Get to know Clara

Current role: Senior Project Manager
Current field: Project Management, Supply Chain, Operations
Current industry: Consumer Goods, Manufacturing (Burt’s Bees / Clorox)

Current location: Durham, NC
Program start date: January 2020
Graduation date: May 2025
Program format: Online

Life before Jenkins

Undergraduate studies: North Carolina State University, B.S. Food Science
Pre-program work experience: 18 years 
Pre-program role(s): Master Scheduler, Supply Planner, Buyer, Project Manager, Supply Chain Transition Manager, Senior Project Manager
Pre-program industry(ies): Project Management, Supply Chain, Operations

Why an MBA?

Before beginning her MBA, Clara built a career working across functions in industries tied closely to manufacturing, supply chain and consumer goods. Her work regularly placed her in collaboration with senior leadership and cross-functional teams, where she developed a strong operational foundation and a growing interest in broader business strategy.

Clara chose to begin her MBA at a point in her career when she was consistently working across functions and engaging with senior leadership. She recognized that strengthening her financial acumen, strategic thinking, and ability to influence decisions would make her more effective in her current role. “For me, it wasn’t just about the next role. It was about being better in the role I already had and showing up as a stronger business partner going forward.”

Why Jenkins? 

Jenkins stood out to Clara because of its strong connection to real-world business applications. Rather than focusing purely on theory, the program emphasized how concepts translate into practical decision-making and leadership. Having already attended NC State, she also felt confident in the culture and environment, making the decision to return an easy one.

“Being able to flex up or down as life happened – especially with a toddler at home – made it possible to stay fully engaged in both my career and the program.”

As a working mother, the program’s flexibility was equally important. “Being able to flex up or down as life happened – especially with a toddler at home – made it possible to stay fully engaged in both my career and the program.”

Why NC State for your MBA?

Returning to NC State felt like a natural fit for Clara. She already understood the strength of the university’s network and the quality of its programs. Being based in North Carolina also made the experience especially relevant, given NC State’s strong ties to industries connected to her work, including manufacturing, supply chain and consumer goods.

“The flexibility was a big factor, too. I led critical programs throughout the program, which made the experience more valuable because I could apply what I learned in real time.

What made it great

For Clara, the most valuable part of the program was how immediately applicable the coursework felt. “I wasn’t learning concepts in isolation – I was using them right away, whether that was building out business cases, thinking through trade-offs, or working through cross-functional challenges.

It made the experience feel very real and directly tied to my work, not separate from it.”

She also found great value in learning from her peers and in seeing how others approached problems from their unique perspectives and industries. “It gave me different ways to think about challenges I was dealing with.”

Career impact 

The MBA has fundamentally changed how Clara approaches her work. She now spends more time thinking beyond execution and focusing on financial impact, risk, trade-offs and broader business priorities.

“It’s also helped me be more confident in conversations with leadership – especially when it comes to trade-offs, cost implications and decision-making. Overall, it’s helped me move from just managing projects to contributing more as a business partner.”

“Overall, it’s helped me move from just managing projects to contributing more as a business partner.”

Final thoughts

For Clara, the Jenkins MBA experience reinforced the value of staying curious and continuing to grow, even in the middle of an already demanding season of life and career. She believes the program is especially impactful for professionals who want to strengthen their business perspective while continuing to apply what they learn in real time.

Get in touch

Connect with Clara on LinkedIn or by email at [email protected].

Learn more

To learn more about the Jenkins MBA program, including tuition, curriculum, career opportunities and more, please submit the form below.