For many professionals considering an MBA, the real question isn’t just where to study—it’s whether the degree will lead to meaningful career growth.
For Kogod MBA alumna Anju Varghese, the answer came through a clear shift: using the MBA to move out of technical execution and into business strategy.
Today, she works in the Business Transformation Office at Marriott International, helping lead the rollout of new technology systems across more than 10,000 hotels worldwide.
Anju’s path to Marriott wasn’t linear—but it was intentional.
For Anju, the decision took shape during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After working in tech consulting in her native India, she experienced disruptions—salary reductions, shifting responsibilities, and uncertainty. At the same time, she began freelancing and working more independently, which exposed her to a broader view of how businesses operate.
That shift sparked a bigger question: what would it take to move into business strategy instead of staying in a predominantly technical role?
Anju decided to get an MBA and make a career pivot. Next came the decision of where to get that MBA.
Anju approached the MBA search with a clear goal: find a program that would support a career pivot and deliver strong job outcomes upon graduation.
After narrowing her list to five programs, she chose the Kogod School of Business at American University based on three factors:
Like most MBA decisions, Anju was considering tons of factors: academics, rankings, location. Most important to her, though, was access—to employers, networks, and opportunities that would accelerate her transition into a new field.
For Anju, return on investment was a central consideration from the start.