From her own business to a new job, this learner is going far with an MSM

Learn how Kristen, a recent graduate of the online Master of Science in Management (iMSM), pursued a digital marketing course on Coursera that proved pivotal in her business and her learning through a diverse array of courses.

Kristen is a recent graduate of the online Master of Science in Management (iMSM) program from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Gies College of Business. Urbana-Champaign is part of the University of Illinois System which was recently ranked among the top 50 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. Kristen’s program on Coursera is one of over 90 degree, certificate, and endorsement programs that the university offers online as millions of students worldwide continue to choose Illinois.

The iMSM program is designed for working professionals like Kristen who are interested in management, consulting, analytics, entrepreneurship, and more. In 2019, Kristen began searching for learning opportunities that would help her run her massage therapy company.

Her quest led her to Coursera, where she took a digital marketing course. The knowledge and skills she gained in the course proved valuable as she grew her business by 200 percent within a year, so she then sought more opportunities on Coursera.

Previously, Kristen was unsure online learning would work for her. But her digital marketing course helped her understand how to approach online learning. Needing flexibility for her schedule and living far from any physical campus, Kristen soon enrolled in the iMSM program so that she could learn more about business in general. She saw it as a way to build foundational understanding without spending two or three years in school. She felt the iMSM program was perfect for her at the time as it aligned with her needs then.

Once Kristen started the program, the people she met stood out to her. She says everyone was friendly and helpful, noting there are some amazing professors that are very motivating. Kristen worked with students in London and Germany during her time in the program, and she raves about how great it was to get their perspectives. Kristen enjoyed her project management course the most, and she says the classes push you to think differently. She also found faculty office hours to be super engaging, and she liked being able to rewatch lectures (one of the perks of online learning).

Having sold her share of her massage therapy company, Kristen successfully transitioned to working in human resources after graduating with her MSM degree in May of 2023. Her new master’s even helped her negotiate a higher salary. Because of her time in the program, Kristen has changed how she thinks about herself as part of her company. She’s also changed her standards for what she looks for in an employer. Ultimately, she says starting or switching your career can be tough, but worth it.

As Kristen shows us, the world of business can include everything from owning a share of your own company to being part of a department like human resources. But wherever you go in the business world, it’s easy to see all the areas where fundamental knowledge and management skills are essential. When you encounter any of these areas in your business career, remember Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You could join Kristen on the long list of successful graduates. Explore the iMSM program for yourself.

Learn more about the iMSM program

Stack your way to an MBA

We are excited to announce that when you complete the 1-year online Master of Science in Management (iMSM) program from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, your credit hours can be applied directly toward the online Master of Business Administration (iMBA) program if you are accepted to the program.

This is the first time in the history of the University of Illinois that a degree can stack into another degree, and it’s one of the very rare examples of this being done at any business school in the country. With the implementation of this new stackable model, you can complete the iMBA program with greater flexibility while balancing higher education with a job, family, and personal life.

Join a top-tier public U.S. university and take advantage of the opportunity to pursue higher education while advancing your career. As a leader in business education committed to creating life-changing accessy, Gies offers some of the most affordable online graduate business degrees from any major university.

Earning a graduate degree or career credential from a highly regarded institution like the University of Illinois can be transformative for both your life and career. We are eager to open the door for more learners and to deepen our partnership with Gies as we strive to support learners across the globe.

Learn more

An interview with future iMSM graduate, Manmit Kaur

Manmit excelled at her career as a project manager. She was organizing conferences all around the world for global leaders in both the private and public sectors. But while her career was exciting, it was also very stressful. And, ultimately, Manmit felt that management consulting was her true calling.

Earning a master’s in management had been a personal goal for Manmit because of her interest in consulting, but she kept putting it off. That changed at the start of the pandemic when Manmit saw an opportunity to continue her education while spending more time at home. By the spring of 2021, she had started her online Master’s in Management (iMSM) from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

Manmit chose the iMSM for its in-depth subjects, as well as its flexibility and affordability, and she’s learned empathy and leadership skills that she’s sure she’ll use for the rest of her career. Manmit has found the program both challenging and fun—with highly engaging and supportive experiences in live classes, group work, and forums. And, with the global access that Coursera offers, Manmit has been able to enjoy her fellow learners’ diverse thinking and backgrounds.

Gies College of Business students like Manmit can also be part of Illinois Business Consulting (IBC). This management consultancy is the largest in the US to be operated by students, and Manmit will have the opportunity to work on real projects for real clients around the world so that she graduates with incredibly valuable experience.

Manmit says she has had to find a new flow to life in order to earn her MSM. But with support from her family, she has taken the time to continue her education. Now, with graduation on the horizon, she’s about to take on her true calling of consulting. To others who want to go from liking their career to loving their career, Manmit says, “Take the plunge. You owe it to yourself.”

Explore the iMSM from UIUC and other programs today on Coursera.

Learn more about Gies College of Business iMSM program

Learn from Luis about advancing your career while working

Interview with Luis Jaimes-Illanes, an iMSM graduate from the Gies School of Business at the University of Illinois.

Luis was working in Boston as a senior network engineer before he had to return to his home country of Bolivia at the start of the global pandemic. As Luis began working remotely from Bolivia for his Boston-based organization, Altaeros. His manager approached him about exploring new leadership responsibilities and encouraged him to take courses for developing leadership skills. So Luis went in search of a program that could help him achieve his new career goals while working remotely and living abroad.

Considering your professional and personal life before enrolling

As a full-time employee who also values his free time, Luis needed a program that could help him maintain his work-life balance. Along with his day-to-day responsibilities and long-term projects at work, Luis also helps underserved youth in Bolivia during his off-hours. Needing to learn at his own pace, Luis chose the online Master’s in Management (iMSM) from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois.

Luis had already taken individual courses on Coursera. He knew there are great professors on Coursera, and that the platform was convenient and affordable. Luis also knew that he could connect with like-minded professionals from around the world—by working on projects in a collaborative online environment, and by networking with experienced peers and professors.

Maintaining work-life balance while continuing your development

Since enrolling in the program, Luis has successfully maintained his work-life balance while preparing for new leadership roles in his career. He accesses content from different devices depending on his location and then views recordings when he’s unable to attend live sessions. With these features and more, Luis has even found time to share what he’s learning with his family.

Even before graduating, Luis is already applying leadership skills (like effective communication) through collaborations in his current job. Luis is also now able to pursue new leadership roles with his company that he wasn’t yet qualified for previously—and he has future goals of earning his MBA.

If you want to take on new responsibilities and prepare for new roles like Luis, you too can earn certificates and degrees on Coursera while successfully continuing in your current job and preserving your personal life.

Learn and apply.

Gies College of Business partners with Coursera to offer scholarships to degree students

Today, we’re excited to announce the launch of a global scholarship program for the Master of Business Administration (iMBA), Master’s of Accounting (iMSA), and Master’s in Management (iMSM) graduate programs on Coursera. 

Together, Coursera and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Gies College of Business will provide a limited number of scholarships per year, covering 70% of a student’s full tuition. These competitive scholarships aim to improve access to a top-quality education for students interested in finance, marketing, management, and accounting careers.

“Our mission as a land-grant university is to broaden access and deliver a high-quality education to all who desire it and are committed to pursuing it,” said Brooke Elliott, Associate Dean and EY Professor at Gies College of Business. “I’m thrilled that we’re able to partner with Coursera to offset some of the cost of our graduate degrees so that more learners from anywhere in the world can pursue a life-changing business education.”

Students who plan on enrolling in the Fall 2021 cohort of any of the three Gies College of Business online degree programs on Coursera will be eligible to apply for a scholarship as part of their main application. Recipients will be selected based on need, academic standing, and essay submissions outlining their need for financial assistance, as well as their previous experiences that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through personal mentorship or community involvement.

“For several years, Coursera and Gies have worked together to increase access to affordable education,” said Betty Vandenbosch, Coursera’s Chief Content Officer. “We are honored to continue that legacy by offering need-based scholarships to learners worldwide. These will provide students—who otherwise may not have had the opportunity—the means to pursue a high-quality degree from a leading institution. I’m excited to see how the scholarship program will affect the recipients’ lives and careers moving forward.”

For more than 100 years, Gies College of Business has designed its innovative programs to empower and prepare students to become successful business leaders and entrepreneurs. Currently, Gies is ranked #8 in public business schools across the United States by Poets&Quants, and 94% of graduates would highly recommend the iMBA program to a friend. We’re honored to partner with Gies to support more learners across the globe.

If you have any questions, please contact the Gies Online Programs team at giesonline@illinois.edu.