A Calling to Stay
Cameron Hanley always knew he wanted to earn his MBA. The only question was when.
“I wanted the opportunity to further develop my skills, gain more leadership experience and better understand what I wanted to pursue in my career,” Cameron said.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized he did not want to return to school later in his career.
“When I learned that Baylor offered the Early-Career, Full-Time MBA program, it felt like a calling from God,” he said. “I could earn the MBA I had always dreamed of without having to step away from my career later on, all while staying at the university I love.”
A Place Worth Staying
Cameron earned his undergraduate degree in Marketing at Baylor. What he valued most were the professors and the relationships he built with classmates and others across the Baylor community.
“Everything I learned in the Business School was extremely valuable,” he said. “I really enjoyed learning from professors who genuinely cared about their students and their success.”
That experience played a large role in choosing Baylor for his MBA over other schools.
“I already knew the quality of the education and the type of environment I would be entering,” Cameron said. “Baylor had become a place where I felt comfortable challenging myself, growing personally and professionally, and preparing for my future career.”
After a strong undergraduate experience, and knowing there was still more he could learn at Baylor, he kept coming back to one question.
“Why would I want to leave?” he said.
Where Marketing Meets Strategy
The program has given Cameron a clearer picture of how his undergraduate field fits into the rest of a business.
“My Early-Career MBA experience at Baylor has helped shape my career goals by giving me a better understanding of how marketing connects with strategy, analytics and overall business decision-making, as well as developing the skills and confidence to make these decisions,” he said.
His internship with Sunoco gave him a place to put that understanding to work.
“Through coursework, projects and my internship with Sunoco, I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned to real business challenges and confirm that I want to pursue a career combining marketing and business strategy,” Cameron said.
He credits Baylor’s Career Center with much of his preparation, from resume and interview prep to networking opportunities and career fairs.
“I cannot give enough credit to the Career Center for everything they have done for me,” he said. “Anytime I need a little guidance or advice, I know that the Career Center is there for me.”
He gave special recognition to Amine Qourzal, associate director of the Baylor Career Center, for always supporting students and helping them achieve their goals.
Perspectives Beyond the Classroom
Two experiences in the program stand out to Cameron: the Full-Time MBA trip to Chile and the guest speakers in his colloquium class.
“Traveling to Chile gave me firsthand exposure to a different culture and how businesses operate in an international environment, which broadened my perspective on global business,” he said.
The colloquium brought in professionals from across different industries to talk about their careers, challenges and advice.
“Together, these experiences gave me perspectives beyond the classroom and helped me better understand the different opportunities available in business,” Cameron said.
Leading by Serving
The program has shaped Cameron’s leadership style through its emphasis on integrity, accountability, purpose and servant leadership.
“I’ve learned that being a strong leader is not just about achieving results, but also about supporting the people around you and helping them succeed,” he said.
Group projects, class discussions and interactions with business leaders have made him more focused on listening to different perspectives and putting the needs of the team first.
“The program has shown me that servant leadership can build trust and create an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to contribute,” Cameron said.
That focus on the team carries into his own decisions.
“Baylor has helped me become more thoughtful about how my decisions impact others,” he said. “Moving forward, I hope to lead by example, stay true to my values and be someone my teammates can trust and rely on.”
