The University of California, Berkeley is practically in the DNA of Molly Bjorkman, MBA 25. Pursuing her MBA at the Haas School of Business was a family matter, “My grandfather went to UC Berkeley. My great grandfather was Director of Admissions. I wanted to go there for family ties and because of its stellar educational reputation,” she says.
Unlike her grandfathers, she wasn’t going to be able to take the traditional route, “The only way to fit UC Berkeley Haas School of Business into my life was via the Flex Option.”
Molly’s story is similar to that of so many students who are enrolled in the inaugural class for the Flex program. Most of the students can’t pause their jobs or uproot their families to pursue an MBA full time, so this new, unique offering was the way to go.
Flex is an arm of Haas’ Evening and Weekend MBA program. It allows working professionals to pursue a degree from a top-ranked MBA program without quitting their jobs or even leaving their homes most of the time. Students from all over the world are enrolled. The Flex program is structured with live online class times twice a week along with independent work. Throughout the course of the two and a half to three years it takes to complete, students are required to do three in-person immersions in the Berkeley area. This combination of synchronous and asynchronous work is what makes the Flex program unique.
Students enrolled in the Flex option are required to take their core classes online at a set time each week and with the same classmates, who they form deep bonds with. They do have the option to take electives on campus in the second half of the program, which adds another unique aspect to this program.
Molly lives just over an hour away from Berkeley, much closer than most of her classmates. Despite that, she has opted to keep everything online so far, but she has a good reason, “Unfortunately, my jam packed schedule does not allow for any in-person electives. I’m prioritizing watching my kids’ soccer games over in-person electives.”
Family life and family business
Those soccer games are just a small part of family life in the Bjorkman household. Molly and her husband are raising two kids, ages 12 and 14, “They are both in competitive soccer. My son is playing at the highest level in Northern California. My daughter plays tennis, sings in choir, plays trombone, and does art and sewing projects in her spare time. My son also plays basketball, tennis, and mountain bikes as well as progressing in Boy Scouts,” she says. “We are incredibly privileged to have the access and the ability to participate in these activities, but it is a full-time job getting them here and there!”
It isn’t just the kids keeping them busy at home. Molly and her husband also run a family business, “I did my undergraduate degree in Viticulture and Enology. I was a winemaker for many years. My husband and I have our own wine brand called GRO Wines.”
The word “gro” means “to germinate” in Swedish. Molly’s husband Lars is Swedish-American and the family visits Sweden every year, “This is where my husband’s sense of place, so important for winemaking, was first formed–eating wild blueberries, picking wild mushrooms, harvesting crayfish from the lake.”
I’ve crafted my life so that I can get the most out of school while also being a present parent, a wife, and a volunteer."
In addition to the family business, Molly also has a part time job as a business manager at a non-profit whose mission is to give the Napa Valley community access to the arts. Most people would never even dream of taking on the challenge of getting an MBA with a schedule like Molly’s, but she was determined to make it work.
“I’ve crafted my life so that I can get the most out of school while also being a present parent, a wife, and a volunteer. I don’t need to manage anyone in my current role and the part-time aspect gives me flexibility.” She gives her partner a lot of credit, “My husband is wonderful. He is a true partner in work and at home and that is crucial to my success in school.”
Even with support and a flexible schedule, pursuing her MBA hasn’t always been a walk in the park, “The first year and half of core classes was very hard. I was up at 5:00 every morning studying and doing assignments and then in class Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 to 6:00 with more studying and work on the weekends, in between kids activities and group meet ups,” she says, “But the learning material was so rewarding, it kept me interested and drove me to keep going.”
Being able to apply what she has learned in class has been a huge perk for Molly. The classes have helped her understand the moving parts of business and how each piece fits into the puzzle. “I was at the same winery for many years so I saw various aspects of the business from sales to operations to accounting to leadership decisions and macro and micro economic effects. It is helpful to have this practical experience as a background for the business material I am learning.”
Teamwork makes the dream work
Molly plans to take what she is learning to move the family business forward. She is also exploring the idea of doing something different, “I love to solve problems with smart and capable teams. Having a degree from Haas will open more doors to doing this,” she says.
The teamwork aspect that makes up the structure of the Flex option is something that Molly feels goes beyond most MBA experiences. Every group that starts the program goes through together as a cohort. There are approximately 75 students. Within the cohort, there are opportunities for smaller study groups. Molly says, “I love the cohort. I believe it is crucial to create community. I know I will always be able to reach out to anyone and there will be a friendship and camaraderie that will last forever.”
The friendships that blossom online are further strengthened by the in-person immersions. Students are required to attend three of them throughout the course of the program. Molly’s cohort has completed all three and she feels like they have strengthened bonds within the group, “There is a dynamic aspect to a personality that is muted online. However, once you meet in person, you hold those layers in your head when you interact with these individuals online.”
She continues, “The in-person immersions are a crucial aspect to the online Haas experience and I feel like I got a lot out of them. Suggestions for future students: Go with an open mind. Engage as much as possible. Try to stay off your phone, as this makes engagement harder. Also, try to set up meet-ups with professors, if time allows.”
Molly has a few other tips to help potential students, “I would suggest setting yourself up for an easier work situation so you can get the most out of your school experience. As I said before, the first year and half is the most grueling. After that, you can better manage your schedule and workload.”
She also stresses that support is crucial to success, “My husband has been amazing and I am blessed to have a group of supportive, wonderful families that take our children here and there as well as taking them for playdates and adventures during study time.”
She also has very practical advice for how she keeps her mental health in check, “Yoga and a glass of wine! It helps to focus on being present so I can stay on top of the wave of life.”
Many working professionals are fulfilling their goal of getting a world-class MBA despite a full plate and a busy schedule. If you’re wondering if it’s possible for you to join them, check out the Flex option today.
