The Walton MBA program strives to be a rich source of talent, complete with graduates who embrace the entrepreneurial spirit with a newfound way of strategic thinking for employers. The program promotes strong communication, leadership and decision-making skills. When it comes to hiring decisions, we want employers to recognize that the resources available to Walton MBA students produce top-tier candidates.
One of the resources available to students is Walton MBA Career Coach Bill Ryan. Ryan is a University of Arkansas MBA alumnus and worked as a director of category development at Wrigley. The talent within the Walton MBA program has impressed Ryan. “The talent pool is really impressive. Walton attracts top performers due to the program content, networking opportunities, and leading placement records.”
Ryan has successfully assisted Walton College graduates with job placement. “The students were well equipped to do great work from day one. The full-time internship program was so valuable for the companies and students to mutually learn about each other and to determine if there’s fit for a long-term professional relationship. I leverage the fact that my employer was among the Fortune Top 100 places to work as well as the internship program rotation that enabled several role experiences that helped shape the students career path. We actually hired every intern who remained in the NWA market as permanent salaried associates,” Ryan said.
After completing the MBA program, graduates are ready to start on a new career path or move up within their current company. Ryan explains how students can discover/connect with new career opportunities.
“Mostly, students should simply leverage opportunities that are right before them, networking with professionals who engage with the college in various capacities. Students should engage with professionals who are in roles they’re curious about, seeking to understand the merits and demands of various roles,” Ryan said. “These relationships should be choiceful with professionals in fields they’re specifically interested in or strongly considering. It’s imperative to identify what you want to do so your efforts are targeted and providing value.”
Former MBA student John Magugu found Bill Ryan to be influential in helping with his career journey.
“Bill was very insightful in transitioning my career from science to business. He connected me to many peers in the fields I was interested in (business, sustainability & sustainable agriculture),” Magugu said “He connected me to various mentors, coached me on interviewing techniques and people skills.”
Lynn Sengsouriya also had a positive relationship with the career coach.
“Bill worked with me on strengthening my resume through our back-and-forth communication and through an AI software that scanned my resume and rated its searchability and strength. His suggestions on how to build my resume didn’t just include proofreading and suggestions on layout, he made suggestion that would make me a stronger candidate: use stronger action words, possibly start a blog as a SME, or join a trade organization,” Sengsouriya said. “For our mock interview, Bill worked with me on giving answers that were 20% situation, 70% action, and 10% results which was exactly what the company I interviewed with was expecting. With Bill’s feedback, I was able to effectively answer all interview questions and was offered a position. His coaching and guidance not only helped with building my skills but also my confidence to pursue the right opportunities.”
Ryan shares some insightful advice for those looking to embark on a new journey.
“Pursuing your MBA is always a time of transition for students,” Ryan said. “It’s a time to be introspective, identifying what you love, what you’re passionate about, and things you don’t like or don’t care about. A great career is one that leverages who you are, stretching you along the way to learn and grow. Without a deep and honest understanding of who you are, the path can be hard. With clarity, the path can be a great adventure that provides lots of rewards.”
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