Tori Clark

Baylor Online MBA
Founder, CEO, Spa Luxe

Baylor OMBA and Business Success go Hand-in-Hand

Earning an MBA opens infinite possibilities for students from all business backgrounds—whether it’s their first career or capitalizing on existing business ventures. An Online MBA (OMBA) from Baylor University equips students with the business acumen, principled leadership, and ethical values to be successful and make a positive impact on the world—all while having the flexibility to study anywhere. Tori Clark, an OMBA student and successful entrepreneur, is a shining example of building a business utilizing personal experience, courageous conversations, and teachings from the classroom to not only maximize revenue, but make a lasting impact on the people around her.

Inheriting and Transforming the Family Business

At 24 years old, Clark inherited her grandparents’ business, Clark Transportation. The charter bus company, which carried passengers like Baylor Athletics, was in danger of bankruptcy. Clark, who did not have a business background at the time, acquired valuable skills in negotiation, strategic planning, and communication through her management of the employees of Clark Travel and eventually transformed it into a multi-million dollar company. Following the transformation, Clark sold the business from one cold call and began following her true passion: Spa Services.

“I figured out the sweet spot in any business was the people,” Clark said. “Structuring the people and the money correctly is, in my mind, what led to that success. I had a friend of mine ask me to join him on an e-commerce venture, which was the Spa Mart. And we distributed products and equipment to spas and salons.”

InSPAration

From cotton balls to massage tables, SpaMart sold materials and supplies to spas all over the country. During her partnership with her colleague at SpaMart, Clark learned the intricacies of the spa industry and became passionate about the deeper meaning behind the services they provide. This inspired her to eventually open her own spa, Spa Luxe. To learn more about Clark’s journey in opening Spa Luxe, read our blog post celebrating Small Business Saturday.

“I was able to go into hundreds of spas and see the pros and cons of how they worked, which allowed me the ability to build my own spa and take that combination of experiences,” Clark said. “I wanted to get into an industry that would help people see how important it is to have that self-care.”

Spa Luxe, Clark’s entrepreneurial vision, stands proudly in the chic little city of Georgetown, just outside of Austin. The vast majority of Clark’s clientele are women, spanning from dedicated mothers to hard-working business professionals. Regardless of their background or what is happening behind closed doors, Clark has one goal in mind with her business: take care of those who take care of others. 

“85% of my guests are women, so when they come in, it’s clear that they’re trying to keep everything together. Whether people want to admit that or not, women are. And that's a lot. It's a lot of stress. It builds up a lot of tension in our body. So when I see someone come in, and I can tell maybe it's been a rough morning, I want nothing more than to make it a better day for them. A few hours later, it's like they emerged from their cocoon and they're this, new little zen butterfly. It's great to see them be able to find that happiness and taking care of themselves. So I get to see that every day.”

“I get to witness the transformative experience of Spa Luxe. It keeps me going to be able to see someone just turn their day around or bittersweet moments like a mom and daughter come in because they just lost their husband and dad. We see a lot of those situations, and to hear their stories and have them look at Spa Luxe as a sanctuary and be part of their healing process. That's where the real blessing is.”

“We're able to touch lives through the power of spa, and it's a transformative experience as a business owner to be able to witness that every day. If that doesn't keep me going every day, I don't know what would.”

Earning an OMBA From Baylor

A few years after opening Spa Luxe, Clark knew she needed the background and expertise to grow and maintain her business. After her acceptance to Rice and Baylor, Clark chose Baylor’s OMBA program because it reflected her values of principled leadership with a Chrisitan focus, along with helping online students feel included in on-campus lectures, events, and culture.

“I really was seeking an MBA program that would expand on my hands-on experience and give me that formal education to push my business ventures even further. And I've definitely found that,” Clark said. “Baylor had a great welcome culture. That really was something that made a lasting impression on me. The professors at Baylor are top notch, in my experience.  I noticed in a lot of other programs, your online MBA professors are not the same quality as your in-person MBA professors.  You're not treated as a second-rate citizen, essentially, and that was really important to me. I wanted to be treated like any other student.”

The Impact of an OMBA on Educational and Entrepreneurial Goals

When prospective students begin researching MBA programs, several questions begin to cloud their minds. “Is this the right time?” “Will an MBA be worth it for what I am pursuing?” “How can I manage an MBA, family, and work?” Clark said an MBA will challenge the way you think, but equip you with valuable skills that will yield lasting results in your professional pursuits. 

“It challenges your way of thinking. It forces you to get out of your box. And we all have our own personal boxes that we've built. Whether we want to admit that or not, we all have our own personal boxes of biases and ways that we do things and processes. An MBA challenges you to think outside of that and challenge the norms and continue asking why. On top of it, it gives you the confidence to do so. It gives you the confidence to challenge the norms that you know and expand and create better processes.”

For prospective students with families and other life commitments, Clark says an OMBA is the perfect solution, with the right time management skills.

“Most of us are long-term business professionals. Many of us have families, children, spouses. Some of us are taking care of other members of our family, and there's a lot on our plate. You're juggling a job and you're juggling family and all the responsibilities that come with that.  Then add an education on top of it,” Clark said.

“It's not a fast race. You have to put in the time and effort.  I would say what makes a good OMBA student is that time management piece and understanding that what you give into the program is exactly what you're going to get back. Setting aside that dedicated time, just like you like to set aside family time or set aside time to go to church, you have to set aside that time to not just complete your work but make sure that you're understanding it and figuring out how to apply it practically.”

Texas Business Hall of Fame Legend Award

Baylor’s OMBA program encourages students to push their abilities past what they can accomplish in the classroom in order to reach their fullest potential. Clark achieved the honor of receiving the Texas Business Hall of Fame’s Legend Award and was inducted in November 2024. She said it opened many doors for her in her professional and personal growth and allowed her to meet other inductees who share similar values.

“This award has gone hand in hand with my MBA journey, and it's definitely opened up just a lot of doors for me and the ability to connect with people just outside of my circle,” Clark said. “It's an honor that I'm proud of, and my family, team, and my community are proud of it. This allowed me to have a lot more pride in not just being a business owner but also a MBA student as well.”

 Clark said. “I kind of have this go-getter and go-giver attitude. For me, I don't think that if you're awarded something, that you just say, ‘oh, here's my trophy, that's it.’ You have to utilize that for what it is.  I've connected with so many other award recipients in a variety of fields, and fields that I may never have the opportunity to work in, but it just adds more knowledge to my belt and make more connections.”

Ready to Start Your MBA Journey?

Baylor’s MBA program is designed to meet students where they are. Whether it’s their transition from undergraduate studies to the graduate realm, or seasoned industry professionals ready to advance their careers, a Baylor MBA provides tools for success in the classroom and beyond. Tori Clark is one of many examples of the excellence that emerges from Baylor’s OMBA program. Let us show you how a Baylor OMBA can help you pave your path to success in your career and in life.

Click here to learn more about Baylor’s OMBA program

Click here to speak with an Enrollment Coordinator

Click here to learn more about how Tori leads with her values in business and in life