Investing in her future

Since she graduated from Elon University in 2015, Madison Marsteller (MBA ’24) has steadily climbed the corporate ladder at Dell Technologies. Each promotion has given her new opportunities to learn and grow her career.

In her current role as a district sales manager, Marsteller leads a team of 14 account executives tasked with helping some of Dell’s largest corporate customers in the Carolinas navigate their digital transformation and invest in the right technology for the future of their business.

Despite her early career success, Marsteller realized that to fully unlock her potential, she needed more than just on-the-job experience — she needed to invest in herself.

Pursuing an MBA seemed like the perfect way to sharpen her leadership skills, broaden her business network and take control of her future job choices. So when she discovered that UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School was launching its Executive MBA Program in Charlotte in 2022, she felt as if the stars had aligned. The program offered the high-caliber education she was seeking, right in her backyard.

“For a long time, I was under the impression that an executive MBA program was something reserved only for executives after 15 to 20 years in the business world,” Marsteller says. “The fact that UNC Kenan-Flagler recognized the value I could bring to a cohort, even with only eight years of experience — plus the program’s professional sales curriculum — made it the perfect fit for me at that stage of my career.”

Celebrating the wins

Being part of the inaugural cohort of the Charlotte Executive MBA Program is a source of immense pride for Marsteller. In addition, the program’s proximity to her home made it possible for Marsteller to attend classes without disrupting her work schedule.

The cohort fostered a sense of community and mutual encouragement. Students bonded over the shared experience of obtaining an MBA while balancing full-time jobs and day-to-day life.

“Almost every week, the class would celebrate someone who had gotten a new job or promotion,” Marsteller says. “Seeing your peers grow and succeed is inspiring. It felt like I was in a classroom full of mentors.”

The collaborative environment at UNC Kenan-Flagler has not only enhanced her learning experience but also provided a network Marsteller can now rely on for advice, support and inspiration throughout her career.

“Participating in an MBA program is like having a second job, and you spend a lot of time with the people in your courses — just as you do with the people you work with,” Marsteller says. “Having that support system within our cohort made the experience for each of us that much more valuable. I’m excited to build upon those relationships, while also lending my expertise to future program participants, in the coming years.”

Gaining a global perspective

Marsteller’s participation in the Global Entrepreneurship Lab (GEL) was another highlight. In partnership with the University of Luxembourg, the Business School offers students the opportunity to work directly with European-based startups, helping them navigate important steps such as early-stage funding and financial planning.

“We worked with a company that had developed anti-counterfeiting technology,” Marsteller says. “They had a promising concept but needed support to deploy it and make it financially viable.”

As part of the lab, Marsteller and almost 30 members of the cohort and Business School staff traveled to Luxembourg to experience the world of international entrepreneurial ventures. Working with companies in Luxembourg and immersing students in European business culture is another example of how the Business School’s curriculum broadens perspectives and helps showcase the importance of a global mindset.

For Marsteller, it opened her eyes to the possibilities of working internationally in the future.

“Working outside of the U.S. is something I had never considered before,” she reflects. “During GEL, however, I saw a need for U.S. business expertise, especially for startups like the one we worked with. It’s something you don’t get until you’re there in person to experience it.”

Learning from industry leaders

In deciding to pursue her executive MBA, Marsteller was hyperaware of both the financial investment and time commitment that going back to school would entail. As such, the expertise of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s faculty was a critical selling point.

“The Business School’s professors are not only academic experts but also active consultants in the business world,” Marsteller says. “The quality and depth of the program’s educators was invaluable, especially in bridging the gap between business theory and practice.”

The executive MBA curriculum is designed to apply to real-world scenarios, allowing students to integrate what they learn directly into their jobs.

Given her role in sales at Dell, Marsteller gained new perspectives on sales strategies and tactics that helped her refine her decision-making processes at work.

“The skills I’ve acquired have had a measurable effect on my professional life already,” Marsteller says. “When you witness the benefits unfold in real time, it makes the sacrifices that come with it feel worth it and reinforces the value of the program.”

Paying dividends

Pursuing an MBA in UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Charlotte Executive MBA Program has been one of the most pivotal decisions of Marsteller’s career.

After two quick but exhilarating and busy years, Marsteller and her cohort graduated in October 2024. Reflecting on her time in the program, Marsteller shares that enrolling was undoubtedly the best decision for her. She’s also glad to have had the opportunity to attend classes in the Business School’s new facility in Uptown Charlotte — and she foresees even bigger things for the city and the program.

“Having a world-class executive MBA program speaks to the growth of the Charlotte region and its place on the national stage,” Marsteller says. “The professional connections that the program enables for business professionals in Charlotte will continue to grow exponentially as more and more cohorts come through the program.”

Ready to invest in your future? Explore how working professionals can pursue their Executive MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler’s new Charlotte campus.