Education has always been important to Kate's family. And Kate knew that an MBA on her résumé could help her advance to a senior-level management position at Wendy's International. As a working mother who travels a lot on business, she needed an iMBA program that fit her schedule — and a degree that was renowned in the business community. She chose Penn State World Campus' online Master of Business Administration (iMBA) program.

While earning her MBA, Kate focused on her goals. She began her mornings at 6:15 a.m., ran errands over lunch, and cooked quick meals in the evenings. She budgeted time after dinner to spend with her husband and 3-year-old daughter, then completed assignments after everyone was in bed. Kate says, "It's a lot of time management and setting priorities — and maybe you don't clean the house that week — but you get other, more important things done."

In the middle of her MBA experience when Kate learned that she and her husband were expecting a second child, she never broke stride; she simply adjusted her schedule — continuing to build on new skills that she could apply to her work at Wendy's.

All through her course work she engaged with her team through discussion boards, e-mails, Skype, and conference calls. The two 1-week residencies helped Kate build lasting friendships and network with other business professionals. "I made some great friends and business contacts that I will take with me into the future," says Kate. "I have no regrets about the program. It was hard work, but I would do it again in a heartbeat."