University at Buffalo School of Management

Spring 2019 Buffalo Business 17 Das designs complex IT solutions, and is re- sponsible for recommending technologies that enhance the organization's capabili- ties. He says the program is already helping him make better decisions at work. "I've been using what I've learned to resolve conflicts, and it's giving me new di- rections around my thoughts and ideas," he says. "It's also helping me understand the integration of various functions of the organization." Courtney Walsh, assistant dean of ex- ecutive education, says a key advantage of the program is the high-caliber net- work-building opportunities. "The hybrid format gives busy profes- sionals time outside traditional class hours to learn and work in groups, and spend in- class time reinforcing and applying what they've been studying," says Walsh. "In many regards, they'll have more time to in- teract with faculty and apply the concepts, tools and skills they are learning in the program." The School of Management's part- time MBA program began in 1931 and was transformed into the Professional MBA in 1997. "These changes are the next step in a continual evolution that keeps our grad- uates competitive and prepares them for success in today's global workplace," adds Walsh. " Our team can meet during the virtual weeks and work on any group projects, and we can complete our individual work on our own schedule." Harrison Steinwald Financial Advisor M&T Bank In the Professional MBA program, students set the pace that fits their lives, with options ranging from 27 months to five years, and can choose from courses that meet on weeknights or Saturdays. Classes start in spring or fall and meet in person once every three weeks, with web- based learning in between. Hear from professors about the hybrid PMBA and see for yourself how it works by visiting http://bit.ly/ubpmbavideo. Harrison Steinwald, financial advisor on the centralized team at M&T Bank, is tak- ing statistics and organizational behavior alongside Das in the first semester of the program. He admits to being a bit hesitant about the hybrid format. "I didn't know how organized the vir- tual weeks would be and I was nervous about falling behind," Steinwald says. "But the professors are very organized and the weeks are structured so you know exactly what your deliverables are." For Steinwald, the biggest benefit of the new format has been the ability to use the time he would've spent in a lecture to instead collaborate with group members or complete assignments—tasks that would traditionally be done on weekends or an- other night of the week. "Our team can meet during the virtual weeks and work on any group projects, and we can complete our individual work on our own schedule," he says. "The online lec- tures are also great because they're broken up into smaller time slots and you can re- watch them if you're having trouble grasp- ing a concept." Walsh says the ultimate goal of the program is to accelerate and expand stu- dents' careers. "We now have the ability to offer these benefits in a way that busy professionals can more easily access them," she says. To learn more about the PMBA pro- gram, visit mgt.buffalo.edu/pmba. x An inside look at the new UB Professional MBA At left: Katie Andrews, assistant director for recruitment and marketing in the school's Center for Executive Development, talks with students Harrison Steinwald, Chinmay Das and Chetinai Kalamaphichit in the Alfiero Center atrium.

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