MBA Success: Zade Al-Khatatbeh '18
Sitting at his desk at a local insurance agency Zade Al-Khatatbeh '18 knew he would continue his education by earning a master of business administration. “I wanted to be competitive in the market and earn that edge that others might not want to pursue,” he recalls. He saw earning an MBA as a way to help develop the skills needed to advance a career goal of finance or consulting management.
As he researched programs in Oregon, Al-Khatatbeh wanted a program that would align with his work schedule. “The regular full-time MBA is not realistic for full-time employed workers,” he said, “…a program that supported my time management was important in my search.”
Al-Khatatbeh found Pacific’s MBA program aligned perfectly with his lifestyle. He visited the Hillsboro campus as a part of an informational interview. “It was very transparent, supportive, and useful to get a feel of the culture of the university,” he recalls.
“I enjoyed the cohort format. I made some good friends and found a really supportive group of students that worked diligently, which in turn inspired me to be a better student,” Al- Khatatbeh said.
One moment that stands out from the MBA was when a vice president from Nike came in as a guest lecturer. “…we saw the power of influence and how being able to present a story, not just a presentation, is truly impactful. It was powerful,” he said.
Al-Khatatbeh's credits Pacific faculty for much of his success. “I could get support from them … they are truly trying to help you learn,” he said. While in the program, a referral from one of these professors, led to a new job as a financial and investment analyst at Bates Group, LLC.
With a career choice in mind, Al-Khatatbeh thrived in the applied finance component of the program. The courses were structured with real-world scenarios to help students not only with their careers, but with their personal finance and investing as well. “It was practical information that could be used in your life, which is a game-changer,” he said.
Not only did Al-Khatatbeh advance his quantitative skill set in accounting and finance, but he also learned new soft skills. Often overlooked in MBA programs, soft skills are crucial in most careers. “I learned new strategies and became comfortable with ambiguity in my daily work,” Al-Khatatbeh emphasized, “As a leader I’m now able to handle critical situations in the best way possible.”
Al-Khatatbeh took his business know-how and moved quickly through roles as an analyst, financial consultant, and financial strategy consultant at one of the largest healthcare providers in Oregon. Since earning an MBA, he has enrolled in a master of science in finance (MSF) program at Johns Hopkins University and earned a graduate certificate in financial management. He is also currently pursuing certifications in financial modeling and accounting.
“Education doesn’t end at the undergraduate level,” Al-Khatatbeh emphasized, “It is truly a life-long commitment…reinvesting the time and energy in yourself is absolutely worth it. The Pacific MBA was the best choice for my career advancement."
The Pacific MBA program continues to grow on the foundation of influential graduates like Zade Al-Khatatbeh. Connect with him on LinkedIn to see where his career continues to go.