also work hard to connect you with other students with children.

Make a Plan

As soon as you can, and as often as you need to, figure out a plan for childcare. A family member, neighborhood childcare, or nanny are all options to look into. Remember that the plan is flexible and can change.

Understand Policies

Explore your MBA program’s policies. Meet with an advisor from student services and get to know how those policies will impact your MBA journey and your personal life.

Ask For Help

Ask for help when you need it. Communicate your needs and circumstances with the MBA program, your professors, and your classmates. Make them an honorary part of your "village."

Invest in Your Network

Connect with your classmates how and when you want, but make time for it. These are connections that will last a lifetime if you invest the time and energy into making them a priority.

Don't Compare

Don’t compare yourself to others. Your lifestyle, boundaries, priorities, and work-life balance may be different from those in your classmates, and that’s okay.

With Mothers in Mind: MBA Program Policies

An MBA is designed to foster connections. At Scheller, those connections begin with fellow students, faculty, and staff. By graduation, you will also have solidified a broader network built on individualized career coaching and industry connections. Rest assured that when you come to Scheller to get your MBA, you are not doing it alone.

As a potential candidate, we want you to enter a Scheller program with all of the information you need to confidently pursue an MBA. Learn more about each MBA program, including length, flexibility, and format.

Full-time MBA Facts

The Full-time MBA is 22 months long, including four semesters and a summer internship
First year
- Fall semester requires 15 hours of core classes
- Spring semester requires 4.5 hours of core classes and 9 hours of elective courses
- Focuses on leadership and career development and recruiting for summer internships
Second year
- Fall semester requires 1.5 hours of core classes and 12 hours of elective courses
- Spring semester requires 12 elective course hours
- Holds more possibility for class flexibility and a higher chance that you will have secured a full-time offer after your summer internship
Faculty are supportive of pregnant and new mothers, just be sure to communicate early and often about your individual situation
Students can take up to three consecutive semesters off before they have to apply for readmission into the program. If a student needs to take time off from the program, they are able to take almost a year off with no penalty to their standing as a student.

Learn More: Full-time MBA

Full-time MBA for Mothers

Students typically find that their second year is more flexible and allows for additional time to dedicate towards personal and family life.

Catie Mullan

Academic Program Manager, Full-time MBA

Students typically find that their second year is more flexible and allows for additional time to dedicate towards personal and family life.

The flexibility in selecting my MBA elective courses has helped me better plan my time.

Olushola Oladejo, Full-time MBA '24

Founder, Foodpreneurs Hub

The flexibility in selecting my MBA elective courses has helped me better plan my time.

I have found tremendous support from my professors. They have been understanding of unforeseen emergencies, allowing me the flexibility to catch up on missed sessions

Etela Ogbeche

Full-time MBA '24

I have found tremendous support from my professors. They have been understanding of unforeseen emergencies, allowing me the flexibility to catch up on missed sessions

The Evening MBA is Scheller’s most flexible option.
Most students complete the program in 24 to 36 months while working.
Students can take up to six years to complete the degree at their own pace.
You can enroll in the number of courses that fits your schedule during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Students can take up to three consecutive semesters off before they have to apply for readmission into the program. If a student needs to take time off from the program, they are able to take almost a year off with no penalty to their standing as a student. 
Beginning in the admissions process, staff will ensure you are connected to other parents or mothers who have similar family dynamics so you can find answers to all of your questions.
Students have access to a lactation room on the third floor. A refrigerator is available for student mothers to store their breastmilk and other supplies their baby may need post-delivery while they are active in class.

Learn More: Evening MBA

Evening MBA for Mothers

Our Evening MBA students are working full-time, succeeding academically while also growing their families.

Patrice Faison

Academic Program Manager, Evening MBA

Our Evening MBA students are working full-time, succeeding academically while also growing their families.

I knew I wanted to start a family while in the program. Although it would have been easier to wait, I didn't want to put my life on hold.

Monserratt Vasquez, Evening MBA '23

Product Manager, Precisely

I knew I wanted to start a family while in the program. Although it would have been easier to wait, I didn't want to put my life on hold.

Transitioning into anything new takes some getting used to. Motherhood is a constant exercise in flexibility, and, in that way, it prepared me beautifully for the MBA program.

Margaret Thompson

Evening MBA '25

Transitioning into anything new takes some getting used to. Motherhood is a constant exercise in flexibility, and, in that way, it prepared me beautifully for the MBA program.

The Executive MBA is Scheller's fastest MBA option, lasting 17 months.
Designed for experienced working professionals, classes are held two weekends a month on select Friday evenings from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Students are supported by the Executive MBA program faculty and staff should they need special accommodations, including pausing their studies to return back to the program at a later date if needed.
All classes are recorded and posted in Canvas after class for every student to catch up should they miss a session.
Students have access to a lactation room on the third floor. A refrigerator is available for student mothers to store their breastmilk and other supplies their baby may need post-delivery while they are active in class.

Learn More: Executive MBA