Part-Time MBA Alumni Profiles

Meet our Part-Time MBA Alumni and learn why they chose Carlson School's program. Hear their stories, showcasing the impact on personal and professional growth.

Meet Our Part-Time MBA Alumni

Alex Holmberg

Alex Holmberg

Account Manager - Surescripts

  • Class of 2023
  • Hometown: St. Louis Park, MN
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Starkey & Healthcare
  • Specializations: Medical Industry

"I'm pursuing my MBA to accelerate my career in healthcare. I chose Carlson for the immersive courses available in the Medical Industry specialization."

Brittany Cardinal

Brittany Cardinal

Manager, Patient and Translational Marketing - Be the Match

  • Class of 2023 (Fall 2022) 
  • Hometown: Waverly, MN
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Agency/Marketing Lab & Event Retail/MainGate Inc.
  • Specializations: Marketing
  • Affinity Affiliations: Student of Color & Female

"I choose Carlson to attain my MBA for their high-quality educators and the experience that the program offered. When researching different programs the U of M was at the top of my list and I was ecstatic when I was accepted into the program."

Nathan Jones

Nathan Jones

Company Success Manager II - SPS Commerce

  • Class of 2022 or 2023
  • Hometown: Luana, IA
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Delta Air Lines, Aviation Management/Global Sales/Corporate Facilitation & SPS Commerce, Technology Account Management
  • Specializations: MILI, Medical Device/Healthcare Leadership, Organizational Leadership
  • Affinity Affiliations: LGBTQIA+

"I selected Carlson because of their strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in conjunction with their global experience options. Carlson also opens a host of opportunities with their Global Graduate Career Center and well connected organizational network. Carlson was the right fit for me as their programming aligns with my aspirations to pivot into the Medical/Healthcare industry."

Sara Low

Sara Low

Visitor Experience Manager - Minneapolis Institute of Art

  • Class: TBD
  • Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
  • Specializations: Management
  • Affinity Affiliations: Female

"After my first class at Carlson as a Part-Time MBA student, I was already applying what I was learning to my work the next day. Carlson and its professors, guest speakers, and diverse group of students have given me the skills and knowledge to grow in my professional career."

Lauren Wrobbel

Lauren Wrobbel

Sr. Business Partner - Target Corporation

  • Class of 2022
  • Hometown: Hartland, WI
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): UBS Financial Services
  • Specializations: Management
  • Affinity Affiliations: Female

"I've always been passionate about learning, so I always knew I wanted to go back to school to get my MBA. I chose Carlson because I wanted a flexible program and to be able to network with other students during classes. I also wanted to pursue Carlson for its great brand recognition and reputation for being a phenomenal business school"

Nach Karnik

Nachiket Karnik

Marketing Specialist - HRST, Inc.

  • Class of 2022 
  • Hometown: Mumbai, India
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Higher Ed Admissions & Non-Profit Marketing
  • Specializations: Marketing
  • Affinity Affiliations: Student of Color 

"I chose to enroll in the part-time MBA because I wanted to change careers but couldn't afford to leave the workforce and enroll full-time. Carlson impressed me with the average salary of its graduates, the access to Fortune 500 companies through its network and the robust opportunities & advice through the career center. Specifically, the ability for part-time students to participate in on-campus recruiting was a crucial element of my choice."

Arthur Gryczman

Arthur Gryczman

Owner - Piece Part Printer LLC

  • Class of 2021 
  • Hometown: Eagan, MN
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Stratasys, Donaldson, and Entrust
  • Specializations: Management & Entrepreneurship

"Carlson allowed me to advance my knowledge in business, all while working full time, and ultimately allow me to pursue my dream of owning a business of my own."

Headshot of Catherine Campbell

Catie Campbell

Regulatory Specialist II - Ecolab

  • Class of 2021
  • Hometown: Oakdale, MN
  • Specializations: Finance 
  • Affinity Affiliations: Female

"As someone looking to accelerate my career, the Part-Time MBA Program at Carlson allowed me the flexibility to advance at my current job while also completing my master’s degree. I entered the MBA program with the intention of learning about fundamental business topics, like Finance and Marketing, to supplement my undergraduate education in Chemical Engineering. Reflecting back on my experience and studies as I graduate, I am aware of how much more I learned, especially in the important areas of leadership and teamwork."

Erin Siddiqui

Erin Siddiqui

Principal Business Intelligence Analyst - McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, Inc.

  • Class of 2021
  • Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Manufacturing & Distribution
  • Specializations: Finance & Information Systems
  • Affinity Affiliations: Female

"I chose Carlson for its outstanding reputation and strong alumni network"

Katie Newgard

Katie Newgard

Sr Product Director - Optum

  • Class of 2021
  • Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Construction/JNS Builders
  • Specializations: Finance
  • Affinity Affiliations: Female

"You’ve got to risk it for the biscuit! I chose to go to Carlson to get out of my comfort zone and try something new. As a result, I’ve started my own business and am pursuing a career I’m passionate about."

Roger De Leon

Roger de Leon

Sr. Supply Chain Manager - Heraeus Medical Components

  • Class of 2021
  • Hometown: Chicago, IL
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): United Scope - eCommerce Retailer, Vision Ease/HOYA Vision Care - Ophthalmic Lens Manufacturing, and US Navy
  • Specializations: Strategic Management
  • Affinity Affiliations: Student of Color & Military

"I am a first-generation Guatemalan American. My family came to the US so my brothers and I could gain a better education. As the first to receive a graduate degree, I cannot think of a better place, with a more caring and knowledgeable staff, than Carlson."

Tom Bymark

Tom Bymark

Product Owner - United HealthCare

  • Class of 2021
  • Hometown: Hibbing, MN
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Healthcare & UMN Physicians
  • Specializations: MILI & Finance

"I chose to get my MBA at the Carlson School of Management because of the robust curriculum that it offers and the abundance of opportunities to connect and collaborate with finance and healthcare leaders. I'm grateful to the faculty and staff for their time and guidance in helping me achieve my educational goals, and ultimately a career that I'm passionate about."

Jake Brickner

Jake Brickner

Financial Planning & Analysis Consultant - Securian Financial

  • Class of 2020
  • Hometown: Ellsworth, WI
  • Specializations: Supply Chain & MILI

"I chose the Carlson School of Management’s accredited MBA program because it has the scheduling flexibility, robust course catalog, and expansive network that best accommodates a working professional seeking continued education."

Varun Pandit

Varun Pandit

Program Manager II - Boston Scientific

  • Class of 2020
  • Hometown: Pune, India
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Minnetronix Medical
  • Specializations: MILI & Management
  • Affinity Affiliations: Student of Color & LGBTQIA+

"When I decided to pursue my MBA, I was unclear of the intended outcomes. Carlson gave me the flexibility to explore different topics and helped me dive deep into the areas of my interest. My industry experience combined with classes from Carlson, I was able to further my career in the Medical Device Industry and Management."

Bobbie Jo Lundberg

Sr Portfolio Management Analyst - Boston Scientific

  • Class of 2019 
  • Hometown: Wisconsin Rapids, WI
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): University of Minnesota - Medical School
  • Specializations: Management & Entrepreneurship
  • Affinity Affiliations: Female

"I wanted to pursue my MBA to change industry and careers and knew Carlson was right for me. I chose to go to Carlson because of its incredible reputation and networking opportunities throughout the Twin Cities and beyond."

Javier

Javier Castaneda

Sr. Manager, Customer Operations - Alarm.com

  • Class of 2019
  • Hometown: Mexico City
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Legal/Attorney
  • Affinity Affiliations: Student of Color & International

"I was born and raised in Mexico City. I had been practicing law for a couple of years when my interest in learning more about the business side of the transactions grew more and more. I quickly realized that an MBA from a top-ranked school would help me gain a better perspective and eventually do a career change."

Jordan Hanson

Jordan Hanson

Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis - Calyxt, Inc.

  • Class of 2019
  • Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): CoBank
  • Specializations: Finance & Strategic Management

"Choosing to attend the Carlson School of Management for my MBA was transformative for my career. The experiences in and out of the classroom were incredibly valuable and pushed me out of my comfort zone thanks to the world-class faculty and staff."

Scott Jacobs

Scott Jacobs

Product Manager - Honeywell

  • Class of 2019
  • Hometown: Dayton, MN
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Starkey Hearing Technologies
  • Specializations: Entrepreneurship

"My dream has always been to own my own business, and I knew I needed to learn more. Carlson gave me the credibility at work to get more responsibility, and ultimately both the degree and that experience has better equipped me to achieve my dream."

Krishanu Das

Krishanu Das

  • Class of 2018
  • Hometown: Kolkata, India
  • Previous Industry/Company(s): Infosys (Tech), Ameriprise Financial (Finance/Tech), U.S. Bank (Finance/Tech), and Deloitte Consulting (Management Consulting)
  • Specializations: Finance & Strategy
  • Affinity Affiliations: Student of Color & International

"A neighbor of mine knows that I went to Carlson for the MBA. He made an analogy that I find apt. He said, "Carlson is like the Harvard of Minnesota!""