Students share why they joined the nation’s No. 1 Part-Time MBA Program
When Aaron Kasper ’26 MBA looked at his calendar, it felt like he’d have to fly around the world to make it to his Strategic Challenges in Emerging Markets mid-term.
“It was my first quarter at Kellogg, and I needed to be in India for work. My return flight saw me land in San Francisco and take the red eye to Chicago,” he recalls. Twenty-thousand miles after his work trip began, Kasper had circumnavigated the globe and was sitting alongside other professionals for a weekend of learning and growth at Kellogg.
Designed for ambitious individuals who want to reimagine what they can achieve on the job, the school’s top-ranked part-time MBA provides students with the skills they need to develop as leaders without putting their careers on hold.
That flexibility is part of what drove Sabah Chowdhury ’26 MBA to enroll.
“What makes the Evening & Weekend Program especially valuable is that the learning is immediately connected to practice,” says Chowdhury, who commutes from Indianapolis. “You’re in the classroom with people who are actively building, leading and solving problems in the real world, which adds to the richness and relevancy of the experience.”
Chowdhury enrolled at Kellogg in January 2025 and workforce uncertainty was part of the reason she felt the timing was right. “Technology, AI, mobility and the future of work was changing rapidly,” she recalls. “I wanted to be better prepared to lead through that change rather than wait for things to feel more predictable. Kellogg felt like the right place to build business judgment, leadership skills and a broader strategic lens while continuing to apply those lessons in real time.”
Obtaining an MBA was always a personal goal for Kasper. After evaluating several top programs, the culture, flexibility, post-MBA global opportunities and vast industry presence, led him to the shores of Lake Michigan.
“The network and knowledge that is gained from the Kellogg MBA experience cannot be replicated elsewhere,” he says. “I knew from the start that I would soon see myself as a more successful business leader and personal connector.”
Kasper has commuted to campus by plane, train and automobile, having lived in Indianapolis; Monticello, California; Chicago and Los Angeles during his nine quarters.
“The flexibility of the program is second to none,” he says. “With the ability to maximize or minimize credits any given quarter, take both in-person and remote classes and flex across different program offerings, I always felt comfortable being able to balance all priorities in my personal and professional life.”
Kellogg experience more than classroom learning
In 2024, Chowdhury had built a strong technical foundation at the intersection of engineering, strategy and operations, but she wanted to grow from solving complex technical problems to helping shape the broader strategic direction around them.
"I was looking for a program that would deepen my business perspective, strengthen my ability to connect innovation to long-term direction and help me continue growing as a leader,” she recalls. “As I explored top part-time MBA programs, Kellogg stood out for both its academic rigor and its collaborative culture. It felt like the kind of place where I could grow in a meaningful way while staying grounded in the depth and discipline that have shaped my career.”
As a weekend commuter, Chowdhury was intentional in building relations with other students, and she says the student community has been one of the most meaningful parts of her Kellogg journey.
“My peers bring deep experience from a wide range of industries and functions, and there is a real openness in how people share ideas and make space for different perspectives,” she says. “Some of the most valuable parts of my time at Kellogg have come from conversations with peers and professors, whether talking through work challenges, exchanging perspectives or simply feeling supported during a demanding stretch. This has all led to a real sense of connection and belonging at Kellogg.
Customization leads to immediate impact
Featuring customizable course loads; in-person, virtual and hybrid learning; evening, weekend and weekday schedules; and the option to enroll any quarter, the Evening & Weekend MBA Program positions students for career advancement even before graduation.
“The Evening & Weekend Program forced me to think more strategically, act with more empathy and be more confident in understanding the implications behind decisions at my own organization as well as my clients’,” says Kasper, who became a first-time manager while a student. “My experience has accelerated my development in my current role while connecting me with successful professionals in other organizations that give me a different perspective on organizational challenges that directly affect my work.”
Leadership development
At Kellogg, coursework is challenging and stimulating, the students are engaged and driven, the schedules are flexible and personalized and the faculty are accomplished and accessible.
“One of the most valuable parts of the experience has been learning how to translate complex work into decisions and conversations that resonate beyond a technical audience,” says Chowdhury. “Kellogg has also given me more confidence to own my story and pursue my vision with greater clarity. I genuinely feel that Kellogg has made me more effective, more thoughtful and more grounded as a professional.”
Would she recommend enrolling now?
“Yes, absolutely. I would especially recommend it to working professionals who want a rigorous MBA experience while continuing to grow in demanding careers,” she says. “The program requires real commitment, and for me that has meant balancing a full-time role, travel and school all at once. But it has also been one of the most transformative experiences of my life.”
Read next: Kellogg Evening and Weekend Program ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report