As I boarded the flight to Durham for Fuqua’s Weekend Executive MBA orientation, a knot tightened in my stomach. What had I just signed up for? After 13 years at Shell, I felt stuck, capable of more but bumping up against a ceiling I couldn’t move.

On a bit of a whim, I chose to go to Fuqua to broaden my network beyond Texas and challenge myself with the rigor I was craving. I had never set foot on campus and thought I didn’t know a soul in the program. It was exhilarating and terrifying.

Embracing the Unknown

Before orientation, I told myself I’d at least be open to conversations for new jobs. I decided to finally return a recruiter’s call that had been sitting in my inbox for a week, and the process accelerated quickly from there. Within days, I was shortlisted and interviewed with the CEO. What started as “I am just doing this for interview practice” became a real opportunity. Everything about the role felt right, and yet I had just made one big life change by starting the MBA. Was I ready for another?

The anxiety I felt during the flight began to fade as orientation week got underway. I realized many of my classmates were quietly asking the same questions I was: Can I do this? Will my family, work, and school all fit? Naming that uncertainty out loud created unexpected bonds.

Orientation week is a time to connect with classmates, learn about Fuqua, and meet the program staff who would be guiding us through our academic journey. Importantly, the program staff advised us not to make any big life changes during the program.

And yet, hours later, I was in a room at the JB Duke Hotel, receiving a verbal offer to become a Senior Commercial Manager at a new company. Shock. Joy. Fear. Could I truly take on a new job and school at once?

The Support of Team Fuqua

When I walked into dinner that night, my new classmates, people I had met days earlier, eagerly asked how my follow-up call with the company’s CEO went. They didn’t hesitate when I shared the news. They celebrated with me, toasted me, and offered the kind of genuine encouragement that makes Team Fuqua… Team Fuqua. They didn’t yet know my full story or aspirations, but in that moment, they were my first supporters.

Next, I needed to tell my assigned team — the people I would be working with on assignments. I shared my worry about changing jobs after 13 years with them. Not one person flinched. They saw my excitement and assured me we would make it work, rebalancing assignments as I onboarded in the new role. In one week, strangers became collaborators, friends, family.

Pursuing a Career Change + an MBA

From there, I partnered with the Career Management Center (CMC) to negotiate the offer and ultimately accepted. An announcement went out to the cohort, and the steady stream of congratulations continued at each residency. My new employer has supported the MBA, giving me the flexibility I need for weekend residencies and finals. That alignment matters, and it has been critical.

Looking back, I was afraid of change. But going to Duke gave me the confidence to leap from what was comfortable and grow in a new place. Today, I look forward to each residency weekend and to reconnecting with my cohort. What felt daunting in June has flown by faster than I imagined. I’m grateful to be surrounded by people who are ambitious, kind, and unafraid to help each other win.

For prospective students wondering if a career change is possible during the Weekend Executive MBA program: it’s not the typical path and isn’t broadly recommended because of the demands on your time. But with the right support from classmates, your team, the CMC, and an understanding employer, it can be the right move at exactly the right moment. Team Fuqua made my pivot possible.