First Poole College MRA Graduates Look to the Future

Check out this article featuring Amy Bandy who recently graduated from the Master of Management, Risk and Analytics (MRA) program and completed our 2024 Brazil study abroad program as well as our MBA 582 Sustainability practicum!

This summer, Poole College of Management’s Master of Management, Risk and Analytics (MRA) program congratulates its first two students to cross the finish line. Athena Theodorakis and Amy Bandy will celebrate their commencement in December after wrapping up the last of their coursework over the summer.

In celebration of their accomplishments, these students reflected on the biggest highlights of their time in the program, shared more about their next steps and offered a few words of advice to future MRA students.

Specialized knowledge

Bandy, a program manager at HHAeXchange, found the MRA program’s specialized curriculum to be particularly beneficial. Along with deepening her understanding of organizational risk, the curriculum equipped her with essential analytics skills, tools and techniques to drive decision-making and assess and manage risk more effectively.

“The program taught me how to analyze complex data sets, identify patterns and make better, more informed business decisions. Additionally, I learned the value of teamwork and effective communication in achieving organizational goals,” Bandy says. “These specialized skills have already proven valuable in my current role and have equipped me to contribute to my organization’s profitability and overall success.”

Theodorakis, a chemical engineer with 25 years experience in supply chain, manufacturing and product management, adds that the MRA curriculum prepares business leaders to navigate today’s complex business challenges.

“Students gain exposure to thought leadership about contemporary topics like AI and sustainability. These topics weren’t part of business education when I got my MBA, but they’re critical for most organizations today as they consider their potential risks,” she explains. “I appreciated the opportunity to select electives and tailor the program to topics and experiences that were most important to me.”

Value-adding experiences

In addition to the specialized, cutting-edge curriculum, the students appreciated the opportunity to enrich their education with unique, experiential learning opportunities at Poole College of Management. Bandy particularly enjoyed studying abroad in Brazil as part of Poole College’s Business Sustainability in Emerging Markets in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro course.

“Along with immersing ourselves in Brazilian culture, we engaged with local companies like Nude and Delicara, learned about sustainable practices in the food industry and visited an organization called Litro de Luz, which provides sustainable lighting solutions,” Bandy says. “The trip was a transformative experience that allowed me to see sustainability practices in action and understand their impact on emerging markets.”Participating in this global experience, as well as the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Roundtable Summit, allowed Bandy to build on the knowledge she gained in the classroom, apply course concepts to real-world contexts and form valuable, lifelong connections with others.

“It has been inspiring to meet like-minded individuals pursuing diverse career paths. The connections I made through the study abroad trip to Brazil and the ERM Roundtable Summit have been invaluable, and I am confident that these relationships will continue to benefit me both personally and professionally,” Bandy says.

“I especially encourage students to take advantage of opportunities to participate in the ERM Roundtable Summit,” Theodorakis adds. “It’s a great way to gain insight into ERM in practice at a breadth of organizations.”

Read the full article on the Poole College of Management News website here!