Stacey Osborne was working as a business integration specialist at The Boeing Company when she decided to pursue her MBA at Texas Lutheran University. The fact that the program is designed with busy people in mind allowed her to continue working at Boeing during and after earning her master’s—which she completed in 2024.
She had no idea then that in early 2025, Boeing would lay off 17,000 professionals as part of a reduction in force—much less that she would be one of them. “Fortunately, I was able to pick up some consulting work with Texas Health Benefits (TXHB) this past June, helping them to develop their communications strategy and build a communications department that will help them achieve their long-term goals,” says Osborne. As it turned out, the executive director at TXHB had seen Osborne’s LinkedIn post about having earned her MBA at TLU. That prompted her to reach out. “She was impressed that I had taken the initiative to earn my MBA and knew that my new knowledge and experience would be an asset to her and the organization.”
Now, Osborne is confident she’ll find a new full-time position, and in the meantime, is keeping busy consulting. “I know my MBA will be a huge asset for me as I look for a full-time opportunity, and it will also help with any additional consulting I do while I am searching,” she says.
A new cohort will begin the MBA program at TLU this fall, and Osborne has a few pointers to offer. “Stay focused on the big picture and remember that everything you are learning is going to help you to be a more rounded, informed, and empathetic leader. Also, don’t be shy about reaching out to your professors if you have a problem or need additional assistance—they’re always happy to provide guidance and help because they want you to succeed.”
Those helpful professors are one of the things that sets TLU’s MBA program apart from others—that, along with individualized attention and the sense of community that are hallmarks of the university. “The TLU MBA program is unique because even though it is online and it packs a lot of information into a short period of time, students can still expect the same level of support, encouragement, and human interaction that they would find at a traditional program,” says Osborne. “I really appreciated the fact that I had the option to finish the program in a year, and I knew my professors were there to ensure that I succeeded.”
It's not too late to join the fall 2025 MBA cohort. Early deadline is March 1, 2025. To learn more, visit Master of Business Administration | Online | MBA Program | MBA.
[photo caption: MBA Grad Stacey Osborne with TLU professors—Director of Business Analytics Jesus Carmona, Business Department Chair Fernando Garza, and MBA Program Director Mark Peacock.]