Thinking MBA? 9 Successful Black Women Discuss the Impact of the Degree on Their Career

Verchele Wiggins – Vice President, Global Brand Portfolio, Holiday Inn Brand Family; IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group, Clark Atlanta University, 1994

Madame Noire: What impact has your MBA degree had on your career?

Verchele Wiggins: My MBA allowed me the opportunity to work for two of the best companies in the world, including securing a brand management focused internship. The MBA program gave me the extra edge that I needed to compete in a business with an already large talent pool to choose from. I received solid training that helped hone in on my strategic and analytic capabilities, thereby giving me the skills necessary to succeed in a corporate business environment.

MN: What made you want to pursue an advanced degree?

VW: For me, an advanced degree was always a “when” not an “if” situation. I knew I wanted to pursue a career in marketing, and therefore an MBA would be critical in order for me to get on the fast track to where I am today.

MN: Given today’s economic climate, would you recommend this path to other African American women?

VW: Anything that makes you more competitive in today’s marketplace is always recommended. Be discriminating and do the due diligence to research and find the right school and the right degree for your career path. Be focused on what you want to get out of it, because it is not about the degree itself, but how you leverage the degree to help you reach your goals. It is about making the right choices for your program, internships, etc. that makes the investment in your MBA one of the most worthwhile things you will do for your career.